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@@masshultzy6449 Nothing you can do about it. You replace the gas in your car so often, that you won’t have this problem. In the old days when I mechanicefd in the 1970s, they had have a preparation you could pour in your gas tank if you thought you had water in it. It was basically ethanol, because water is soluble into ethanol, where as water is not soluble into gasoline. Of course it would’ve been better to drain the gas tank. But a lot of the tanks didn’t have drain plugs, so there you were. Of course you could always get a piece of garden hose and siphon most of the gas out of the tank. You could then fill it up with fresh gas and go on. The only problem was the carburetor bowl was full of gas that had water in it. You could often pour good gas from a small container into the carburetor, and get it running until the fresh gas got into the carburetor bowl.
regular push mowers get a piece of debri worked all the way down to the reservoir underneath. just one or two tiny pieces and makes the mower act up pretty good. its usually not the carb, it gets past that and works its way all the way through to the very top of the reservoir where there is a single tiny hole for the fuel, so if a tiny piece of debri finds its way up to the hole,....it has nothing to do with bad fuel. but im only speaking of push mowers since they have that resivor to prevent the mower from starving for fuel on hills. thats why the mowers of yester years use to bog down and or shut of on hill side, they addressed that finally by adding a reservoir system to the carb. thats why alot of mechanics just now are catching up to that change and mechanic in a bottle and that stuff isn't working as good or at all anymore.
Way back in 1974 as a Marine Corps helicopter mechanic, we were taught to always top off the fuel after a flight specifically to prevent /reduce condensation. But it was also important for just in case a crisis occurs the aircraft was fully ready for combat.
@@Old940 Roger that. We were required to check those drains on every aircraft daily whether or not it had been flown. And collect what we drained and have it tested.
The 1969 Toyota LANDCRUISER FJ55 (big 4 door full framed SUV) had a petcock on the bottom of the gas tank to drain water (condensation) out of the gas tank in the morning....just like an airplane gas tank. Also had a big crank to hand start a CRUISER with a dead battery.... Truly, a survival vehicle...plus simple plugs and point. Zero computer crap.
It's no secret the earlier Toyota Land Cruisers were not misnamed. They were designed with a very practical philosophy, and meant to go overland in n very different, and difficult environments.
@@MichaelTheophilus906 I remember those cars. Even though it took some cojones to crank those over, it was a lot better than waiting by the roadside for a tow truck that takes 3 hours to arrive after the dispatcher told you it would be "twenty minutes". Those hand cranks could dislocate a shoulder or break an arm, though.
@@mikemaricle9941 I remember seeing cars, and medium duty trucks with the key way perforation through the grille for the hand crank, which could be dangerous. If the engine backfired, the engaged crank lever could dislocate a shoulder, or break an arm.
Every fall at the end of my mowing/yard work season, I change oil in my 4-strokes and then run the tanks empty in the 4-strokes and 2-strokes. This leaves them stored with clean oil and dry carbs. I've been doing this for many decades and I've never, ever had any startup problem in the spring. Simple.
same here and if i have some fuel left over from last season i will just put a splash in the tank enough to run it for a few secs if it doesn't run its a whole lot easier to drain a splash than a tank full. I've yet to have a problem
It can work. Doing that gave me problems with those large generators on wheels. Issue was a little bit of gas always stayed in the fuel bowl where the main jet is, and that little bit of ethanol gas gets water saturated and clogs up the jet. Even on a Troybuilt 13000 watt gen the float bowl drain is too small to get all the fuel from the bowl and even the drain can clog up, Sometimes I just unbolt the float bowl to let it dry out. I also put a 3 way valve in the fuel line so I can drain out the large tank. Let any gas sit in those generator unsealed tanks and water destroys the gas. Ethanol in gas is a bad idea forced on us by the feds.
really same thing for lawnmowers too. Carbs are vented to the air as they have a float bowl. It is going to get the fuel wet from water in the air. And gas evaporates out of the carb and more fuel flows into the carb from the tank which absorbs more water from the air. Oh, and if you have any steel tanks they are destroyed by rust. And plastic tanks in my area, there is a boring beetle that drills 1/8 holes into all plastic gas tanks. They smell the ethanol and think it is decaying plants. I had every gen tank perforated with tiny holes and all my gas tanks. Welded them up with a soldering iron. Even empty tanks that still smell like ga can attract those 'ambrosia beetles' Look them up.
I own a boat winterizing and storage facility in Canada, we deal with this problem a lot. Ethanol is major issue, fields should be used for growing food.
@@reccocon3442 I don't know about using ethanol in garden engines, but my mechanic says if I use ethanol petrol in my car, he will divorce me, as a customer, as he has had to clean out of lot of car engines that aren't designed for that crap. Told me people just don't read the user handbook that comes in the glove box.
Lol. You're actually wrong about that. Ethanol will actually absorb moisture in gas so it doesn't separate as long as there isn't to much moisture in it. I live in sw Minnesota and around here what alot of truck drivers actually do when they fill their deisel tanks up during the winter is add a quart or so of E85 to the tank to absorb any moisture in it. Alcohol is the main ingredient in fuel additives that are for fuel moisture issues which is actually a more common problem than fuel gelling up. Just plain gas with no ethanol will have more moisture problems than gas with ethanol. How many moisture problems have you heard about with E85? Gas will always take on moisture when it isn't air tight because when it evaporates from liquid to gas it cools and makes the air around it to condensate.
My mechanic, who has worked on everything for 45 years, tells me to put a small plastic bag under all the gas caps on my gas powered equipment over the winter or longer periods of sitting. This seals the cap vent from atmosphere to keep water out. It definitely helps! I also put a screw in the vent tube coming off older dirt bike gas caps for the same reason. It's a good trick you may have previously mentioned. Keep up the good work!
If it helps then you have faulty gas caps and could just replace them. For decades now, equipment (at least in the US) has been required to have one-way caps, with a valve that lets air in due to the engine vac, to displace the fuel used while running, but when the engine isn't running, the cap maintains a seal. You can also have the opposite problem, that gunk clogs up the cap vent and after running a while, vac builds up and chokes off fuel supply.
Just listen, she knows what she is talking about. I'm a motorcycle mechanic in Germany. We have these problems every spring, but only few people listen.
I run my weedeater dry so there is nothing in the carb or tank over the winter. That helps, but the gas in the big tank is what would get me occasionally. I hated to poor out that oil and gas. 75 dollars for a tune up.
Good info, as always. Except I have one point to disagree on. I don't think when pouring gas from the can that the water comes out first. When I pour, I don't turn the gas can upside down, so the gas pours into the spout from the top. The water remains in the bottom of the container until you get to the point where the side of the can is level.
I think she miss spoke, though my chainsaw can is turned upside down and depressed to activate the flow valve. In this case it would be water first. ? 🤷♂
It's worth it to me to pay a little extra for ethanol free fuel, and add some Sta Bil long term storage stabilizer. It over 20 years using this method I've never had water in fuel, rusted float bowls or deteriorated fuel lines, all of which ethanol causes.
Same. If it takes too long to use the 5g gas can (like zero snow this winter, have not even started the snowblower), I dump it in the truck and refill for the small machines.
The ONLY fuel I've been using for the past 10 years in small engines, AND my 8N tractor, is ethanol-free. NO stabilizer, and I've had ZERO carb issues since I switched to the ethanol-free. I'm in Ohio, so humidity is an issue here, too, but not as bad as down South.
Sure, it’s obvious if you can actually get ethanol-free fuel. Enjoy it if you live in a part of the country that sells it. The only ethanol-free supply in southern New Hampshire is canned fuel (like VP), which is $28/gallon.
When I bought my gas strimmer the technical guy on delivery told me this. You empty the fuel tank back in a tight container and start the engine for a few moments until the carburetor dries out. This way on the next project I have to pull the rope a couple of times more but its a sure start. Nobody mentioned moisture but it makes a lot of sense.
That is more likely about just getting the old fuel out, so it doesn't turn to varnish while sitting and gum up the carb, nor sit in the (often cheap) fuel line and rot it or the primer bulb out faster.
Excellent advice. One observation. In really cold weather - like northern Main in January when the temps can drop to - 40 F for days, putting ANY gas with water in it in your car will almost for sure FREEZE in the gas line. One of the groomsmen at my brother's wedding had that happen in Allagash, Maine, January 1 1972
At a Johnson/Evinrude dealer the first thing we would ask a customer who was bringing in there motor was to bring their outboard tank along with the connecting hoses. This is when Ethanol was just showing up at gas stations. Bad fuel was the #1 issue.
Very true, I still ask they bring those in when people show up at my shadetree shop. People have blamed ethanol a lot for about any small engine related problem. My understanding is that ethanol is quite neutral in the operation of ICE (it's claim to fame is retarding the combustion aka acting as octane booster). It sure is hydroscopic but that is a moot point if fuel is used within less than 60 days. The problem seems to be with other ingredients in the reformulated gas that came out at the same time ethanol was brought in. Especially benzenes that will eat up rubber hoses in no time while those are not affected by ethanol (do the test for yourself with rubbing alcool. The crazy side of ethanol usage is not putting it in fuel but rather producing it from corn crops that could feed people and livestock. Regards!
@@danielrobert7181Water, especially high temperature water vapor, is an excellent solvent in its own right. Run e10 gas through cars from the 80s or older and you can get odd effects and poor combustion even when the gas is fresh enough you wouldn't expect much water in it. By the mid 90s it's pretty well a non-issue. Do note that isopropanol (rubbing alcohol) is not the same thing as the ethanol added to e10 gasoline. But yes, the biggest problem with e10 gas is the net-negative energy economy behind it. A liter of ethanol has less energy than a liter of gasoline, but it takes more than a liter of gasoline to make that liter of ethanol from corn. If you needed the ethanol to hit the octane required, maybe it'd be a decent choice, but there are better options by far.
Thanks for making the videos . I would like to add some info. Non ethanol gas is petroleum, hydrophobic does not mix with water. Water is heavier than oil and sinks to the bottom. We used heet (ethanol mixes with water and gas suspending water and is removed with gas) gas tanks use to rust through and we’re not sealed systems. I recommend heet or fill up with ethanol gas once a year. Gas cans suck these days, I make my own spout. Handle your gas properly, and use it up, first in first out. After storage always use fresh gas.
