Do you use a fuel additive, which one?

bobkatmsu wrote:

2oldman wrote:
Is this a really old generator?
gas treatment post

2007 Safari Simba with a Onan 5500 generator.

Well before 2007, practically all small gas engines (carbs, jets, fuel lines, seals and gaskets) were built to run on E10 gas.

We've been running E10 since the mid-90's, exclusively. The issues in the mid-90's when E10 came out was engines running too lean (burning holes in pistons and overheating valves), not much more. The rest was hearsay and tails.

So while I'm against the grain here, I'm 100%, yes 100% sure E10 gas is not to blame. As with any rubber hose, from any time in history, they fail. It could be an age issue, temp, environment, or simply old gas that ate that fuel line. It happens!

E10 is here to stay, and if you don't like E10, well brace yourself for E15 and fewer stations who carry straight gas. Its only a matter of time.

ArchHoagland wrote:

wny_pat wrote:
StaBil has a additive for ethanol gas. I use it in the snowblower and the Country Clipper lawn mower. Good stuff. Don't use it in the cars. Glad my motorhome is diesel!!! http://www.goldeagle.com/engine_care/411onethanol.aspx

Ha...the EPA is helping you out on diesel too. Do ULSD and DEF ring a bell?

It never ends!!!!

I just worry about the lubricity, and know nothing about DEF. And I want to continue to know nothing about electronic controlled diesels too! The old Cummins runs just fine without that stuff.

I'll throw in my 2 cents and reccomend Star Tron by Star Brite. I use it in the boat and the rv...both of which had periods of sitting a long time. They both ran normally each time we used them again.

wny_pat wrote:
StaBil has a additive for ethanol gas. I use it in the snowblower and the Country Clipper lawn mower. Good stuff. Don't use it in the cars. Glad my motorhome is diesel!!! http://www.goldeagle.com/engine_care/411onethanol.aspx

Ha...the EPA is helping you out on diesel too. Do ULSD and DEF ring a bell?

It never ends!!!!

StaBil has a additive for ethanol gas. I use it in the snowblower and the Country Clipper lawn mower. Good stuff. Don't use it in the cars. Glad my motorhome is diesel!!! http://www.goldeagle.com/engine_care/411onethanol.aspx

SeaFoam or Stabil, I prefer Seafoam as it's shelf life seems longer.

Our generator runs off the gasoline in the tank of our motorhome. When we are parking for a month or longer, we add Stabil to the motorhome gas tank and then run both the motorhome and the generator for a short time to get it thru all the lines. So far not problems and we sit for up to 6 months at a time.

Bumpyroad wrote:
get non ethanol containing gasoline. it does cost more and there are sources for it. also a problem with outboard motors, lawn mowers, jet skis etc.
bumpy

A local outboard/small engine shop owner recommended 100LL avgas to avoid ethanol problems - especially where the gas might get 'old'. My buddy had those problems at his vacation home so he filled up his chain saw, weed whacker and lawn mower with avgas. Sounded like a great idea, but they all quit running immediately! He's taking them in to the shop to find out what went wrong.

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Ethanol gas is the problem......don't know of an additive that will 'change' ethanol gas.
That junk should be removed from the market.
Eats up fuel lines, destroys fuel pumps, results in lower mpg....costs more, and impacts food pricing.

...and the Feds want to up it to 15% from the current 10%.

I have used Chevron Fuel injector cleaner from Costco, comes in box of six for about $20. I add five bottles before a trip about once a year. I make sure to run the generator for an hour or so during that trip so it's getting cleaned too.

I have also run Seafoam, about three containers for it and about $9 per can at Walmart.

Saw non ethanol gas for sale in Boise while on a trip. It was about 70 cents more per gallon.

I also saw 110 octane gas for sale in Salt Lake City. Don't know how much it cost but I had never seen it for sale before.