Chainsaw Repair

How To Basics - Carb Fixes + Mods - IPL and Service Manuals => How To Basics and Fixes => Topic started by: Cut4fun . on March 20, 2015, 07:15:29 pm

Title: Ethanol
Post by: Cut4fun . on March 20, 2015, 07:15:29 pm
Well my testing of 93 octane pump mix with ethonal is almost complete.  I mixed this batch up back in 2013 in Oct I think if not Sept.
I have been keeping a eye on it for separation etc.  Storing in plastic fuel can which is suppose to be way worse then keeping it stored in metal cans.  None separation never.

I also would take some out and leave in open qt glass jar. Never any separation this way either.

So far I have burned 2 tanks through a leaf blower at WOT at 30mins to 40mins at a time.  Using this old mix instead of my freah mix setting here. Just so I could test and see some more. 

All in all I am 100% happy they way Klotz KL-200 has stayed mixed the entire time.  Ethanol was a non issue using this mix.
Title: Re: Ethanol Separation
Post by: Cut4fun . on March 21, 2015, 12:07:06 pm
Only thing I wonder is how bad the gas degraded during all that time.


Title: Re: Ethanol Separation
Post by: JohnG28 on March 26, 2015, 12:38:44 pm
Thanks for the long term data on this.  Interesting to see that it hasn't separated after more than a year.  You may be right about the fuel itself though, I'd imagine it has lost some of the VOC and is less potent.  Wonder where the octane number is at now?  Good idea and test!  ;D
Title: Re: Ethanol Separation
Post by: 660magnum on March 26, 2015, 12:51:06 pm
My experience using Pennzoil air cooled two stroke oil with pump gasoline  (E10) is much like cut4fun's. But we live only some 10-12 miles apart. So the gasoline may be pretty much the same?

In some areas of the USA, two stroke mix doesn't last well at all. Something is different about the gasoline in some parts of the country?
Title: Re: Ethanol Separation
Post by: JohnG28 on March 27, 2015, 10:42:53 pm
I have no idea? I'd assume most if not all your guys gas comes from the same supplier. I know around here almost all places, regardless of brand, comes from one or two suppliers. Never had any issue with separation here either but I don't generally leave any that would have the chance. Leftover mix from the 6hp Johnson motor we have seems ok the following spring each year but we dump that into the other boat with carburated 4.3 OMC and it doesn't mind.
Title: Re: Ethanol Separation
Post by: Philbert on March 27, 2015, 11:33:33 pm
I tried to get some straight info from a couple of gasoline companies several years ago.  My take aways were: 1) gasoline is blended to meet automobile specifications, not small engines; and, 2) there are a lot of different additives in most gasoline, to meet those specifications, or emissions requirements.

Their comments suggested that some of these additives may change over time, even if the gasoline itself did not.  Might be part of the reason why 'old gas' was not as big of a deal in the 1960's.

The other was the change in the carbs.  My Toro snow thrower with the 2-cycle Tecumseh engine would start on the first or second pull after sitting  for 7 or 8 months, with just a little Stabil in the mix.  But it did not even have an air filter on the carb!  Modern saw carbs are much more fussy.

So, even if you did not get visible separation, there could still be stuff that might gunk up a carb.  I have had some friend's saws that would not start.  After they admitted that the fuel was 4 months old, we dumped it out, put in fresh, pulled 10+/- times to clear the lines, and vrooom.

Philbert

Title: Re: Ethanol Separation
Post by: Cut4fun . on March 27, 2015, 11:55:16 pm
I had no problems starting anything, saws blowers etc with the 2013 mix.  Even left it in one saw since 2013 to make test cuts from time to time. No troubles.
Title: Re: Ethanol
Post by: Cut4fun . on August 07, 2019, 08:51:09 am
Saving info from echo on Ethanol gas.  I am seeing issues in folks that store their mix wrong and in eq setting for long periods drawing in moisture.