Excellent show girl. Oh FYI I just picked up a Ryobi leaf blower at a pawn shop for $7. I could see what was wrong. So I replaced the primer bulb, fuel line and filter that was discintigrated in the gas tank . The toughest part was getting the pieces out of the tank.
@@haneyoakie14 I purchase VIP Racing Fuel Pre-Mix for all of my two-cycle equipment. It has a sufficient octane rating especially for my Hitachi gas blowers. Tractor Supply usually has a good price on it. I used to purchase non-ethanol gasoline and oil mix but the octane rating was only 87 which is too low for the Hitachi blowers which need 89 or above. I keep OEM rebuild kits for all of my two-cycle carburetors.
I mix a gallon of ethanol free and Red Armor, then I fill 4 empty Tru Fuel quart containers for storage. So easy for pouring and the steel cans are superior for storage.
@@HomeOrchard One of the Murphy stations in my area has 87 octane but the newer one has 90 octane Non-Ethanol gas in my area, don't know why the difference??? Asked a supervisor at the newer one and he said it was because of newer tanks??????🙄🙄🙄
I use ethanol free fuel in all of my small engines and a little Sea Foam but not as much as recommended and my fuel last for up to two years inside my Florida garage which is a cool dry place Vs a hot shed. But I always try to change out my fuel yearly and pour the old fuel in my car a few months before hurricane season. I am a former professional small engine mechanic and have noticed that no matter how much you try to help clients with good advice… they will do their own thing which creates repeated customers! I use Amsoil 2 cycle oil 100/1 mix no matter what the manufacturer suggests because Amsoil is synthetic and not crude oil so it takes less to protect against friction. And a final note on bar oil is that I don’t use it because it’s just refined used motor oil with dye in it, instead I just use new 10W40 motor oil.
Want me to give you a run down on other issues you will have? How bout weather and insurance costs?? You will get your share of other probs don't worry.
After 10 months I was finally able to put my snowblower to use here in tropical Minnesota. Fired. Right. Up. As usual. My 5 gallon can gets 2 ounces of stabilizer and nothing but non-oxy gas. After each use of the snowblower I close the fuel valve & run the line dry. Oil change & lube annually. Ive had it long enough to wear out the friction disk last season. Pulled the sparkplug to check it this season & it looked practically new. Take good care of your tools & equipment and they will take good care of you.
Here in Germany I alwas use Stihl Motomix in all 2-strokes. No mixing and it has a shelf life of about 5 years. been using it for 20 years and never had a problem.
Here in the states, that stuff costs about $50 per gallon. At the pump, gas is around $3 to $4 per gallon. If you're only going through 1 gallon a year, it's doable, but I have 6 tools that require 2-stroke mix, and I'm maintaining 20 acres of oak trees and very tall grass. I can burn through a gallon of fuel in just a day or two when I'm working on the property.
Good Morning! i do know that gas with ethanol does seperate into water in the bottom and sticky gas on top, even with stabil in it. that is why you Always completely drain the gas tank and then run the gas out of the fuel lines and carb. and do Not forget to empty the fuel bowel in the carb. i learned that the hard way. Always start with fresh new gas.
backwards, non e water sits at bottom,, ethanol gas suspends water in it until it can't hold any more, then water settles, suspended water won't burn/work in small engines
I have always put stabile in my plastic 5 gall gas containers at fill up and never had a problem in over 40 years. and I store about 5 of those containers over the winter months, use it in my big tractors and smaller yard equipment. I fill all the equipment tanks to the top and they always start right up in the spring.
@@thgiresimorp9004 You are almost correct, but not quite. Put gas containing ethanol in a glass jar to the 2/3 or so point. Add even a tiny bit of water. Shake jar. Let it sit 5-7 minutes and the water (plus the alcohol) will settle, even though the fuel is nowhere near fully saturated.
When I was employed at a service station, my job was to daily "Stick the tanks". Meaning I had to measure gas and water levels in the underground tanks. The source of the water was a local fuel transport [They have a seagull on their tankers] that increased our water level each time they dumped fuel. Finally had to build a manual pump to reach the bottom and pump out the water.
Stabil is stabling. I stored my pickup beside my house for three full years. I had put a bottle of Stabil into the gas and ran the engine for ten minutes. I knew then the gas with the Stabil was being burned. Three years later I bought a new battery and hoses. I reset the valves. I cranked three times and the engine started and ran smoothly. Stabil really works.
I have a thing called Mr. Funnel. It's a funnel with a water blocking filter element. It will let gasoline through, but it won't let water through. I always use it when I'm putting gas in seasonal equipment, like lawn mowers or snow blowers. I haven't needed to pull apart a carburetor in over 30 years. From experience, I've learned to hate water contaminated fuel.
Spot on Frank. I’ve been using the same funnel for the last 4 years when I fill up all if my carbureted small engines with ethanol gas also. Never have a carb problem
I live in East Texas using 89 octane with 360 fuel stabilizer in a 5 gallon can. I really have not had those issues. I generally don't leave gas in mowers but sometimes I do during winter which I end up draining when spring rolls around. I have found emptying the tank and leaving the cap off for about an hour generally dries out the tank. Everything fires up no issues.
MY FATHER,WHO WAS BORN IN 1913 ALWAYS SAID IF YOURE GOING TO STORE ANY SMALL ENGINE EQUIPPED UNIT,DRAIN THE GAS TANK AND CARB AND PUT THE GAS IN YOUR CAR OR DISPOSE OF IT.WHEN YOU GET READY TO USE IT AGAIN BUY SOME FRESH GAS AND IT WILL SAVE YOU A LOT OF TROUBLE..HE WAS A CARPENTER
What is the big deal with Caps or no caps It's not as if the person is in the room with you yelling their head off It's words You can't hear the words you can't feel the words ringing in your ear So one can say it slightly crazy to say stop yelling
I'm another user of the Mr. Funnel water separating funnel... What's crazy is how much water that can get into rider tanks when they get rained on heavily with the seat up and the tank is under the seat with the cap exposed. I removed at least a cup or more out of one of my riders this past summer when I left the seat up and we had a ton of rain with multiple major storms. luckily, its a Briggs L head twin, and it's very easy to get the water out of the carb and then pull the line to the tank and get the water out.
Mr Funnel is't going to do anything for you if you haf ethanol gas and the water is in solution with the gasoline and ethanol. It will pass right through the screen. It's only the water that out of solution ie: visibly separate from the gasoline, that will get trapped by mr funnel.
Living in the Midwest in the country with multiple small engines, never drained gas or emptied a gas can over the winter, and the only time I had a failure to start in 40 years was a rider with a bum fuel pump.
I only use Rec gas in my 2 strokes, ethanol free but it’s about a dollar more a gallon over high test. They also make water finding paper that will turn purple when it makes contact with water.
I really enjoy watching your channel and I have learned a lot of simple things about my yard tools from your videos. So, thank you! Now I realize that you make your living from gas powered equipment. And I have been using conventional gas powered lawn and landscaping tools all my life. Except when I was a really young kid mowing my dads grass. His old reel mowing didn’t have no motor. I was a workout! Now I’m 73 years old and I live in a suburban area of a big city on the Texas Gulf Coast. So my yard is not very big. Last year my old mower, edger, weed eater, hedge trimmer, etc, etc had just about had it. So I started replacing everything with 40volt name brand equipment. A couple of weeks ago I replaced the old dead Lawn Boy mower. So far the cordless stuff has been really good. So. I would like for you to give you professional option of cordless lawn tools. Thanks!!
I only use Sta-bil in my gas and it's regular 87 Octane. Occasionally in the Winter I put some fuel line antifreeze for my tractors and snow equipment but that's about it. Recently my small generator wouldn't start and I figured it was water. I just opened up the drain bolt on the bottom of the carburetor and let it dribble away. When I went to start it it ran again so no problem there.
fuel line antifreeze is nothing more then methanol ,its different from ethanol .ethanol attracts even more water then plain gas ,hence the corrosion ,but since the auto industry went to ethanol blend gasoline antifreeze is already in it , no need to add more, when you add methanol to gas you basically are using ethanol fuel, the methanol encapsulates the water so it will flow thru the jets and get burned is the only reason it works
Fuel line antifreeze is either methanol (Heet, yellow bottle) or Isopropyl alcohol (red bottle) both absorb water. Methanol absorbs water and turns to scum, Isopropyl absorbs water and you can't see it.
I have been using Ethanol Shield since you mentioned it a couple of years ago. I have not had any issues with any of my small engine equipment. You made a believer out of me. I keep several bottles. I have about 15 different small engine equipment.
I have been using Star Tron for the last ten years and have not had any problems with any of my gas powered units. as far as the water issue after buying fuel with a lot of water in it I purchased a non conductive fuel funnel and it solved all of the water issues.
Thanks for the mostly correct information... ethenol is as you say "hygroscopic" but gasoline is hydrophobic I never use gasoline with ethenol in any small engine period.
I love your video's. Sometimes they are just a reminder of something that I forgot about because I don't see it very often. Other times it is stuff that I haven't seen before and now I get the benefits of you're experience. Thank you for doing what you do.
I love the video, it is so true, and you even get the water from your gas station, like you mentioned where its hot, and even where its cooler, when the major pumps run low, they to get condensation, and so it will end up in your can, I have had that happen of a few occasions, but Never ever dump your contaminated fuel in any vehicle, it will get into your injectors and stall you car/ truck, I learn first hand thinking a 400 horsepower truck will burn it out...I was so wrong..Dispose of the fuel property, don't put it in your vehicle.
A reminder of what we were taught in our youth. Thank you for breaking it down and reinforcing what I should be doing. Always good to hear from people that know their stuff.
Great video, but with a slight clarification in terminology. The issue isn't that gasoline is hydroscopic as stated at 1:24, the correct cause of the issue is that Ethanol is hydroscopic. Pure gasoline (no ethanol) is hydrophobic, which is why you should use ethanol free fuel if you can find it (I use rec gas as it is ethanol free). I am going to give the Ethanol Shield product a try though.
100% agreed, I start using pure gasoline in the mower about a month before winter storage, never had any issues. Come spring, I just use regular gas with up to 10% ethanol.
