[Lawnboy77]

I'm getting really frustrated with all the carb cleaning I'm having to do this season. Went to mow the back yard just a few minutes ago with the Lawnboy 7260 and about 5 minutes into the mow it started cutting out, I pulled it into the garage to look and see what the problem is, and as I suspected milky fuel and gel in the carb bowl. I suppose I'm going to have to start buying aviation fuel, just don't like the extra trouble that it's going to cause me. What is everyone else doing for fuel and wondered if everyone else is experiencing the same problems? I also noticed that the fuel in my plastic container has turned bad, it's milky to, is there anyway that the ethanol has broken down the plastic container? The fuel is just not that old to be going bad.isgus:

 

[lawnboy-5247]

Do you use stabil or a equal product.

 

[Lawnboy77]

No I don't use a fuel stabilizer, but if that will fix this I'm game, just never had to use it before. Then again, I've probably been able to steer clear of ethanol, up until recently. I'll give it a try, thanks for the input.

 

[lawnboy-5247]

It works wonders gas lasts for weeks with it I have never had fuel related problems while using it.

 

[engine2quarters]

Fuel lasts for weeks? Huh?
I had one mower come into the garage with milky fuel. The owner said he just put new gas in it. I put some of the 'new' gas into a glass container and set it on the work bench while I cleaned oout his carb and tank. You could see it start to separate. Water and fuel. We have 10% ethanol up here, no such thing as ethanol free stuff.
I have 5 gals. of el cheapo reuglar no lead in a plastic jug, that is clear as water. No Stabil or whatever. Just finishing up 5 gals. that I purchased back in April. Still crystal clear.
The 'trick' is to buy fuel at stations that have a large turnover, many tanker deliveries, and small quantities. A 10,000 gallon tank sitting for months not being stirred up can settle out.
Are you sure the gas you're buying has no water in it?I
Is it 15% or greater ethanol? Many replacement parts are not designed fo the new e85 fuel, and are not gaurenteed. New machines may not be, either.
Plastic fuel line?

 

[old lawnboy]

Toro and all the engine manufacturers say to add a fuel stabilizer the day you buy the fuel and do not buy more than a 30 day supply at a time. Always shake the storage container before fueling up your engine. Engine manufacturers will not cover repairs in warranty period if it is fuel related. That should tell you how bad the fuel is today. Fuel injection engines do not have as much fuel problems as carb engines. Kohler has gone to fuel injection on some of there engines and a lot of engines sold in California have gone to LP fuel to meet there stricter rules.

 

[JohnDeere318Guy]

I would run aviation gas 100LL.

 

[Lawnboy77]

I would run aviation gas 100LL.

yeah I had heard that to from one of our forum members and I thinks it's settled. I'm going to go that route instead of the fuel stabilizer, all indications are that aviation fuel will last much longer and the carbs will stay clean. It will be worth the extra money, since I won't have to clean the carbs near as much, or buy the stabilizer that may not work as well as just using the old school gasoline anyway.

 

[Yard Nazi]

Hi Rex! Sorry you are having such problems with your fuel down in Texas. Fortunately here in the Quad Cities we still have some fuels without ethanol. BP regular here is 87 octane and no ethanol and the BP premium is 91 octane and no ethanol. First, do you have an ethanol testor? I have been checking my fuel ever since one of the BP stations was found with water in the fuel as well as putting the wrong fuel in the wrong storage tank. As posted above there are fuel stabilizers available but I don't use them because the Lawnboy oil has a stabilizer in it already. I go through about 8 gallons in a month during the peak of mowing season but even in the winter I haven't had a storage problem. Stabil make an ethanol fuel treatment with stabilizer.

http://www.goldeagle.com/brands/stabil/

Also in the previous post someone had mentioned E85. I think they meant to say that many stations are going to 15% ethanol, 85% gasoline. E85 is just the reverse, 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. I would be testing your fuel to see what % of ethanol you have. Here is the testor I bought. Got it from my Toro dealer and it is a Briggs and Stratton item.

http://www.smallenginesuppliers.com.../Briggs_Stratton_Small_Engine_Tools35122.html

Good luck in solving this problem. Bill

 

[Lawnboy77]

The fuel stabilizer would be great, but I don't have much confidence that I'm able to get clean fuel to begin with now, and I know the standards for aviation fuel are much higher.

 

[JohnDeere318Guy]

yeah I had heard that to from one of our forum members and I thinks it's settled. I'm going to go that route instead of the fuel stabilizer, all indications are that aviation fuel will last much longer and the carbs will stay clean. It will be worth the extra money, since I won't have to clean the carbs near as much, or buy the stabilizer that may not work as well as just using the old school gasoline anyway.

I think it is a smart route to go because of the long self life and I think the engine will run better on it since it is pure but maybe it's psychological.

 

[GTP]

77 check out StarTron from napa. It's THE bEST counter ethanol treatment out there. I have 15%ethanol gas locally and I use the StarTron per recommended amounts (which is very little per gallon of gas) and it eradicates ALL sludge and separation of gas oil and condensation. It will even work on a bad batch of gas as it has active ingredients that stabilize and eliminate the ethanol separation and coagulation with the two stroke mixes. I have mix that is 8 months old that runs clean clear and looks like I just mixed it!!

I know this will solve your problems without having to go to super expensive and high octane aviation fuel.

 

[Lawnboy77]

Thanks for all the input guys, I clearly am armed with some good info now, so I should be able to come up with a working solution that doesn't break the bank.

GTP- I think I will for sure try your Star-tron product just to see if it keeps me from having to go back in the carb on the 7260 again.

 

[Jackass]

Fuel lasts for weeks? Huh?

Apparently I have been quite lucky? I have never had bad fuel and we are E10 here. This spring I even used fuel that was left from the fall with no issues. Now I do use Stabil in the gas cans and if I do have any left in the fall, I add more Stabil to it.

 

[Onan18]

Red Armor two stroke oil is the best counter ethanol treatment (and mix oil for that matter) I have been able to find so far. Available at your friendly neighborhood Echo/Shindaiwa DEALER.

Joe

 

[WindTunnel]

Seems like in the long run all of this ethanol business is going to turn out to cause more problems than it fixes.

 

[Onan18]

:ditto: Nail on the head! What problems DID ethanol cure anyways?

Joe

 

[AnthemBassMan]

-I've been pretty lucky so far. I've never ran into a bad gas issue. Around here, the pumps are marked "up to 10% ethanol may be added." Luckily no E85 stations are around this area yet. I could drive about a 1/2 hour each way to get ethanol free fuel from one of the marinas, but that's pretty far out of the way. I just mix in an ounce or so of Marvel's every time I get gas for the mower.

L8R,
Matt

 

[Lawnboy77]

I kinda feel relieved that I noticed the milky fuel in the storage container, because last month when I first noticed the white stuff it was in the bowl of the carb, which made me think it was the ethanol dissolving the shellac off my new float, now I'm hoping that the expensive float(s) will be alright.

 

[Ryobi31]

If your usage is not too much each year this is the best product. Just add a little extra oil to get to 32:1 fuel/oil ratio.

http://vp-sef.com/