Forum Discussion

wopachop's avatar
wopachop
Explorer
Oct 04, 2020

AV gas for the generator

A Facebook friend just posted a spot hes getting AV gas at. Runs it in his generator. Any of you old school guys have advice on slight tuning changes? Lean out the altitude screw maybe? Different plug?

I'm mostly just curious. Enjoy topics like this. Next camping trip maybe I will finally try AV gas. I've heard about people using it for offroad toys.
  • Gdetrailer's avatar
    Gdetrailer
    Explorer III
    Oct 06, 2020
    wopachop wrote:
    Do you capitalize words to help yourself feel like you are being heard? Or do you capitalize words because you feel the general public lacks reading comprehension?

    READING COMPREHENSION for not only you but others that totally insist that one can just walk up and buy AV gas..

    Same goes for "racing gas" which is often mentioned, have several dirt tracks (one is part of the World of Outlaws events), they too do not sell to the general public. That fuel is not road taxed. To get that you MUST have a valid ENTRY PASS for that day/evening of racing.

    In my opinion it makes you look insecure. Like when a kid screams and stomps his feet. Thinking that will make the parents listen better.

    Well now that you point that out, obviously YOU are insecure and stomping YOUR feet because someone injected some real world common sense into your little tiny world.

    E10 is not going to "harm" your equipment, period, E10 HAS been around since well before 1950s and has been called a lot of names like "Ethyl" back then to "Gasohol" in the 1970s (no one wanted to pay the extra money for Gasohol so it kind of faded into the background until it was turned into "saving the Earth" and "reducing reliance on other countries" to make folks feel better about getting less mileage and paying more for it..

    For the record, I am not a fan of these blends, but as I see it, there is no "choice" to be had in most or all states in spite of what a lot of folks tout.

    So, what do you do? Use it, use it up in a timely manner, if you are totally afraid of it, put only enough in and run it out before you put your device to bed.

    We are either gonna read your words or we will skip your words. I recognize your name as someone who i normally skip. But since you were replying to me i had to read what you wrote.

    Most folks only SKIM read, look for KEYWORDS then only read what they want.. Sometimes a bold or caps helps to get the point across loud and clear, especially those who like you are stomping their feet since I just rained on your Ethanol free parade.

    Chinese knockoffs maybe. There is zero chance i would ever buy something like that. Been cleaning and rebuilding carbs for 30 years.

    You DO realize even HONDA uses those same "Chinese knockoff" carbs and pretty much all of the parts of their engines are made in China?

    Remember not everyone lives where you live. Sounds like you have cheap gas there. 87 octane with ethanol added is over 3 bucks here.

    Paid $2.25 per gallon at Sam's club for 87 octane yesterday morning.

    All other stations in my area are $2.50-$2.75 a gallon for 87 Octane and YES every single station is E10 in PA in spite of what that one website says that folks love to quote. Lists a couple in my area and when I contacted them they denied having it.. Well either the Internet is lying or the gas stations I contacted are lying, you take your pick.

    I am basically trying to get the point across to you is don't sweat it, while E10 is not the most efficient fuel, it is here to stay unless you figure a way to get all the tree hugging do gooders to abolish these rules.. And that is going to happen as much as the do do bird coming back to life.

  • DrewE's avatar
    DrewE
    Explorer II
    Oct 06, 2020
    wopachop wrote:
    Nice post thanks. Negative to AV gas that people mentioned is that its leaded. Not good for catalytic converters that you find on automobiles as they are really expensive to replace.

    I used to put my old leaded motorcycle gas into my truck. 2003 silverado. At some point someone told me nah man that will kill your cat and its expensive to replace. In some states smog checks are a pain.


    Leaded gas also causes fouled spark plugs and deposits elsewhere (exhaust valves in particular), and as I understand it is incompatible with fully synthetic motor oils. Leaded fuels, when they were common, were one of the largest contributors to lead in the general environment and towards lead levels in people.

    I find it rather astounding that people will spend extra money to get leaded gasoline for their generators--which are not designed or specified by the manufacturer to operate on--in order to avoid ethanol, which the manufacturer specifically approves and permits.
  • wopachop's avatar
    wopachop
    Explorer
    Oct 06, 2020
    I should have explained better by saying that running old leaded gas through a truck could end up costing you a lot more money if your catalytic converter fails at a smog check.

    Pretty sure they are over a thousand. Its something ridiculous.
  • wopachop's avatar
    wopachop
    Explorer
    Oct 06, 2020
    Nice post thanks. Negative to AV gas that people mentioned is that its leaded. Not good for catalytic converters that you find on automobiles as they are really expensive to replace.