Ethanol Shield is a great product. Have stored gas for my generator for 2 years + and when I check for water. none shows up in the test and the generator cranks first time. Another thing I do is make sure the gas container is seaaled as much as possible during storage... keeps the condensation way down. Enjoy your videos, they are useful and to the point. Keep telling it like it is!
when growing up we would use a filter to put gas in the gas tank. than the gas tank we would rinse out with gas before we put new gas in the gas can. old gas was a no no to use. be bless and safe. SAVANNAH TN.
You are absolutely awesome!! I run my machines empty and drain carburetor every season( I have 11 small engines for various equipment) and then put plastic under the tank fill and put the cap off. They start first pull every year.
I ran a charter boat business along the coast of Maine for 25 years using 90hp 2 stroke engines. In all that time I had only one serious problem with water in the fuel and it was due to 5 gallons of water contaminated fuel I got that day at the local gas station. I had already run several trips that day with no problem but when I poured an additional 5 gallons (just purchased) into my 27 gallon fuel tank I only made it 1 mile from the dock when the engine quit. After getting a tow back to the dock I siphoned a pint of water out of the bottom of the tank and it was full of water. Long story short it was a Sunday with no stores open so I had to pump 25 gallons of fuel out of the tank using the fuel line primer bulb! I've had problems with forearm tendonitis ever since! The following Monday I drove to the local marine store and purchased a funnel with a screen filter that will allow gas to pass through but not water. Whenever I filled my 5 gallon cans at the gas station I used that filter and I never had water problems again. To test the funnel screen I put it below a water faucet turned on full blast and not a single drop of water passed through the screen. Best money I ever spent and I can't imagine a lawnmower or outboard repair shop not having one!
When I was young in the 50s, most fathers I knew kept their mower gas in clear glass gallon jugs because they could see if it had water in it. I think that would keep government officials awake at night now.
Ethanol free fuel for me, never a problem in my smsll engines. Taryl's fuel treatment video proves the point, Stabil 360 was the only product that allowed pump gas to withstand the storage time.
I think it was luck the Stabil 360 started. It looked like it had gone bad but the gel in the carb formed in good spots. He found none of the fuel stabilizers worked past 12 months. And when filling up with ethanol free gas, the first gallon from the pump goes into the car. There’s almost half a gallon of whatever the previous person filled up with before the ethanol free stuff starts coming out.
@@bobc3454 If it's a blending pump ⛽, not a single, yes. remember, the fuel you buy is only fresh to you, little to no idea when and how much was delivered (added to older fuel in tank) to the retailer. Or the condition of the multiple tanks (refinery, pipe lines,transfer, storage and then delivery to retailer) it's been in previously (water, sludge, rust, previous product contamination) . As for storage, contamination is inevitable, a year old with stabilizer is about it in a can or equipment. Sealed container in perfect conditions, 3 to 4 years is possible but that's pushing it.
@@jeffhill3681 A good strategy for getting fresh(er) fuel is to buy from a high-volume retailer like Pilot, Flying J, etc. Here Wal-Mart's Murphy stations pump a lot of gas and also offer ethanol-free gas and diesel which is convenient if you use both.
Omg...THANK YOU! I didn't hang with my dad when growing up. Now I have a house with front and back lawns. I can't get straight answers with the yahoos I deal with. I was told I have water in my lawnmower gas tank and to use fuel stabilizer. What? How did water get into my tank? Ge couldn't answer. Paid 2 guys $150 bucks for tune ups on my Honda mower. I get it serviced each year. Those guys couldn't answer my questions! Thank you!
Chickanick, always a fun watch, thanks for the channel, it is kind of important stuff. I have an issue with the comment at about the 5:00 mark, as water is heavier than the gas/fuel, it's not until you tip the gas can far enough for the water to flow out of the can that the water will be transferred. Soooo, its more likely that the water comes out as the cannister/gas can is more drained (especially when filling small tanks with a larger gas can) NOT at the beginning of a full can....
Great video. alot of useful information/ and i know this very well. I use to ALWAYS run to the small engine repair shop, BUTT the last time did it AT LAST/ I had to wait 4 months and 3weeks to get my Shindawa weed trimmer back, and after Only buying/bought NON eythonl fuel and after 3weeks of use it stopped running. That when My Wife and I decided to never take ANY equipment back to any repair shop, Instead Schooled ourselfs on how to repair our onw equipment, and so i have bought dozens of equipment that was NOT running and repaired 96% all of them and GOT GREAT DEALS so here we are 14yrs later doing our own simple to detailed work. Thank you for your great video
Good video. I use the Red Max all the time. I quit using the cheap stuff long ago. I've been using a gallon gas can for a long time as well since I don't go through mix that much.
Just curious, you have an exact gallon can? I’m thinking you don’t. When you mix the gas do you fill the van so the way up our trust the gas pump reading?
Fill your tanks and cans to the tops and use cans that have a tight seal. I've stored gas in good cans for over a year with no issues. Taryl Fixes all tested fuel stabilizers and they dont work. There was one that worked marginally. I've stored fuel in my chaisaw for over a year with no issues either. Non ethanol 89 in stable temps and humidity at 50 or lower.
Great video! I know a small local shop that says it keeps them in business! Fortunately here in the upper Midwest Kwik Trip filling stations offer both 87 ($3.36)and 91 ($3.76)octane ethanol free gasoline and each grade has it‘s own dedicated hose/nozzle. Adultered 87 is $2.86. I am using the 87 E-free quite a bit now and usually buy in small quantity. In a small engine does octane have any influence? For winter storage I use Schaeffer’s neutra fuel stabilizer. And the best deal for red armor is the one gallon container I have found. I keep the smaller bottle for mixing and fill it from the large container.👍
I have used ethanol fuel with Stabil in my riding mower for 7 years now and have never had an issue. It always cranks in the spring and I've never had a need to open the fuel system. I even left a push mower sitting for 2 years with the same fuel and it cranked after only a few pulls.
I use this. New Fuel Filtr Funnel 2.7gpm Parker Hannifin - Racor Div Rff1c. It has a screen that allows gas to pass and traps water. They make three sizes for more flow rate. I also have the middle size one. Any gas I put in my lawn equipment goes through these funnels. There are several brands but I went with Racor. they are used widely in aviation where water is a no no. Amazon $42.75 Prime and Walmart $44.08 shipped. Home Depot $47.25.
Chickanic, Thanks for the advice about the fuel issue as it saved me, and probably many others, a trip to the repair shop. My situation: Stihl M55 Yard Boss would run for about a second, if that, after a pull and then stop running. This was after I replaced the carburetor, fuel filter, air filter and spark plug. The guys at the shop took too long to place my unit on the workbench, so I took it back to try to fix it myself. The fuel replacement took me about 10 minutes, and after a carb adjustment, the Stihl M55 Yard Boss ran and I was able to dethatch my lawn. The Stihl gas trimmer is next. Thank you. Sanman.
I bet my husband's 2 cycle oil mixture has water in it. He has 2 and neither will start. He has in a one gallon container but it sits around for years...yes, years. He does not need the 2-cycle mixture much...so, I am sure it is bad. I will mix up some magic for him and pour old out of tank, refill and go from there. Thanks.
The smart move is to always add the two cycle gas to your regular car tank when it approaches 9 months old. It doesn't hurt anything and at least you are not WASTING gas.
For sucking out gasoline, we always (60-70 years ago) used a battery syringe. They may not be readily available now with sealed batteries being popular? So turkey basters may have to suffice. Courtesy of Half Vast Flying
From Hurricane Country, Northern Gulf of Mexico, AMEN ! ! ! Water is the big issue. Every time you have dew on the grass, you have water in your tank ! Ethanol works well up to a point. It works like Dawn detergent. One end of the ethanol binds to water, the other end binds to carbon, gas or oil, so the water is distributed rather staying in pockets. It does not remove water. It dissolves it throughout the gas.
every year I run my lawn equipment bone dry and then spray the carb cyinder and empty tank with fogger. any gas left in the storage containers is put in my car's gas tank so the following spring I am starting out with clean fresh gas.
OMG, that's why. My dad had to take his mower in the last 2 years. Mine has a tight cap that has to come off to pour. It's annoying to unscrew the cap, take that plug off everytime, but it has tipped over and because of that plug, gas stayed in. I guess it keeps water out as well. Thanks for sharing this. I will share this with him.
Thanks Bree, I have been using Ethanol Shield for about 7-8 years. I had seen it in a magazine and thought I would try it. Since using it, fuel related issued reduced substantially. I still use it in my home equipment now that I don't cut for a living. Thanks for reinforcing.
I’m a diesel mechanic. I’m by no means a small engine mechanic. I’ve watched enough of your videos to believe you know what you’re taking about. I’ve tried all the canned fuels when I lived in the city and had 1/8 acre. I notice inconsistency in how my equipment runs. Now I’m in farm country with 5 acres. I’ll take your word and switch back to mixing with no E gas.
I stabilize every can of gas I buy as I keep it for generators. However, I find most of my friends that ask me for help getting their machines running don't. Usually, I have to tell them in a gravelly voice, ' Ain't got no gas in it"....
I tilt the can forward and to the left. Any water will collect in the corner and you can usually see it. Whether I can see it or not I take an 18" piece of PVC with 3' clear hose and siphon from that corner into a mason jar. Check in a few mins and use turkey baster to remove from the jar then pour the gas back into the can. I empty my 2cycle stuff into the can after each use. works great. I love your content!
As a private pilot, water in the gas is a real big factor. Before takeoff, the pilot is always supposed to sample the gas from a special valve located in the bottom of each gas tank. And there is a similar valve to sample gas that is already in the engine compartment….like in the gas “bulb”. Unlike a lawnmower or a weed-eater, if any water somehow forms in the gasoline system, it can really mess up your day! If you are several thousand feet up in the sky….and if the engine starts to sputter….I guarantee that four letter words will start coming out of your mouth as if you were reciting a Gregorian Chant.
I can't thank you enough for the tip on water in my fuel. My gas tank had a lot of water and some sort of crud suspended in the fuel. I never would have thought to check for water. Thank you
Gasoline is Hydrophobic…..the Alcohol in the gas is Hydroscopic … which attracts water…in fact Alcohol has water in alcohol…when you mix the alcohol and gas together, the alcohol allows water to be suspended in the gas you burn.
