Briggs & Stratton develops additive to offset ethanol's effects on small engines

pioneer press ^ | 7-10-13 | Rick Barrett

[Slump Tester]

Thanks for the suggestions. I didn't know there was so much out there. I'm kind of leaning towards the epoxy stuff I'm finding.

I'm running out of reasons to not get that girl out again. It's been in the shed since 84. (I kind of retired it when I got my Moto Guzzis.)

[epow]

I'm glad it ended, but IIRC the article I read said $1.05 total credit to big corporate corn producers and ethanol refiners combined. It looks like one of us read an incorrect article. I'm pretty sure that the article I read a year or 2 ago was posted on FR or some other online source. I don't remember who wrote the article or what publication it was in originally, so it may have been incorrect or out of date.

Whatever the total cost was, IMHO it was a rip off of anyone who uses a gasoline engine. Ethanol totally ruined a leaf blower and a a string trimmer, and it damaged my chain saw before I knew what was causing the problems I was having with those motors. I now pay $4.39 per gallon for ethanol-free gas so my yard equipment and won't be ruined, and that's $1 more than unleaded regular gas in this area.

[Charles Martel]

Be sure to use a product that specifically mentions ethanol resistance and compatibility with fiberglass; some of them are formulated to work on old rusty steel tanks without much thought to fiberglass. Also, make sure it's intended for "slosh" application. If it's a single-stage product (like the one sold by Aircraft Spruce), you can recapture the excess and put it back in the can for additional coats. If it's a mixed binary, you only get one shot.

I'm not sure if the carbs require any updated gaskets or floats on that bike (the forums should have that info), but you definitely want to replace all the fuel line with the newer Gates line that has a green stripe. If it's a pure gravity feed, you should be okay. The biggest pain for classic car and truck owners is the lack of ethanol-friendly mechanical fuel pumps... most end up running an electric pump.

[imardmd1]

I use petroleum ether into the intake to help start my lawnmower. always works.

[Wiggins]

What I have been doing for a while now with my small gas engine equipment is to use a fuel stabilizer and turn off the fuel and allow the engine shut down by running out of gas after every use. It seems to have made a difference so far.

[TurboZamboni]

Ethanol: Fuel For Thought
Everything you need to know about ethanol and your bike

http://www.cycleworld.com/2013/07/05/everything-you-need-to-know-about-ethanol-fuel-and-your-motorcycle/?cmpid=enews071113&spPodID=020&spMailingID=5569584&spUserID=NDA4NTQ3NjU1NDUS1&spJobID=325054972&spReportId=MzI1MDU0OTcyS0

[GailA]

not available here in memphis area that I know of.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Link shows two stations in he Memphis area;

http://pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=TN

[GailA]

It would take a 1/3rd of a tank of gas to get there or more. We are no longer in Memphis, moved out of the cesspit into Tipton Co, Atoka about 2 months ago.

We just moved 22 miles. Down sized a 3,800 sq ft house for a 1,800, with only attic stairs, attic is floored so we will create rooms up there later. We are getting to old to do all that stair climbing and with 3 dogs it was a lot, now they have a big back yard to play in. It is rural, and we love it, like neighborhoods use to be friendly neighbors and kids can play outside here. Not a lot in the way of shopping yet, just a few niche stores and Kroger’s, along with the regular fast food stuff.