VP Racing Pre-mix fuel

So a local gas station just rebranded from BP to VP Racing.

I'm told the pump gas is the same-old, same-old from BP (E10). But inside they are now selling VP Racing products - race fuel, small engine fuel, additives, by the container. No ethanol of course, 94 octane. Pretty cool, but not cheap. A 5 gal can of their 2 stroke 50:1 costs $84. That's $4.20/quart, if you want to compare it to Tru-Fuel or Stihl canned fuel. It claims a shelf life of months.
http://www.vp-sef.com/index.php/why-vp-sef

I'm in the fortunate position of having options. I can drive 15 min in the other direction and get 91 octane E0 fuel and add the oil myself, which is much cheaper (around $1.00/quart). But after a few months I know I should pour the leftovers into my mower and buy fresh again.

For me I'm not seeing the benefit of the VP racing stuff. Is there any other reason I should consider it?

Thanks,

David

 

I bought 5 gallons for storage fuel. I got the 94 octane plain and mix it with whatever oil I want. I'm going to put it I the weedeater and mower this fall when they won't be used again til spring.

 

I use regular old fuel when cutting. Use tru-fuel or vp for last tank or two when about done because it may be 9-10 months sometimes before I cut again.

 

same here, but I'm using AV gas. About $5.50 a gallon for 100+octane

 

I get the 91 octane non ethanol pump fuel and mix it my self. I have had some of that fuel up to 5 months old and it does not go bad on me. There is no ethanol to separate and it does not attract water. For me the 91 octane is plenty good enouph for some of my saws with compression as high as 180 to 190 psi. I believe the ethanol is what makes most pump fuels go bad.

 

E10 was mandated here by the governor. so, there is no non-ethanol to be had. at least not in central pa.
Avgas is easy to get.

 

Hey you use what you can get, nothing wrong there.

 

our local stihl dealer is selling/recommending AVgas also. he says he has sold about 3000 gallons over the last couple years

 

Not quite true:
http://pure-gas.org/extensions/map.html

However there's nothing close to Altoona on the map.

David

 

Shelf life of VP SEF is indefinate if left in a sealed container, and as the link you provided says, it is intended for long term storage. I have been using it for a little while now, equipment runs flawlessley.

You can get 5 gallons for cheaper than that
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/381068482752?lpid=82&chn=ps

 

I live a smidge east of pittsburgh and i can get 90 e free a few minutes away

 

I won't use 100LL in a saw!!!!! LEAD????

 

I should have made that a little clearer.
there is none in our area (60 miles is too far to go for non-E)

Pa is one of six states that mandated e10, BUT,
only if the minimum production can cover the mandate...which it doesn't
thats why there is still many stations that can sell pure gas

(some states have repealed the mandate due to production issues
Maine voluntarily went 100% ethanol blend, then voted to ban it all together)


we got our first e85 station in altoona this year(Sheetz on Frankstown road). cant imagine they sell much

 

For 17$ a gallon they can keep it.

 

but it takes a lot more of it ?
less btu's per gallon

 

Not going to start a debate here on it. Just my real world experiences.

Last work truck was a 07 Dakota with the v8 flex fuel motor.

It did about 13-16 mpg on my normal driveing . I got E85 on two tanks. I drove past regular stations with e10 for less money at the time or same. Anyway forget the price it was more I think?? The opposite of what it normally is. Anyway. On two different tanks the e85 returned 8 and 10 mpg respectively!!!

That truck got like 275ish miles per tank. I think I barely got 200 miles per tank or less on those two!!! With that truck it already felt like I got gas every day or two. I literally had to gas the next day almost on those fill ups!!!

 

I use either Sunoco Optima ,or VP SEF four cycle fuel in my saws . I add my choice of oil when I need a new batch ( 32-1 ) . Not a cheap way to go , but it stores well ,and the saws like it . My test rig is my old string trimmer . It has never had the fuel drained . Sometimes it'll sit unused for a couple of years without use . When called on it always starts and has never had any fuel related failures . So , I'm sold on using the fuel I do .

 

The puregas map shows only 1 station within 50 miles of me. My saw and my trimmer will be eating E-10 and had better like it. For layup I do have some canned fuel.

 

I just don't know........
I have been running small engines for 30+ years and have never had fuel issues, I fill them up, run them put them away and take them out and start them. Heck I don't even use stabil in the gas.
What are you guys doing wrong????
IP runs and hides.