I run the expensive ethanol free Super Unleaded gas at the local station for my small engines and Generators. If it is going to be stored for awhile between uses, I'll throw in some Stabil and top them off. Never had a problem and most of my engines start right up on first pull. I live in a very high humidity area so...yeah. I have gotten for free in ,some instances, used equipment that all I had to do is drain the gas tank and clean or replace the carburetor. Now on the topic of storage of fuel, I keep my tanks full, the gas cans full and tightly sealed, and throw in Stabil. Good advice and explanations in this video for those who don't know what they are doing. Thanks and keep up the good work!
Gasoline is not Hygroscopic. Ethanol is Hygroscopic. The best way to keep water out of your fuel is to only buy ethanol free gasoline for your small engines. I only buy ethanol free gasoline, when I buy it I treat it with some sea foam and stabil (technially dont have to) and keep it in air tight containers. I can use two year old gas in any of my small engines and they all start first time and run fine. Think about the science... fuel stabilizers cannot ever eliminate water out of a fuel container, where does it go, magic? All a fuel stabilizer does is keep the ethanol mixed so it does not phase seperate and attract more water than it would in solution. It keeps the water that the ethanol continues to attract mixed with the ethanol in solution in the hopes that the water will burn off with the fuel as you use it.
@Susann1984 seafoam cleans and lubricates engine parts, including carburetors and injectors, it also helps move, remove, burn off carbon deposits from incomplete combustion or burnt on oil.
Thank you for the awesome video, afterwards went and bought the large 500mL and small pipes to verify my gas like your demonstration. Love the channel and superb advice you put out.
The boat motor salesmen told me to never use gas with ethanol in it. Once I stopped using ethanol in my gas, I haven’t had trouble with my lawnmowers, boat mowers or any of my small engines.
I have access to ethanol free pump gas (Sunoco Recreational Fuel 91 Octane). I use it mixed with Stabil year round in my small engines and never have a problem. I don't run the tanks dry or top them off at the end of a season. I just put them away as is. It probably helps that I live in New England so it's bone dry here all winter so condensation isn't a problem. Also my gas can I use for my lawnmower all summer gets used for my snowblower all winter so gas never sits for months unused except for what's left in the tanks. My lawnmower always starts on one pull in the spring, Tecumseh 6.5hp that is 18 years old. and my snowblower, 2014 Cub Cadet, starts on the first pull after sitting all summer in the early winter. I think the key is my machines are never run on gas without Stabil added. It just keeps things good.
I got Jason Samko for all my truck videos, not I got someone great for my yard tool and mower videos. Great videos. Love the info and non-biased comments. Keep up the great work.
In Canada we have ethanol but not all the other additives the US has, I always put premium gas in my small engines BUT what I wasn't aware of is that everytime you open you open your gas cans, moist air gets in. I will now ditch the lager gas cans I have and use my 5 litre cans to avoid this issue. Great vid !! thanks
Great video, good mention of the ethanol shield. Never heard of it before, but now I'll watch for it. Even the sta-bil I use has a notice that it can expire. I live in WI so there are sometimes seven months between using certain pieces of equipment. So far the Sta bil has protected everything from water problems. For long term storage DO NOT USE ETHANOL GAS even with sta bil. A car I had not started in three years had ethanol and even with sta bil it created a slimy substance on the bottom of the gas tank. the car started and ran but it soon sucked the slime to the gas pump and plugged up the screen. Would not start. Had to drain and remove the pump to clean it. There was also some hardened crap sticking to the walls of the tank. It was a nasty job removing all that crap. Some local stations in my area have ethanol free for only 30 cents more per gallon. The big name stations often charge a dollar more and there is no need for that. Ethanol can be removed by adding, GASP, water and allowing it to separate.
I live in s. fla and always store 25 gallons of regular gas w/fuel stabilizer added each hurricane season, at the end of the season I use it in my mower and truck with no problems
EXCELLENT video! I found NO ethanol premium gas at some regular gas stations. The pump is labeled as such. Very Expensive. Worth every penny. Hard to find I might add. Put sta bil in the can before filling up. Put the first gallon in my car to clear the hose. Use 87 cheaper gas in my minivan.
I fill up several small gas cans, 1 and 2 gallons, for the season's mowing on my 1/4 acre. At the end of the season, I run the mower's tank dry, drain the oil, and pour any remaining gas from the cans into my car. I refill the oil in the spring. When I drain the oil in the fall, I put an "Add oil" sign on the mower. My Husqvarna mower (Honda engine) looks almost new but it is 13 years old. Lives in a garage. I never change air filters, I just clean them after every mow.
I’ve had a few experiences with straight and 2-stroke gas. Draining to fuel caused the gasket to dry so when I added fuel….a bad leak. Also, I’ve had fewer problems using “high test” (premium) gas AND using a fuel stabilizer. Topping off the fuel tanks AND adding a stabilizer before storing my power washer/snow blower has worked fantastically…first pull starts. Obviously, your mileage may vary…and your guidance is probably the best method…..but I’m a lazy lazy man. 😂
I have a Troy Built 10.5 H.P. rider I use Royale Purple oil and Stabil in the fuel when stored. Fires up faster than most cars when i need to use it. Second year on the Royale Purple oil and last checked it was still Purple. And moonshine or HEET works wonders for water in the fuel. Love the vids Chickanic your awesome.
I found that the weed wacker and leaf blower run much better when the I mix the fuel than that crap they sell at Home Depot that premixed. Fuel stabilizer does work. Don’t know why anyone would argue that point. Excellent video !
I learned this on my own. Every year -no start or start-putt putt and die. Took the carburetor apart and found water. Then water in the tank. Then also in the jug. Now I dump the tank first and put fresh in before trying to start. Old ancient mower carries on. I noticed that the one Petro Canada station must have water as my vehicle won't start easy and smokes black in the morning. Went to Shell and the issue went away. Starts at touching the key and doesn't rev like it's a nutcase.
@@theburnhams2925 I've heard about Heet but never knew if it was something I should consider. I found out since I originally put the comment that there's an intermittent problem going on in the engine electronics causing a misfire on cylinder 4 (it's a I6 Atlas). I don't think it's a fuel issue in relation to the vehicle but yes I keep finding a teaspoon of water formed in my plastic fuel jugs and the lawnmower. Usually I can clean it out its just a headache. I'll check what this Heet product does.
I had this issue all the time until the mecahnic told me about Stabil. I don't take any precautions any more other than adding the Stabil. It is fantastic.
Thanks for Watching! Find a link to all of my "Must Have", Favorite Tools HERE!! www.amazon.com/shop/chickanic?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsfshop_aipsfchickanic_9ERPFPBNGQ924P8NS63B
If I think the gas has water or has depreciated at all, i am not putting that stuff in my vehicles.
@@masshultzy6449 Nothing you can do about it. You replace the gas in your car so often, that you won’t have this problem. In the old days when I mechanicefd in the 1970s, they had have a preparation you could pour in your gas tank if you thought you had water in it. It was basically ethanol, because water is soluble into ethanol, where as water is not soluble into gasoline. Of course it would’ve been better to drain the gas tank. But a lot of the tanks didn’t have drain plugs, so there you were. Of course you could always get a piece of garden hose and siphon most of the gas out of the tank. You could then fill it up with fresh gas and go on. The only problem was the carburetor bowl was full of gas that had water in it. You could often pour good gas from a small container into the carburetor, and get it running until the fresh gas got into the carburetor bowl.
regular push mowers get a piece of debri worked all the way down to the reservoir underneath. just one or two tiny pieces and makes the mower act up pretty good. its usually not the carb, it gets past that and works its way all the way through to the very top of the reservoir where there is a single tiny hole for the fuel, so if a tiny piece of debri finds its way up to the hole,....it has nothing to do with bad fuel.
but im only speaking of push mowers since they have that resivor to prevent the mower from starving for fuel on hills. thats why the mowers of yester years use to bog down and or shut of on hill side, they addressed that finally by adding a reservoir system to the carb. thats why alot of mechanics just now are catching up to that change and mechanic in a bottle and that stuff isn't working as good or at all anymore.
What's a molecle? HeHe! Just teasing.
If you gas can is closed up tight ...can you still get water in it ???
Way back in 1974 as a Marine Corps helicopter mechanic, we were taught to always top off the fuel after a flight specifically to prevent /reduce condensation. But it was also important for just in case a crisis occurs the aircraft was fully ready for combat.
US Army gave the same training in 1981.
@@MrGordy61 Thank you for your service
@@mikewatson4644 Thank you for the acknowledgement. It is still an honor to have served.
You also had drains to check for water and would drain before start up.
@@Old940 Roger that. We were required to check those drains on every aircraft daily whether or not it had been flown. And collect what we drained and have it tested.
The 1969 Toyota LANDCRUISER FJ55 (big 4 door full framed SUV) had a petcock on the bottom of the gas tank to drain water (condensation) out of the gas tank in the morning....just like an airplane gas tank. Also had a big crank to hand start a CRUISER with a dead battery.... Truly, a survival vehicle...plus simple plugs and point. Zero computer crap.
It's no secret the earlier Toyota Land Cruisers were not misnamed. They were designed with a very practical philosophy, and meant to go overland in n very different, and difficult environments.
@@MichaelTheophilus906 I remember those cars. Even though it took some cojones to crank those over, it was a lot better than waiting by the roadside for a tow truck that takes 3 hours to arrive after the dispatcher told you it would be "twenty minutes". Those hand cranks could dislocate a shoulder or break an arm, though.
@@lorenzoparedes2306 Used to start tractors that had a dead battery with a crank all the time.
@@mikemaricle9941 I remember seeing cars, and medium duty trucks with the key way perforation through the grille for the hand crank, which could be dangerous. If the engine backfired, the engaged crank lever could dislocate a shoulder, or break an arm.
@@lorenzoparedes2306 Tractors sometimes wanted to do the same.
I run my machines empty and dry before winter . and never have any problems firing them up in late spring 💪
Every fall at the end of my mowing/yard work season, I change oil in my 4-strokes and then run the tanks empty in the 4-strokes and 2-strokes. This leaves them stored with clean oil and dry carbs. I've been doing this for many decades and I've never, ever had any startup problem in the spring. Simple.
