Corn Fuel Issues?

Yesterday when I started The Beast (MS 290) it did that funny sound again and acted like it wanted to cut off; after a few times of accelerating the saw it did OK. Today when I went to use the saw, it did the same but it rain well enough that I cut up some dead locust logs that had been here a bit of time; most no good but some good solid wood in some good size rounds. When I went to use the saw later, it would not idle and would cut off; I could start the saw but could not rev the engine as it would go dead. The last time I had running issues with the saw, my friend said it was the fuel. I took a sample and it appeared OK in colour with no particulates that I could see. However, I decide to empty the saw's fuel tank and mix a new batch of fuel. All the starting and running issues went away. I believe it is the ethanol enriched (or deriched) fuel. I don't know what, perhaps the alcohol absorbs water and causes the issues; as anyone knows, water molecules will go into alcohol molecules; you have seen the trick of mixing a cup of water with a cup of alcohol and getting a cup of the combined mixture. I have now witness this twice. I think I will take the trouble and added expense of getting non ethanol gasoline for mixing my saw fuel.

 

Water seperates ethanol from gas, or so I've heard.

 

Any gas in a can at my place has stabilizer added the day I bring it home. I use Stabil. I use it in my lawn tractor, tiller, generator and for 2 stoke mix. I also use only premium fuel that in NB has no ethanol.

I forgot to drain my tiller last fall and it started on the second pull in the Soring with year old gas in it. For the $10 the stabilizer costs me a year it's good piece of mind and I have not had a problem ever. No idea if that is why bit it works for me. I also use Stihl 2 stoke oil and I think it has stabilizer in it as well but a bit extra can't hurt.

last year I picked up one of the pure gas premix bottles from the Stihl deal and ran it through my trimmer and saw before I put them away for the winter. They are about $10 for a litre but I kept the bottle to use as a gas can for taking to the woods. Not sure if I will bother this year as I plan to run the saws all winter.

Hope this helps and good luck.

 

E fuel is a small engine mechanics best friend, as far as drumming up more business. Avoid it if at all possible.
Sounds like you may already have some gunk it your carb though...

 

I do the same thing. I don't burn enough fuel to worry about the few extra bucks for the piece of mind that my small engines aren't gumming up at having the fuel lines get soft.

I would definitely go out of my way to get non-e fuel. Buy it 2 gallons at a time if its only for the saw, add sta-bil to it and mix it a gallon at a time in a smaller portable container for the saw. Ifthe rest of the non-mixed sits too long I will dump it in the truck and start over.

 

My friend mixed this fuel, I will ask him when it was mixed. It looks good in the test bottle but I know the saw would not run on it.

 

I can't disagree with anything you said there except to say that you simply cannot reliably store efuel more than a few weeks without some sort of stabilizer/ethanol treatment added to it...I mean I've done it myself, but you can't count on a good outcome...and I've done it knowing it is a bad idea, but also that I can and will repair any negative results myself. (kind of like the Cobblers barefoot kids)
I'm old enough to remember what is was like working on engines before efuel was common...100% gasoline is MUCH more stable...and caused far fewer gunked up carbs, so I for one will continue to blame ethanol.
Back in the day you could pretty much figure on finding 1 or more of 3 things in a fouled up carb 1. water 2. dirt 3. varnish, but now you just never know what you are gonna find when you open one up...I'm sure you know exactly what I'm talking about.

 

All I run is ethanol fuel, cars boats ATVs snowmobiles chainsaws etc etc.

I have had zero fuel related problems.

 

Only thing I run ethanol in is the cars and truck, ALL small engines from Weed whip to saw to lawn mower run ethanol free premium.

 

...yet

 

Over 10 years of it different machines sitting for months to years!

This is just my personal gear head experience!

 

I agree 100% with you on this.

As MasterMech said, it's not an e fuel thing as much as a poor storage/ equipment issue.

 

It's been over 20 years experience in my gear head existence. Sleds, saws, bikes, quads, pwc, boats, cars, 2 stroke 4 stroke. You name it, no real issues.

 

And you are not treating the fuel or draining the carbs during storage? If you are, then you are compensating for 1 of efuels main shortcomings...no stability. 100% gas will sit in a carb for a few months without causing too many problems...you may need to drain the bowl to get it to fire, but no carb clean normally needed, unless it was in long term storage...or there is water/dirt contamination.
Not tryin to stir the pot here, just saying the vast majority of consumers will have better luck with 100% gas then with efuel in small engines.
I also often use efuel in my stuff...but that has bit me in the butt a few times too. For people that do not repair their own stuff, I always recommend efree gas for their small engines...or they must treat their fuel and then drain for storage to avoid paying me for cleaning and/or rebuilding their carb when things won't run...again

 

I drain when possible. In a vehicle, like a bike or something not so easy to drain that gets seasonal use, I'll run it as low as possible, then fill it with fresh fuel and take it easy the first tank.

I don't use stabilizer anymore, because it has had no effect.

My way works, that's what I know. It's literally been like 25 years of using 10 % ethanol fuel.

Also, most people don't realize that even if a station says it sells ethanol free gas, it can have ethanol in it. If a corporate tanker pulse up with e10, they have to take it. You'd have to test it for ethanol before being completely certain it's e free.

 

All my gear gets E10 87 octane unless I happen to be by the 1 station that sells E-free 90.

I have never drained anything or added a drop of stabilizer.

I've had one fuel related issue in the past 10 years...found some sawdust in my mower's carb this year. Doubt it came from the corn liquor or lack of stabilizer.

I may be ignorant, lucky, or both...but it's working for me.

 

I think it depends on how fast you go through the fuel. My fuel was mixed early in the year and I had not really used much of it at all. If I use ethanol fuel, it will be mixed in small batches that I can quickly consume in the machines. However, I can get non ethanol and will probably do so; it is a bit higher in cost but not a lot higher and I will only buy what I need and not think about storing.

 

Not trying to stir the pot but I don't waste my money on that stuff.

Nope no treatment no nothing, just whatever gas I pumped into them last.
My sleds for example 120+ hp carbed two strokes, they have whatever they had since February? March? Half tank full tank I dunno.
More than enough time hot cold etc for that ethanol to do whatever its supposed to do.
They fire right up every year with no fuss.

Long term storage(years), imo doesn't matter the fuel it should all be drained or replaced.