Denny & Jami wrote:
mockturtle wrote:
My mechanic suggests I use an ethanol treatment in my fuel tank to counteract the effects of ethanol on my generator and I have found this to work very well. It had been running a little rough even though I just had the carb cleaned. However, it gets expensive with a 55 gallon fuel tank. Is there any other solution to this problem? (I am not a mechanic).
Here is my solution; First change where you are buying gas to make sure that that's not the problem. Stop using treatments because they are not necessary with 10% ethanol, ethanol is a good cleaner and it will remove any dirt or moisture from your system but that crude has to go somewhere so it has to be burned making it run rough until it'a all gone. Also remember that all the crude that's in the stations tanks also will get cleaned out and you will end up burning it also. I've been running my generators, lawn mowers, outboards, trucks and cars for years without any problems. We have burned gas in 49 states and the only state that has was worse than Washington for quality is Alaska with Oregon and California right behind. We have also stored our car in our garage for two years with a full tank of 10% ethanol with no problems, we just got back after 8 months this time and it started right up and ran just like it did.
If you start using ethanol in a car or truck that has never had it before it will rough and the mileage will drop because it'a cleaning out your system.
Denny
1). Most places now only have E10 gasoline.
2). It is a well documented fact that Ethanol is NOT a problem free fuel. On the contrary, ethanol ATTRACTS MOISTURE (water). Water in an internal combustion, air aspirated engine is BAD.
3). Ethanol produces varnish almost four times sooner than non-Ethanol contained fuels.
4). Ethanol does "clean," by removing any and all oil based solution that's in gasoline. It also drys/cracks many plastics and rubber hoses, gaskets and liners.
5). E10 formulated gasoline has a documented record of being 10% LESS efficient in complete combustion, than non E10 fuels. This means that with E10 based fuel, ones's MPG's go DOWN by 8-10%.
About the only good thing E10 based fuel does, is burn cleaner. However, there is a big sacrifice to that benefit. ie. less MPG's; accelerated moisture and varnish damage to an engine and/or its components; and higher Maintenence or repair costs with older engines.
A fuel supplement that is petroleum based, does in fact help prevent E10 fuel damage and accelerated wear, due to a complete lack of any lubricating qualities.