@@boomerguy9935 I’ve done the same thing and it’s always worked for me also.
same here and if i have some fuel left over from last season i will just put a splash in the tank enough to run it for a few secs if it doesn't run its a whole lot easier to drain a splash than a tank full. I've yet to have a problem
It can work. Doing that gave me problems with those large generators on wheels. Issue was a little bit of gas always stayed in the fuel bowl where the main jet is, and that little bit of ethanol gas gets water saturated and clogs up the jet. Even on a Troybuilt 13000 watt gen the float bowl drain is too small to get all the fuel from the bowl and even the drain can clog up, Sometimes I just unbolt the float bowl to let it dry out. I also put a 3 way valve in the fuel line so I can drain out the large tank. Let any gas sit in those generator unsealed tanks and water destroys the gas. Ethanol in gas is a bad idea forced on us by the feds.
really same thing for lawnmowers too. Carbs are vented to the air as they have a float bowl. It is going to get the fuel wet from water in the air. And gas evaporates out of the carb and more fuel flows into the carb from the tank which absorbs more water from the air. Oh, and if you have any steel tanks they are destroyed by rust. And plastic tanks in my area, there is a boring beetle that drills 1/8 holes into all plastic gas tanks. They smell the ethanol and think it is decaying plants. I had every gen tank perforated with tiny holes and all my gas tanks. Welded them up with a soldering iron. Even empty tanks that still smell like ga can attract those 'ambrosia beetles' Look them up.
I own a boat winterizing and storage facility in Canada, we deal with this problem a lot. Ethanol is major issue, fields should be used for growing food.
Xactly ! It's a big gov scam so farmers being dependent on them plus giant AG corps.
Now with food sources and supply, more important, than ever.
@@reccocon3442 I don't know about using ethanol in garden engines, but my mechanic says if I use ethanol petrol in my car, he will divorce me, as a customer, as he has had to clean out of lot of car engines that aren't designed for that crap. Told me people just don't read the user handbook that comes in the glove box.
You should also fog your motor every fall before storage
Boat…Break Out Another Thousand.
Lol. You're actually wrong about that. Ethanol will actually absorb moisture in gas so it doesn't separate as long as there isn't to much moisture in it. I live in sw Minnesota and around here what alot of truck drivers actually do when they fill their deisel tanks up during the winter is add a quart or so of E85 to the tank to absorb any moisture in it. Alcohol is the main ingredient in fuel additives that are for fuel moisture issues which is actually a more common problem than fuel gelling up. Just plain gas with no ethanol will have more moisture problems than gas with ethanol. How many moisture problems have you heard about with E85? Gas will always take on moisture when it isn't air tight because when it evaporates from liquid to gas it cools and makes the air around it to condensate.
My mechanic, who has worked on everything for 45 years, tells me to put a small plastic bag under all the gas caps on my gas powered equipment over the winter or longer periods of sitting. This seals the cap vent from atmosphere to keep water out. It definitely helps! I also put a screw in the vent tube coming off older dirt bike gas caps for the same reason. It's a good trick you may have previously mentioned. Keep up the good work!
If it helps then you have faulty gas caps and could just replace them. For decades now, equipment (at least in the US) has been required to have one-way caps, with a valve that lets air in due to the engine vac, to displace the fuel used while running, but when the engine isn't running, the cap maintains a seal.
You can also have the opposite problem, that gunk clogs up the cap vent and after running a while, vac builds up and chokes off fuel supply.
Just make sure it is a ziplock plastic bag and not a WalMart plastic grocery bag that will break down into tiny particles that fall into the gas tank
@@stinkycheese804
You’re totally wrong child.
A plastic bag over top of the whole gas cap will do the same.
Just listen, she knows what she is talking about. I'm a motorcycle mechanic in Germany. We have these problems every spring, but only few people listen.
ethanol?
I run my weedeater dry so there is nothing in the carb or tank over the winter. That helps, but the gas in the big tank is what would get me occasionally. I hated to poor out that oil and gas. 75 dollars for a tune up.
Good info, as always. Except I have one point to disagree on. I don't think when pouring gas from the can that the water comes out first. When I pour, I don't turn the gas can upside down, so the gas pours into the spout from the top. The water remains in the bottom of the container until you get to the point where the side of the can is level.
I fail to understand the number of her subscribers.
I agree fuel floats on top of water
I think she miss spoke, though my chainsaw can is turned upside down and depressed to activate the flow valve. In this case it would be water first. ? 🤷♂
@@movaughn20 miss spoke, seems she does that a lot.
That depend of what type of container do you have.
Fantastic reminder! Water doesn't burn. Your suggestions on how to deal with it are excellent.
It's worth it to me to pay a little extra for ethanol free fuel, and add some Sta Bil long term storage stabilizer. It over 20 years using this method I've never had water in fuel, rusted float bowls or deteriorated fuel lines, all of which ethanol causes.
Same. If it takes too long to use the 5g gas can (like zero snow this winter, have not even started the snowblower), I dump it in the truck and refill for the small machines.
The ONLY fuel I've been using for the past 10 years in small engines, AND my 8N tractor, is ethanol-free. NO stabilizer, and I've had ZERO carb issues since I switched to the ethanol-free. I'm in Ohio, so humidity is an issue here, too, but not as bad as down South.
Using non-ethanol gas is too simple!!! How else would she shill additive products if she told people to do that?
Sure, it’s obvious if you can actually get ethanol-free fuel. Enjoy it if you live in a part of the country that sells it. The only ethanol-free supply in southern New Hampshire is canned fuel (like VP), which is $28/gallon.
Yeah, but you ruin al gore's business.😂
She has such good delivery - made to teach technical info.
I like female tradies. They have a way to explain things to female customers. Fellas understandably give up. 😂🤣
When I bought my gas strimmer the technical guy on delivery told me this. You empty the fuel tank back in a tight container and start the engine for a few moments until the carburetor dries out. This way on the next project I have to pull the rope a couple of times more but its a sure start. Nobody mentioned moisture but it makes a lot of sense.
That is more likely about just getting the old fuel out, so it doesn't turn to varnish while sitting and gum up the carb, nor sit in the (often cheap) fuel line and rot it or the primer bulb out faster.
Make sure you have your fuel stabilizer in there! that it will be winterized
@@stinkycheese804no fuel = no water or varnish.
I got really tired of cranking that trimmer, now my Craftsman V20 starts every time and,.... no vibration and no ear plugs.
Excellent advice. One observation. In really cold weather - like northern Main in January when the temps can drop to - 40 F for days, putting ANY gas with water in it in your car will almost for sure FREEZE in the gas line. One of the groomsmen at my brother's wedding had that happen in Allagash, Maine, January 1 1972
At a Johnson/Evinrude dealer the first thing we would ask a customer who was bringing in there motor was to bring their outboard tank along with the connecting hoses. This is when Ethanol was just showing up at gas stations. Bad fuel was the #1 issue.
Good thinking!
Right you are! That ethanol gas really absorbs moisture! Motorcyclists that only ride on weekends have a serious problem with it.
Very true, I still ask they bring those in when people show up at my shadetree shop. People have blamed ethanol a lot for about any small engine related problem. My understanding is that ethanol is quite neutral in the operation of ICE (it's claim to fame is retarding the combustion aka acting as octane booster). It sure is hydroscopic but that is a moot point if fuel is used within less than 60 days. The problem seems to be with other ingredients in the reformulated gas that came out at the same time ethanol was brought in. Especially benzenes that will eat up rubber hoses in no time while those are not affected by ethanol (do the test for yourself with rubbing alcool. The crazy side of ethanol usage is not putting it in fuel but rather producing it from corn crops that could feed people and livestock. Regards!
Best engines ever made!!!
@@danielrobert7181Water, especially high temperature water vapor, is an excellent solvent in its own right. Run e10 gas through cars from the 80s or older and you can get odd effects and poor combustion even when the gas is fresh enough you wouldn't expect much water in it. By the mid 90s it's pretty well a non-issue.
Do note that isopropanol (rubbing alcohol) is not the same thing as the ethanol added to e10 gasoline. But yes, the biggest problem with e10 gas is the net-negative energy economy behind it. A liter of ethanol has less energy than a liter of gasoline, but it takes more than a liter of gasoline to make that liter of ethanol from corn. If you needed the ethanol to hit the octane required, maybe it'd be a decent choice, but there are better options by far.
Thanks for making the videos . I would like to add some info. Non ethanol gas is petroleum, hydrophobic does not mix with water. Water is heavier than oil and sinks to the bottom. We used heet (ethanol mixes with water and gas suspending water and is removed with gas) gas tanks use to rust through and we’re not sealed systems. I recommend heet or fill up with ethanol gas once a year. Gas cans suck these days, I make my own spout. Handle your gas properly, and use it up, first in first out. After storage always use fresh gas.
Excellent show girl. Oh FYI I just picked up a Ryobi leaf blower at a pawn shop for $7. I could see what was wrong. So I replaced the primer bulb, fuel line and filter that was discintigrated in the gas tank . The toughest part was getting the pieces out of the tank.
Thank you for this great information. You have taught this 52 year man so much over the years. This is really one of my favorite channels
As for 2 stroke premix: I mix a quart at a time in an old Mobil-1 bottle. Gallon takes too long to consume.
I use a 500 ml empty water bottle. For 50:1, 10ml oil, then fill with gas and shake. 500 ml usually fills an empty tank on a weedeater or saw.
@@haneyoakie14 I purchase VIP Racing Fuel Pre-Mix for all of my two-cycle equipment. It has a sufficient octane rating especially for my Hitachi gas blowers. Tractor Supply usually has a good price on it. I used to purchase non-ethanol gasoline and oil mix but the octane rating was only 87 which is too low for the Hitachi blowers which need 89 or above. I keep OEM rebuild kits for all of my two-cycle carburetors.
I mix a gallon of ethanol free and Red Armor, then I fill 4 empty Tru Fuel quart containers for storage. So easy for pouring and the steel cans are superior for storage.
@@HomeOrchard One of the Murphy stations in my area has 87 octane but the newer one has 90 octane Non-Ethanol gas in my area, don't know why the difference??? Asked a supervisor at the newer one and he said it was because of newer tanks??????🙄🙄🙄
@@wallychambe1587whats the correct answer ?
