QuestionQUESTION: John, I suspect old gas, even with stabilizer, is at the root of my constant carb problem with my Sears snow thrower. My question is how long gas with stabilizer can sit in a gas can before it will be considered unusable, and can that gas then be disposed off (properly of course) and the gas can reused or is the gas can going to cause problems even when fresh gas is added after emptying out the old?
ANSWER: Hello Dan:
Sta-Bil Gas Stabilizer Says that it Helps Maintain the Gas for Up to a Year. However, I have Found that Usually After 6 to 8 Months, I have Problems with my Equipment if the Gas has Not been Used Up by then. I Set a 6 Month Time Limit on Gas in My Equipment. Some Local Gas Distributors will take the Old gas and Dispose of it for you. I have Not had to Use my Local Gas Distributor for this Purpose since I Started Using All my Gas in a 6 Month Time Period. I was Using them to Dispose of Bad Gas Every Year Until I Set the 6 Month Time Limit on Gas and Now the Supervisors of the Lawn Maintenance Crews See to it that the Gas is Rotated so it Never gets to be 6 Months Old Anymore. Sta-Bil and Other Gas Stabilizers May harm Some Diaphragms and Other Rubber Components in the Carburetor if Allowed to Set. They Say Their Product Does Not Damage the Rubber Components, but I have had Some Carburetor Problems that I Attribute to the Gas Stabilizer. I Suggest you Purchase a New Gas Can and Purchase a Piece of Foam Material. Cut the Foam in a Section About 3" Long and 1/4" Wider than the Fill Spout. Slide the Foam Into the Fill Spout. This will Keep Trash/Water from the Gas Can from Entering the Tank of the Equipment you are Filling. If you Hit a Snag or this Does Not Correct the Problem, I am Here if You Require More Assistance. Hope this Helps. Let me Know What Happens, Please. Have a Happy Holiday Season and May the All Mighty Bless You and Yours. Be Safe and Happy. Thanks.
Good Luck
Respectfully
John
PS: I am Allowed to Answer 10 Questions a Day. If you See I am Maxxed Out, then Try Submitting your Question at or Just After 8pm EST (US). My New Day Starts then. Thanks.
Respectfully
John
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: John, thanks for the tip. Now on to hopefully cleaning my carb. Each time
Sears comes out to fix my machine they blame it on a dirty carb and try to
charge me claiming it is outside my warranty. To avoid this problem I would
like to try to clean it myself, if it isn't too difficult to do - I'm real good at
taking things apart but putting them back together is a whole different story!
Anyhow, I have a Sears 9 HP model with a Tecumseh 4-cycle engine
(LH318SA). Any help you can point me to for getting to the carb would be
appreciated. BTW, I tried to go to your pdf as posted in a few other posts but
it kept coming up as a 404 file not found error.
Thanks again,
Dan
AnswerHello Again Dan:
I Just Checked this Site Addy and it Works. http://www.tecumsehpower.com/CustomerService/BSI.pdf. Here is the Instructions for Carburetor Cleaning. Usually a Breakdown of the Engine and Carburetor is All you Require to have as a Reference to Remove and Clean the Carburetor. If you DO Hit a Snag or Just Require More Detailed Instructions, Do Not Hesitate to Ask, Please. You can View a Breakdown of this Equipment at this Site Addy; http://www.homelite.com/parts/index.htm and Select Parts/Service at left, then Select Go to Homelite Parts Store. Then Follow the Instructions to Get to the Breakdown for this Unit. Then Select the Carburetor File to See the Carburetor in Breakdown for Disassembly and Cleaning. **REMEMBER You Do Not have to Remove the Welch Plugs. The Following is the Instructions for Proper Carburetor Cleaning. Remove, Disassemble and Soak the Carburetor Overnight in Carburetor Cleaner (I Use Gunk). I have Found that Most People can Use a Breakdown/IPL and Disassemble the Carburetor Enough for Proper Cleaning. You Only have to Remove the Bowl, Float Pin, Float (if Applicable) and Needle Valve and Any Adjustment Screws that Go Into the Carburetor Body. The Welch Plugs Do Not have to be Removed. Then Soak the Carburetor Body and Parts in a 1 Gallon Can of Gunk Carburetor Cleaner Overnight. The Can has a Parts Tray Inside it for the Small Parts. Once the Carburetor and Parts are in the Cleaner, you can Replace the Lid for Safety and to Prevent Accidental Spillage. Then Blow Out the Passages with Compressed Air. Install New Parts if Required. Hope this Helps. I am Here if You Require More Assistance. Let me Know What Happens, Please. Thanks.
Good Luck
Respectfully
John
PS: I am Allowed to Answer 10 Questions a Day. If you See I am Maxxed Out, then Try Submitting your Question at or Just After 9pm EST (US). My New Day Starts then. Thanks.
Respectfully
John
