Hi priced fuel is necessary? or a sham

Hi,
I'm a nurse by trade; not a real good troubleshooter of my lawn equipment. Here's my question:

Today I was told that the "new requirement" is to use gasoline premixed with oil (50:1) for my chain saw and weed trimmer. The store's rationale was that the gas at gas stations contains 10% ethanol which ruins hoses and other parts. So today I paid $5.00 for a 1/2 gal can of "50fuel" (ethanol free).

I'd like to know what you folks who know about this stuff think.

Thanks, Majac777

 

Its BS...well...mostly.

There were issues with ethanol and older equipment..so if your stuff is older..that might be an issue. Newer equipment has mostly been built for newer fuels. Try and find a station that sells gas w/o ethanol...and mix your own.

Some have said to use premium gas..but I dunno whether that will really matter..I think it depends on your location. It may be mandated in some areas...

$10 a gallon?...jeez.

I may get beat down by the Pro's...but thats the way I understand things.

 

Yes the ethonal does cause some problems with older OPE. If your OPE is newer than 1995 ethonal should not be a problem as most manufacturers have stated since 1995 their equipment will work fine on up to 10% ethonal. Don't waste your $$$ buying pre-mix. Just buy 87 octane and mix it yourself. You shouldn't have any problem. We have E-10 here and I have no problem with it. Just add 1 oz per gallon of Isypropel dry gas. Ethonal will suck the moisture out of the air and you will have water in your gas.

 

stabil now has a marine stabilizer for ethanol gasoline. It would be much cheaper than the pre-mix

 

Not all bandits wear masks.
In Ohio we have been using ethanol gas for at least 20 years. For your 2 cycle engines just get a gallon can, add 2.8 - 3 oz of two cycle oil, fill the can at the regular gas pump, and you are good to go. You can get two cycle oil at any big box store. While there, get a bottle of Sea Foam or Stabil and add little per instructions to the gas mix. At the end of the season, just dump whats left into your car. Run the power tools dry. I usually add a little extra stabilizer to the final run. It won't hurt and maybe will help keep varnish from forming.

 

I've had the same experience as Goldstar here in Iowa. My Weedeater is about thirty years old now. I've just used gas from the pump/ethanol and before that the unleaded when it became the mandate.

I've always mixed at about 20:1, put in one carb kit about three years ago, and I can't guess how much trimmer string. It's still a strong little trimmer.

Sometimes I wish it would give out so my wife would let me get a new one .

 

If by premium you mean higher octane (92 in my area) then not only do I think it doesn't matter, I think it just won't work.
I put premium gas in my lawn tractor by mistake and had to empty it back into the container. The engine just wouldn't start up with it. Yet the 87 octane started it right up.
At least it did prove to me that there is a difference.