I use ethanol free fuel in all of my small engines and a little Sea Foam but not as much as recommended and my fuel last for up to two years inside my Florida garage which is a cool dry place Vs a hot shed. But I always try to change out my fuel yearly and pour the old fuel in my car a few months before hurricane season. I am a former professional small engine mechanic and have noticed that no matter how much you try to help clients with good advice… they will do their own thing which creates repeated customers!
I use Amsoil 2 cycle oil 100/1 mix no matter what the manufacturer suggests because Amsoil is synthetic and not crude oil so it takes less to protect against friction.
And a final note on bar oil is that I don’t use it because it’s just refined used motor oil with dye in it, instead I just use new 10W40 motor oil.
I solved the storage issue by moving to FL. Mow year round. Nothing gets stored.
NICE! 👍
Same down here in SE TX
Want me to give you a run down on other issues you will have? How bout weather and insurance costs?? You will get your share of other probs don't worry.
@@jaimhaas5170 Sure give me the run down. Been here 35 years. I'm not worried.
After 10 months I was finally able to put my snowblower to use here in tropical Minnesota. Fired. Right. Up. As usual.
My 5 gallon can gets 2 ounces of stabilizer and nothing but non-oxy gas. After each use of the snowblower I close the fuel valve & run the line dry. Oil change & lube annually. Ive had it long enough to wear out the friction disk last season. Pulled the sparkplug to check it this season & it looked practically new.
Take good care of your tools & equipment and they will take good care of you.
Here in Germany I alwas use Stihl Motomix in all 2-strokes. No mixing and it has a shelf life of about 5 years. been using it for 20 years and never had a problem.
Here in the states, that stuff costs about $50 per gallon. At the pump, gas is around $3 to $4 per gallon. If you're only going through 1 gallon a year, it's doable, but I have 6 tools that require 2-stroke mix, and I'm maintaining 20 acres of oak trees and very tall grass. I can burn through a gallon of fuel in just a day or two when I'm working on the property.
2 stroke oil has always kept my gasoline fresh.
Awfully expensive!!! Just mix your own.
@@leechjim8023 Here it's only about $15 a gallon. Well worth it to me.
@@chrismiller100 Here it is only about $15 a gallon.
I have never even heard of this being an issue…
You just made me so grateful to live in arid Utah.
Yes, our gas gets “old” but no water.
Good Morning! i do know that gas with ethanol does seperate into water in the bottom and sticky gas on top, even with stabil in it. that is why you Always completely drain the gas tank and then run the gas out of the fuel lines and carb. and do Not forget to empty the fuel bowel in the carb. i learned that the hard way. Always start with fresh new gas.
backwards, non e water sits at bottom,, ethanol gas suspends water in it until it can't hold any more, then water settles, suspended water won't burn/work in small engines
I have always put stabile in my plastic 5 gall gas containers at fill up and never had a problem in over 40 years. and I store about 5 of those containers over the winter months, use it in my big tractors and smaller yard equipment. I fill all the equipment tanks to the top and they always start right up in the spring.
@@thgiresimorp9004 You are almost correct, but not quite. Put gas containing ethanol in a glass jar to the 2/3 or so point. Add even a tiny bit of water. Shake jar. Let it sit 5-7 minutes and the water (plus the alcohol) will settle, even though the fuel is nowhere near fully saturated.
I stabilize my fuel (I'm usually stuck with ethanol) and have never had this issue.
What do do with the old gas?
When I was employed at a service station, my job was to daily "Stick the tanks". Meaning I had to measure gas and water levels in the underground tanks. The source of the water was a local fuel transport [They have a seagull on their tankers] that increased our water level each time they dumped fuel. Finally had to build a manual pump to reach the bottom and pump out the water.
COULD THAT.WATER HAVE INCREASED THE.SUPPLIER PROFIT SHORT TERM SUPPLYING WATER INSTEAD OF PETROL ?
@@aimaction7393 Nah. They don't do that.
Stabil is stabling. I stored my pickup beside my house for three full years. I had put a bottle of Stabil into the gas and ran the engine for ten minutes. I knew then the gas with the Stabil was being burned. Three years later I bought a new battery and hoses. I reset the valves. I cranked three times and the engine started and ran smoothly. Stabil really works.
I have a thing called Mr. Funnel. It's a funnel with a water blocking filter element. It will let gasoline through, but it won't let water through. I always use it when I'm putting gas in seasonal equipment, like lawn mowers or snow blowers. I haven't needed to pull apart a carburetor in over 30 years. From experience, I've learned to hate water contaminated fuel.
frankmartin: holy crap, that's what we need. Going to look for one right now! Water will kill you in an aircraft.
I’ll have get that funnel
Spot on Frank. I’ve been using the same funnel for the last 4 years when I fill up all if my carbureted small engines with ethanol gas also. Never have a carb problem
I use non-ethanol gas and run it through a Mr. Funnel on every fill-up.
Wow, I just looked up Mr Funnel.
Do you clean and reuse filter or do you have to find replacements.
I can’t seem to find filter alone
I live in East Texas using 89 octane with 360 fuel stabilizer in a 5 gallon can. I really have not had those issues. I generally don't leave gas in mowers but sometimes I do during winter which I end up draining when spring rolls around. I have found emptying the tank and leaving the cap off for about an hour generally dries out the tank. Everything fires up no issues.
I’ve been using Sta Bil for decades. Its served me very well
And only costs you hundreds in the long run. Never used it and never will. JUST RUN TANKS DRY.
MY FATHER,WHO WAS BORN IN 1913 ALWAYS SAID IF YOURE GOING TO STORE ANY SMALL ENGINE EQUIPPED UNIT,DRAIN THE GAS TANK AND CARB AND PUT THE GAS IN YOUR CAR OR DISPOSE OF IT.WHEN YOU GET READY TO USE IT AGAIN BUY SOME FRESH GAS AND IT WILL SAVE YOU A LOT OF TROUBLE..HE WAS A CARPENTER
No need to yell.
@@senatorjosephmccarthy2720lol
Have you considered that this person may not know how to toggle between caps upper and lower case?
Yes LMAOOO
What is the big deal with Caps or no caps
It's not as if the person is in the room with you yelling their head off
It's words
You can't hear the words you can't feel the words ringing in your ear
So one can say it slightly crazy to say stop yelling
I'm another user of the Mr. Funnel water separating funnel... What's crazy is how much water that can get into rider tanks when they get rained on heavily with the seat up and the tank is under the seat with the cap exposed. I removed at least a cup or more out of one of my riders this past summer when I left the seat up and we had a ton of rain with multiple major storms. luckily, its a Briggs L head twin, and it's very easy to get the water out of the carb and then pull the line to the tank and get the water out.
Hey Pat!!
@@Chickanic Hello from the land of snow 😃
Those Mr. Funnels are great. If I have stored gas that has been sitting for a while, I'll run it through the Mr. Funnel before using it.
@@Chickanic Have you considered doing a review of the Mr funnel or similar designed water separating device?
Mr Funnel is't going to do anything for you if you haf ethanol gas and the water is in solution with the gasoline and ethanol. It will pass right through the screen. It's only the water that out of solution ie: visibly separate from the gasoline, that will get trapped by mr funnel.
Living in the Midwest in the country with multiple small engines, never drained gas or emptied a gas can over the winter, and the only time I had a failure to start in 40 years was a rider with a bum fuel pump.
I only use Rec gas in my 2 strokes, ethanol free but it’s about a dollar more a gallon over high test. They also make water finding paper that will turn purple when it makes contact with water.
I really enjoy watching your channel and I have learned a lot of simple things about my yard tools from your videos. So, thank you! Now I realize that you make your living from gas powered equipment. And I have been using conventional gas powered lawn and landscaping tools all my life. Except when I was a really young kid mowing my dads grass. His old reel mowing didn’t have no motor. I was a workout! Now I’m 73 years old and I live in a suburban area of a big city on the Texas Gulf Coast. So my yard is not very big. Last year my old mower, edger, weed eater, hedge trimmer, etc, etc had just about had it. So I started replacing everything with 40volt name brand equipment. A couple of weeks ago I replaced the old dead Lawn Boy mower. So far the cordless stuff has been really good. So. I would like for you to give you professional option of cordless lawn tools. Thanks!!
I only use Sta-bil in my gas and it's regular 87 Octane. Occasionally in the Winter I put some fuel line antifreeze for my tractors and snow equipment but that's about it. Recently my small generator wouldn't start and I figured it was water. I just opened up the drain bolt on the bottom of the carburetor and let it dribble away. When I went to start it it ran again so no problem there.
fuel line antifreeze is nothing more then methanol ,its different from ethanol .ethanol attracts even more water then plain gas ,hence the corrosion ,but since the auto industry went to ethanol blend gasoline antifreeze is already in it , no need to add more, when you add methanol to gas you basically are using ethanol fuel, the methanol encapsulates the water so it will flow thru the jets and get burned is the only reason it works
Fuel line antifreeze is either methanol (Heet, yellow bottle) or Isopropyl alcohol (red bottle) both absorb water. Methanol absorbs water and turns to scum, Isopropyl absorbs water and you can't see it.
I have been using Ethanol Shield since you mentioned it a couple of years ago. I have not had any issues with any of my small engine equipment.
You made a believer out of me.
I keep several bottles.
I have about 15 different small engine equipment.
I have been using Star Tron for the last ten years and have not had any problems with any of my gas powered units. as far as the water issue after buying fuel with a lot of water in it I purchased a non conductive fuel funnel and it solved all of the water issues.
Same here. I have had gas stored 5 years and there were no problems with it. I never drain or run my equipment dry for the winter and have no issues.
Thanks for the mostly correct information... ethenol is as you say "hygroscopic" but gasoline is hydrophobic I never use gasoline with ethenol in any small engine period.
I love your video's. Sometimes they are just a reminder of something that I forgot about because I don't see it very often. Other times it is stuff that I haven't seen before and now I get the benefits of you're experience. Thank you for doing what you do.
your videos
I love the video, it is so true, and you even get the water from your gas station, like you mentioned where its hot, and even where its cooler, when the major pumps run low, they to get condensation, and so it will end up in your can, I have had that happen of a few occasions, but Never ever dump your contaminated fuel in any vehicle, it will get into your injectors and stall you car/ truck, I learn first hand thinking a 400 horsepower truck will burn it out...I was so wrong..Dispose of the fuel property, don't put it in your vehicle.