    I used to put my old leaded motorcycle gas into my truck. 2003 silverado. At some point someone told me nah man that will kill your cat and its expensive to replace. In some states smog checks are a pain.
  • BurbMan's avatar
    BurbMan
    Explorer II
    Oct 06, 2020
    I've read that it's advisable to run 91 or 93 in engines with infrequent use like snowblowers, etc and also to use it for 2 cycle mix in chainsaws, weedwackers and the like. The thinking is that hi test contains more detergents and additives and helps keep carbs cleaner in engines that don't see frequent use. I've never heard of using AV gas, but sounds like it's an extension of that same thinking.
  • wopachop's avatar
    wopachop
    Explorer
    Oct 06, 2020
    ajriding wrote:
    The gen is made to run on that ethanol blend, but ethanol still breaks down and makes a mess,
    Yes exactly that. We deal with what we can get. I buy StarTron ethanol treatment and try to talk myself into thinking its working. Im in charge of maintaining around 15 small engines. My nightmare is having a camping trip coming up and having to deal with all the issues that ethanol gas causes.
  • ajriding's avatar
    ajriding
    Explorer II
    Oct 06, 2020
    I run 100% gas in all my small engines. The gen is made to run on that ethanol blend, but ethanol still breaks down and makes a mess, so I try to not do it and if I do I run it completly out then add 100% back in for even short storage.

    You can get quality gas, racing fuel, at a motorcycle shop. They sell it in steel buckets, and in a steel container the gas will store for a lot longer than a plastic container. It is high octane, and easier to get that AV fuel as its just on the shelf at a motorcycle shop.

    I dont bother. I dont need that extra boost as I am not racing... lol
  • wopachop's avatar
    wopachop
    Explorer
    Oct 06, 2020
    Chum lee wrote:


    Well then, . . . rather than just "listening to your buddy" I suggest you go try it today! Please post your findings.

    Chum lee
    Its 4 hours away from me amigo or i would be cycling my generator on AV gas right now. Been 3 months im lagging on it. Normally try to cycle every 1-2 months.

    The AV gas location im talking about is only 20 minutes from where me and my friends go camping. We all boondock so the AV gas in the generator for $3.50 is one option to consider.

    Was curious to hear what other RV owners thought of it. Glad to see pilots who use the stuff reply. Those are opinions i value greatly because they buy the fuel with their own hard earned money.
  • wopachop's avatar
    wopachop
    Explorer
    Oct 06, 2020
    Gdetrailer wrote:
    Most small "airports" that have any fuel do not just "allow" folks to walk in and buy AV gas, period.

    In PA, you MUST have a VALID TAIL NUMBER for an AIRPLANE in order to even get close to the pumps let alone dispense and pay for it.
    Do you capitalize words to help yourself feel like you are being heard? Or do you capitalize words because you feel the general public lacks reading comprehension?

    In my opinion it makes you look insecure. Like when a kid screams and stomps his feet. Thinking that will make the parents listen better. We are either gonna read your words or we will skip your words. I recognize your name as someone who i normally skip. But since you were replying to me i had to read what you wrote.

    Gdetrailer wrote:
    And by the way, carbs for most small engines ARE dirt cheap, $18-$30.. Not worth paying $3+ for AV fuel.
    Chinese knockoffs maybe. There is zero chance i would ever buy something like that. Been cleaning and rebuilding carbs for 30 years.

    Remember not everyone lives where you live. Sounds like you have cheap gas there. 87 octane with ethanol added is over 3 bucks here.
  • Gdetrailer's avatar
    Gdetrailer
    Explorer III
    Oct 06, 2020
    Chum lee wrote:
    wopachop wrote:
    Thats a lot of gas cans!! My buddy said you have to walk inside the gate. No vehicles allowed. He posted a picture and circled where the pumps are. Just double checked he wrote $3.50 and posted a picture of his gas cans. Appears to be light blue in color.

    IPL


    Well then, . . . rather than just "listening to your buddy" I suggest you go try it today! Please post your findings.

    Chum lee


    Most small "airports" that have any fuel do not just "allow" folks to walk in and buy AV gas, period.

    In PA, you MUST have a VALID TAIL NUMBER for an AIRPLANE in order to even get close to the pumps let alone dispense and pay for it.

    And YES, I have called a lot of small airports around me that have AV gas and received the same exact answer. Was concerned about running standard E10 in my impossible to replace early 1900 antique auto which does not get driven much and the gas may sit for months at a time. After chasing my tail I decided to not worry so much..Yeah I fell for all of the mass hysteria that it will doom anything it touches.

    So far after 9 yrs of ownership and the vehicle sitting over the winter I am happy to report no damaged carb, no gunked up carb, no damage to the engine and I have never drained out the gas from the tank.

    I have several generators and even a push lawnmower several chainsaws, weed eater in the same situation and after many yrs of ownership, no damage to the carb, no damage to the engine, no gunked up tank, no plugged filters, starts first or second time and runs well.

    And no, I do not "treat" the gas..

    Also pretty much in any state you are not pay "road taxes", getting caught with blue died AV gas will result in a lot of Federal hassles with tax evasion.

    And by the way, carbs for most small engines ARE dirt cheap, $18-$30.. Not worth paying $3+ for AV fuel.

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