gasahol

I used my D-17 today to mow hay, the first time I've used it full throttle on pump gas containing ethanol. It ran fine for the first half hour until it got well warmed up (180) and then it started to sputter. I found it would run ok with the choke half closed. When I finished, I let it idle for a few minutes and then it would run ok with the choke closed. I haven't touched the carburetor, but the tractor has run fine when working at lower rpm's. Has anyone else experienced this? Could the gasahol be the culprit? My source for farm gas can no longer get ethanol free gas, I have not yet filled my tank.

Start by cleaning out the sediment bowl and screen and the screen at the carburetor fuel inlet elbow (if used).

Alcohol fuels are known for doing a cleanup of the fuel system and the screen(s) likely are clogged with the freed debris.

If that doesn't help the carburetor will need some attention.

Like Bob said, once you get everything cleaned out using the ethanol, it will work just fine. Have used it for years now with no problems.

Tim, don't blame the ethanol for your problem. All it is doing is cleaning up problems left from the GAS you have been using. Once your fuel system is clean it will stay that way when you use ethanol. I've used it for over 30 years with no problems whatsoever. Mike

The others are correct. The ethanol is cleaning your fuel system and the debris that it has loosened is clogging the system I had the same issues with an Allis C that I use for mowing. You might be able to accelerate the cleaning by adding some fuel system cleaner like Sea Foam. It will increase your problems at first, but then get better.

Is it possible to get any gas without ethanol these days. The symptoms you described could also be due to a leak in the intake manifold.

E85 or 10% ethanol?

Agreed.

If its just E10 its cleaning up.

If its E85 you may need to adjust the carb to let it run richer.

Around Spokane, I don't think it is possible to buy gasoline without alcohol from conventional sources. I bought a couple of gallons of low lead AvGas to use with my chainsaws, as it is supposed to not have any alcohol. But I could only get the AvGas because my Son works at an airport. The AvGas cost about 1.5 times what regular gas from a gas station would.

Supposedly the ethanol added unleaded we are sold helps reduce air pollution, which is a problem sometimes in the Winter, especially down in the bowl where Downtown Spokane is located. I also suspect that with the Federal programs, that ethanol is cheaper than regular gasoline. At any rate, I have not found any stations that sell straight gasoline. There is one station that now advertises E85, but I have never bought any.

Is the 10% ethanol gas that we can buy a problem? It does not appear to have caused any problems in the machines I use it in, although most of them are newer, and probably were designed to allow the blends. I have noticed that the blend gasoline does not seem to keep quite as well as the old straight gasoline, but I use it up fast enough that I have not noticed any problems. Time will tell. Good luck!

(quoted from post at 13:00:42 06/07/11) Agreed.

If its just E10 its cleaning up.

If its E85 you may need to adjust the carb to let it run richer.

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I'm running E85 in a 1940 Farmall H. I had to open the main load screw just 1/2 turn more to get rid of the very slight hesitation when pulling the throttle open quickly. Load screw is now set at 3 1/2 turns out. Total.

It's supposed to be 10% here. Last I did my crude test on was 8%. I had read that they would probably be pushing "10%" up to 12-13. But apparently not here.
We were about the last in the country to get ethanol.

I expected all kinds of trouble with my first delivery. But "knock on wood", I have had none. In fact the old Dodge 600 dump I used to use for fert. has not sold, so I dug it out and used it for a bulk seed tender. It has wanted a little choke for a long time, and fouls plugs, etc. This spring once I ran it a few times it straightened right out on its own! It runs better than ever now! Must have cleaned some crud out of the carb, even though I have had it apart previously.

With 10% ethanol you suffer about a 5% decrease in fuel economy but most people never notice. The state (IA) supports ethanol with reduced taxes for on-road vehicles so it is still cheaper.

It is getting real hard to find gasohol free fuel. Some Casey's stores in our area still have it, but you need to ask the store manager first if their "regular" is still alcohol free. Most are not.

There are STC's (Supplemental Type Certificates) available for several small airplanes/engines. They are for minimum 87 octane NO LEAD, NO ALCOHOL gasoline. Basically worthless, can't find any unleaded without at least a trace of alcohol in it.

100LL is overkill for a tractor. But FYI, Jet A is what I use in my shop salamander heater now. Kerosene is even harder to find than true unleaded unless you want to buy it in gallon jugs at $12.75 per gallon at our local farm store. Jet A is $4.60 per gallon as of June 6. 100LL is $5.60.

There are a few airports that sell MOGAS, but the dates are stale. That is what he needs. DOUG