So true!
And bad kerosene is even more difficult to detect than bad gasoline.
A reminder of what we were taught in our youth. Thank you for breaking it down and reinforcing what I should be doing. Always good to hear from people that know their stuff.
Great video, but with a slight clarification in terminology. The issue isn't that gasoline is hydroscopic as stated at 1:24, the correct cause of the issue is that Ethanol is hydroscopic. Pure gasoline (no ethanol) is hydrophobic, which is why you should use ethanol free fuel if you can find it (I use rec gas as it is ethanol free). I am going to give the Ethanol Shield product a try though.
100% agreed, I start using pure gasoline in the mower about a month before winter storage, never had any issues. Come spring, I just use regular gas with up to 10% ethanol.
Pour regular gas in an open container, stir it up, and the ethanol evaporates off very quick. You can make your own.
Ethanol Shield is a great product. Have stored gas for my generator for 2 years + and when I check for water. none shows up in the test and the generator cranks first time. Another thing I do is make sure the gas container is seaaled as much as possible during storage... keeps the condensation way down. Enjoy your videos, they are useful and to the point. Keep telling it like it is!
when growing up we would use a filter to put gas in the gas tank. than the gas tank we would rinse out with gas before we put new gas in the gas can. old gas was a no no to use. be bless and safe. SAVANNAH TN.
Excellent presentation on the facts and nothing but the facts. This lady is knows her stuff and how to deliver the pros and cons.
You are absolutely awesome!! I run my machines empty and drain carburetor every season( I have 11 small engines for various equipment) and then put plastic under the tank fill and put the cap off. They start first pull every year.
On the first pull! starts every year.
That is an Idea, put saran wrap on the fuel opening and put the cap on over it!😁🙄🙄
I ran a charter boat business along the coast of Maine for 25 years using 90hp 2 stroke engines. In all that time I had only one serious problem with water in the fuel and it was due to 5 gallons of water contaminated fuel I got that day at the local gas station. I had already run several trips that day with no problem but when I poured an additional 5 gallons (just purchased) into my 27 gallon fuel tank I only made it 1 mile from the dock when the engine quit. After getting a tow back to the dock I siphoned a pint of water out of the bottom of the tank and it was full of water. Long story short it was a Sunday with no stores open so I had to pump 25 gallons of fuel out of the tank using the fuel line primer bulb! I've had problems with forearm tendonitis ever since! The following Monday I drove to the local marine store and purchased a funnel with a screen filter that will allow gas to pass through but not water. Whenever I filled my 5 gallon cans at the gas station I used that filter and I never had water problems again. To test the funnel screen I put it below a water faucet turned on full blast and not a single drop of water passed through the screen. Best money I ever spent and I can't imagine a lawnmower or outboard repair shop not having one!
I have used red armor for years in my two strokes . Have never added anything else no problems.
When I was young in the 50s, most fathers I knew kept their mower gas in clear glass gallon jugs because they could see if it had water in it. I think that would keep government officials awake at night now.
Ethanol free fuel for me, never a problem in my smsll engines. Taryl's fuel treatment video proves the point, Stabil 360 was the only product that allowed pump gas to withstand the storage time.
2 stroke oil added to gasoline will make it stay fresh longer.
@@gsp49
Not as well, stabilizer stays on top, seals the fuel from air, 2 stroke mixes, less protection
I think it was luck the Stabil 360 started. It looked like it had gone bad but the gel in the carb formed in good spots. He found none of the fuel stabilizers worked past 12 months.
And when filling up with ethanol free gas, the first gallon from the pump goes into the car. There’s almost half a gallon of whatever the previous person filled up with before the ethanol free stuff starts coming out.
@@bobc3454
If it's a blending pump ⛽, not a single, yes. remember, the fuel you buy is only fresh to you, little to no idea when and how much was delivered (added to older fuel in tank) to the retailer. Or the condition of the multiple tanks (refinery, pipe lines,transfer, storage and then delivery to retailer) it's been in previously (water, sludge, rust, previous product contamination) .
As for storage, contamination is inevitable, a year old with stabilizer is about it in a can or equipment. Sealed container in perfect conditions, 3 to 4 years is possible but that's pushing it.
@@jeffhill3681 A good strategy for getting fresh(er) fuel is to buy from a high-volume retailer like Pilot, Flying J, etc. Here Wal-Mart's Murphy stations pump a lot of gas and also offer ethanol-free gas and diesel which is convenient if you use both.
Omg...THANK YOU! I didn't hang with my dad when growing up. Now I have a house with front and back lawns. I can't get straight answers with the yahoos I deal with. I was told I have water in my lawnmower gas tank and to use fuel stabilizer. What? How did water get into my tank? Ge couldn't answer. Paid 2 guys $150 bucks for tune ups on my Honda mower. I get it serviced each year. Those guys couldn't answer my questions! Thank you!
I get those type of pipettes at arts and crafts stores for mixing small amounts of paint. Take a drink every time you hear the word UNIT!
Chickanick, always a fun watch, thanks for the channel, it is kind of important stuff. I have an issue with the comment at about the 5:00 mark, as water is heavier than the gas/fuel, it's not until you tip the gas can far enough for the water to flow out of the can that the water will be transferred. Soooo, its more likely that the water comes out as the cannister/gas can is more drained (especially when filling small tanks with a larger gas can) NOT at the beginning of a full can....
That red armor is great oil I have zero problems with it. Thanks Brea😊
Great video. alot of useful information/ and i know this very well. I use to ALWAYS run to the small engine repair shop, BUTT the last time did it AT LAST/ I had to wait 4 months and 3weeks to get my Shindawa weed trimmer back, and after Only buying/bought NON eythonl fuel and after 3weeks of use it stopped running. That when My Wife and I decided to never take ANY equipment back to any repair shop, Instead Schooled ourselfs on how to repair our onw equipment, and so i have bought dozens of equipment that was NOT running and repaired 96% all of them and GOT GREAT DEALS so here we are 14yrs later doing our own simple to detailed work. Thank you for your great video
Good video. I use the Red Max all the time. I quit using the cheap stuff long ago. I've been using a gallon gas can for a long time as well since I don't go through mix that much.
Just curious, you have an exact gallon can? I’m thinking you don’t. When you mix the gas do you fill the van so the way up our trust the gas pump reading?
Fill your tanks and cans to the tops and use cans that have a tight seal.
I've stored gas in good cans for over a year with no issues.
Taryl Fixes all tested fuel stabilizers and they dont work. There was one that worked marginally.
I've stored fuel in my chaisaw for over a year with no issues either. Non ethanol 89 in stable temps and humidity at 50 or lower.
Great video! I know a small local shop that says it keeps them in business! Fortunately here in the upper Midwest Kwik Trip filling stations offer both 87 ($3.36)and 91 ($3.76)octane ethanol free gasoline and each grade has it‘s own dedicated hose/nozzle. Adultered 87 is $2.86. I am using the 87 E-free quite a bit now and usually buy in small quantity. In a small engine does octane have any influence? For winter storage I use Schaeffer’s neutra fuel stabilizer. And the best deal for red armor is the one gallon container I have found. I keep the smaller bottle for mixing and fill it from the large container.👍
its own
I always make sure my ride on push mowers or snowblower is full of gas and has stabilizer in it knock on wood 30 years no issues
I always use Stabil in every tank for my small engine equipment no matter if it’ll be used the same day or sit. Hasn’t let me down.
Stabil will not work on water in gas as good as gas line antifreeze/heet. Also only use ethanol free gas
Stabil is a joke. useless. People just believe it works. Good advertising tho.
I have used ethanol fuel with Stabil in my riding mower for 7 years now and have never had an issue. It always cranks in the spring and I've never had a need to open the fuel system. I even left a push mower sitting for 2 years with the same fuel and it cranked after only a few pulls.
I use this. New Fuel Filtr Funnel 2.7gpm Parker Hannifin - Racor Div Rff1c. It has a screen that allows gas to pass and traps water. They make three sizes for more flow rate. I also have the middle size one. Any gas I put in my lawn equipment goes through these funnels. There are several brands but I went with Racor. they are used widely in aviation where water is a no no. Amazon $42.75 Prime and Walmart $44.08 shipped. Home Depot $47.25.
I have an old Ford 8N tractor that I put my old crappy gas in. It runs on it, sometimes not great, but it's better than throwing it away.
I do the same thing with my Ford 3000.🤣
😂👍@@Bugf1
I swear those old ford tractors can run on about anything
Chickanic, Thanks for the advice about the fuel issue as it saved me, and probably many others, a trip to the repair shop. My situation: Stihl M55 Yard Boss would run for about a second, if that, after a pull and then stop running. This was after I replaced the carburetor, fuel filter, air filter and spark plug. The guys at the shop took too long to place my unit on the workbench, so I took it back to try to fix it myself. The fuel replacement took me about 10 minutes, and after a carb adjustment, the Stihl M55 Yard Boss ran and I was able to dethatch my lawn. The Stihl gas trimmer is next. Thank you. Sanman.
I bet my husband's 2 cycle oil mixture has water in it. He has 2 and neither will start. He has in a one gallon container but it sits around for years...yes, years. He does not need the 2-cycle mixture much...so, I am sure it is bad. I will mix up some magic for him and pour old out of tank, refill and go from there. Thanks.
The smart move is to always add the two cycle gas to your regular car tank when it approaches 9 months old. It doesn't hurt anything and at least you are not WASTING gas.
Thanks from bavaria Germany
For sucking out gasoline, we always (60-70 years ago) used a battery syringe. They may not be readily available now with sealed batteries being popular? So turkey basters may have to suffice.
