Thread: What are you working on?

Thanks to our ethanol based fuel, a $1000 carb job, on a Honda outboard.

When I was my ride this summer I saw pumps that offered fuel with 85% Ethanol

Ouch!
Yep I was driving across the country from Cali to SC and was annoyed that the ethanol fuel was the only thing available most of the time. Turns out it is not good for engines and most of the people I asked in those states think it's a good thing.
Ignorance is bliss Mike, your engine knew too much!

My lawnmower is in getting the carburetor cleaned out because of the ethanol in our regular gas. The mechanic told me to use the hi-octane Shell gas since it is the only non-ethanol gas available up here.

Every once in awhile during my rides I've found 100 octane Race Fuel at the fuel stations but early on during this ride I saw a fuel that I'd never seen. The station was about 7-8 miles outside of Missoula Montana and it was 'Snowmobile Gas' it said it was Non Ethanol and Non-oxygenated and had a octane rating of around 92.

I must say it was impressive on how many fuel stations (notice I didn't say 'Service Stations') across Montana, North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming that had Non Ethanol Supreme fuel.

I have done unofficial testing in my flex fuel truck and have decided that the powers that be have it figured out the cost per mile for each of these different blends. Cheaper fuel uses more and the higher priced ones get better mileage.

The cost per mile is pretty close for all of them.

Originally Posted by cudarunner

When I was my ride this summer I saw pumps that offered fuel with 85% Ethanol

My 2010 Ponch is rated for E-85. I would not want that much alcohol around the seals of my tank or the seals of my carburetor.
Locals that I have spoken with have pointed out that the E-85 has a bad habit of forming a sludge in the tank, lines and carb.
I did try mileage with the different fuels when I bought it. The low alcohol gave the best and not much below the 90 Octane, but almost 50+ cents a gallon cheaper.
JMO
YMMV
~Richard

Originally Posted by outback

Thanks to our ethanol based fuel, a $1000 carb job, on a Honda outboard.

Lucas oil makes a stabilizer that counteracts the effects of ethanol. I use it in my Alfa. You might want to go to an auto parts store, pick up a bottle, read it then give it yea or nay.

I use 93 or 94 only in my rides. The hi compression turbo car demands it, and I agree, you get better mileage, better pop and better emission readings from it as well. So I use it in all of them, including the lawnmower.

So I'm not mechanical like you guys-would it help my old sputtering Husqvarna lawn tractor to get higher octane gas?