QuestionOver the last 5 years, I have repaired small engines whose carbs needed rebuild. One was a BS mower whose red primer bulb dissolved, turning the fuel pink in just the first hour and clogging up the metering orifice. Others developed pink goo that clogged up various small passages. Etc, etc. Same for hedge trimmer, generator, pressure washer, some 2 cycle, some 4 cycle. These have been units stored inside a garage, out of the rain, using properly stored E10, never E15. For my own equipment,the problem was solved by using ethanol free gas from the marina. Question: (A) Are manufactures ever going to get a grip on this problem, or will it always persist for small engines used intermittently? (B) do additives actually help? I imagine some are ethanol based and make the problem worse.
AnswerA) Briggs say they are making "ethanol resistant" fuel components on their newest engines...we'll see how well they run and if they can actually resist ethanol.
B) Additives will not really help with ethanol. I use Stabil and recently had a float fail on a Tecumseh engine...so, I don't believe fuel additive is the cure all be it will help fuel from going stale.
Write your Congress person and ask why the government mandates ethanol blends.
Eric