Courtesy of Half Vast Flying
@@MichaelTheophilus906 G’day, Michael. Its nickname is a “physic giver”. 😏
Courtesy of Half Vast Flying
From Hurricane Country, Northern Gulf of Mexico, AMEN ! ! ! Water is the big issue. Every time you have dew on the grass, you have water in your tank ! Ethanol works well up to a point. It works like Dawn detergent. One end of the ethanol binds to water, the other end binds to carbon, gas or oil, so the water is distributed rather staying in pockets. It does not remove water. It dissolves it throughout the gas.
every year I run my lawn equipment bone dry and then spray the carb cyinder and empty tank with fogger. any gas left in the storage containers is put in my car's gas tank so the following spring I am starting out with clean fresh gas.
OMG, that's why. My dad had to take his mower in the last 2 years. Mine has a tight cap that has to come off to pour. It's annoying to unscrew the cap, take that plug off everytime, but it has tipped over and because of that plug, gas stayed in. I guess it keeps water out as well. Thanks for sharing this. I will share this with him.
Thanks Bree, I have been using Ethanol Shield for about 7-8 years. I had seen it in a magazine and thought I would try it. Since using it, fuel related issued reduced substantially. I still use it in my home equipment now that I don't cut for a living.
Thanks for reinforcing.
I’m a diesel mechanic. I’m by no means a small engine mechanic. I’ve watched enough of your videos to believe you know what you’re taking about. I’ve tried all the canned fuels when I lived in the city and had 1/8 acre. I notice inconsistency in how my equipment runs. Now I’m in farm country with 5 acres. I’ll take your word and switch back to mixing with no E gas.
I stabilize every can of gas I buy as I keep it for generators. However, I find most of my friends that ask me for help getting their machines running don't. Usually, I have to tell them in a gravelly voice, ' Ain't got no gas in it"....
I tilt the can forward and to the left. Any water will collect in the corner and you can usually see it. Whether I can see it or not I take an 18" piece of PVC with 3' clear hose and siphon from that corner into a mason jar. Check in a few mins and use turkey baster to remove from the jar then pour the gas back into the can. I empty my 2cycle stuff into the can after each use. works great. I love your content!
As a private pilot, water in the gas is a real big factor. Before takeoff, the pilot is always supposed to sample the gas from a special valve located in the bottom of each gas tank. And there is a similar valve to sample gas that is already in the engine compartment….like in the gas “bulb”. Unlike a lawnmower or a weed-eater, if any water somehow forms in the gasoline system, it can really mess up your day! If you are several thousand feet up in the sky….and if the engine starts to sputter….I guarantee that four letter words will start coming out of your mouth as if you were reciting a Gregorian Chant.
Three 4 letter words: mayd ayma yday
I can't thank you enough for the tip on water in my fuel. My gas tank had a lot of water and some sort of crud suspended in the fuel. I never would have thought to check for water.
Thank you
I learned to add Stabil to my fuel at the time of fill up more than 30 years ago. And consequently no water in the gas ever!
Thanks much! This is especially valuable for home emergency equipment, like small generators where storing fuel for longer periods is always involved.
Gasoline is Hydrophobic…..the Alcohol in the gas is Hydroscopic … which attracts water…in fact Alcohol has water in alcohol…when you mix the alcohol and gas together, the alcohol allows water to be suspended in the gas you burn.
Try adding 91% isopropyl ("rubbing") alcohol to gas....it seems to emulsify any water present.
I run the expensive ethanol free Super Unleaded gas at the local station for my small engines and Generators. If it is going to be stored for awhile between uses, I'll throw in some Stabil and top them off. Never had a problem and most of my engines start right up on first pull. I live in a very high humidity area so...yeah. I have gotten for free in ,some instances, used equipment that all I had to do is drain the gas tank and clean or replace the carburetor. Now on the topic of storage of fuel, I keep my tanks full, the gas cans full and tightly sealed, and throw in Stabil. Good advice and explanations in this video for those who don't know what they are doing. Thanks and keep up the good work!
Gasoline is not Hygroscopic. Ethanol is Hygroscopic. The best way to keep water out of your fuel is to only buy ethanol free gasoline for your small engines. I only buy ethanol free gasoline, when I buy it I treat it with some sea foam and stabil (technially dont have to) and keep it in air tight containers. I can use two year old gas in any of my small engines and they all start first time and run fine. Think about the science... fuel stabilizers cannot ever eliminate water out of a fuel container, where does it go, magic? All a fuel stabilizer does is keep the ethanol mixed so it does not phase seperate and attract more water than it would in solution. It keeps the water that the ethanol continues to attract mixed with the ethanol in solution in the hopes that the water will burn off with the fuel as you use it.
Yep. I use nothing but ethanol-free premium in all of my small motor machines. And Seafoam is my go-to
@WardDorrity before i figured it out I was always having to buy new carbs.
@@David_Avidmind Same here.
What does the Seafoam do?
@Susann1984 seafoam cleans and lubricates engine parts, including carburetors and injectors, it also helps move, remove, burn off carbon deposits from incomplete combustion or burnt on oil.
Thank you for the awesome video, afterwards went and bought the large 500mL and small pipes to verify my gas like your demonstration. Love the channel and superb advice you put out.
Ethanol is an engine killer !!!
Whatever
The boat motor salesmen told me to never use gas with ethanol in it. Once I stopped using ethanol in my gas, I haven’t had trouble with my lawnmowers, boat mowers or any of my small engines.
I have access to ethanol free pump gas (Sunoco Recreational Fuel 91 Octane). I use it mixed with Stabil year round in my small engines and never have a problem. I don't run the tanks dry or top them off at the end of a season. I just put them away as is. It probably helps that I live in New England so it's bone dry here all winter so condensation isn't a problem. Also my gas can I use for my lawnmower all summer gets used for my snowblower all winter so gas never sits for months unused except for what's left in the tanks. My lawnmower always starts on one pull in the spring, Tecumseh 6.5hp that is 18 years old. and my snowblower, 2014 Cub Cadet, starts on the first pull after sitting all summer in the early winter. I think the key is my machines are never run on gas without Stabil added. It just keeps things good.
best solution is to get electrical devices and stop breathing carcinogens
Great video. I have had this exact problem with my small machines. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Regular gas is not hydroscopic. Ethanol gas is.
I got Jason Samko for all my truck videos, not I got someone great for my yard tool and mower videos. Great videos. Love the info and non-biased comments. Keep up the great work.
In Canada we have ethanol but not all the other additives the US has, I always put premium gas in my small engines BUT what I wasn't aware of is that everytime you open you open your gas cans, moist air gets in. I will now ditch the lager gas cans I have and use my 5 litre cans to avoid this issue. Great vid !! thanks
Great video, good mention of the ethanol shield.
Never heard of it before, but now I'll watch for it.
Even the sta-bil I use has a notice that it can expire.
I live in WI so there are sometimes seven months between using certain pieces of equipment. So far the Sta bil has protected everything from water problems.
For long term storage DO NOT USE ETHANOL GAS even with sta bil. A car I had not started in three years had ethanol and even with sta bil it created a slimy substance on the bottom of the gas tank. the car started and ran but it soon sucked the slime to the gas pump and plugged up the screen. Would not start. Had to drain and remove the pump to clean it. There was also some hardened crap sticking to the walls of the tank. It was a nasty job removing all that crap. Some local stations in my area have ethanol free for only 30 cents more per gallon. The big name stations often charge a dollar more and there is no need for that.
Ethanol can be removed by adding, GASP, water and allowing it to separate.
I live in s. fla and always store 25 gallons of regular gas w/fuel stabilizer added each hurricane season, at the end of the season I use it in my mower and truck with no problems
EXCELLENT video!
I found NO ethanol premium gas at some regular gas stations. The pump is labeled as such. Very Expensive. Worth every penny. Hard to find I might add. Put sta bil in the can before filling up.
Put the first gallon in my car to clear the hose.
Use 87 cheaper gas in my minivan.
I fill up several small gas cans, 1 and 2 gallons, for the season's mowing on my 1/4 acre. At the end of the season, I run the mower's tank dry, drain the oil, and pour any remaining gas from the cans into my car. I refill the oil in the spring. When I drain the oil in the fall, I put an "Add oil" sign on the mower. My Husqvarna mower (Honda engine) looks almost new but it is 13 years old. Lives in a garage. I never change air filters, I just clean them after every mow.
I’ve had a few experiences with straight and 2-stroke gas. Draining to fuel caused the gasket to dry so when I added fuel….a bad leak. Also, I’ve had fewer problems using “high test” (premium) gas AND using a fuel stabilizer. Topping off the fuel tanks AND adding a stabilizer before storing my power washer/snow blower has worked fantastically…first pull starts. Obviously, your mileage may vary…and your guidance is probably the best method…..but I’m a lazy lazy man. 😂
I have a Troy Built 10.5 H.P. rider I use Royale Purple oil and Stabil in the fuel when stored. Fires up faster than most cars when i need to use it. Second year on the Royale Purple oil and last checked it was still Purple. And moonshine or HEET works wonders for water in the fuel. Love the vids Chickanic your awesome.
Just found your channel! Awesome! As a former mechanic myself, I really appreciate your voice of experience. Thank you!
that's why, when you store the lawnmower in the fall, fill the fuel tank to the brim! No condensed water problem ....simple :)
I found that the weed wacker and leaf blower run much better when the I mix the fuel than that crap they sell at Home Depot that premixed.
Fuel stabilizer does work.
Don’t know why anyone would argue that point.
Excellent video !
I learned this on my own.
Every year -no start or start-putt putt and die.
Took the carburetor apart and found water. Then water in the tank. Then also in the jug.
Now I dump the tank first and put fresh in before trying to start. Old ancient mower carries on.
I noticed that the one Petro Canada station must have water as my vehicle won't start easy and smokes black in the morning.
Went to Shell and the issue went away. Starts at touching the key and doesn't rev like it's a nutcase.
Haven't read anything about the fuel additive "Heet." (Iso-Heet for diesel) Any thoughts on these products?
@@theburnhams2925 I've heard about Heet but never knew if it was something I should consider.
I found out since I originally put the comment that there's an intermittent problem going on in the engine electronics causing a misfire on cylinder 4 (it's a I6 Atlas). I don't think it's a fuel issue in relation to the vehicle but yes I keep finding a teaspoon of water formed in my plastic fuel jugs and the lawnmower.
Usually I can clean it out its just a headache.
I'll check what this Heet product does.
I had this issue all the time until the mecahnic told me about Stabil. I don't take any precautions any more other than adding the Stabil. It is fantastic.