TO DRAIN OR NOT?

Running out of fuel in the cut and idling to run out are different scenarios, but hey everyone has run out under full load too and not hurt things.

+1 on the comments that ethanol by itself, dissolved, is not the monster aothough it becomes a scapegoat.. It is when the extra water causes separation that problems start.
that and being too lean already, which a 15% blend instead of 10% makes even leaner.

I am thankful to be near lakes and boating and street rods, so can get non oxy for small stuff.

Scotty Overkill said:

Longer than 6 months, the pump gas will phase seperate (the alcohol and water will settle to the bottom of the tank), and on start up of that equipment you will do damage to your equipment because it is getting a straight shot of alcohol.

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It is my understanding that phase-separation only occurs after a certain moisture threshold is reached, not a certain age. Straight shot of alcohol shouldn't hurt anything. After all, engines run just fine on pure isopropanol (usually a main ingredient for aerosol carb cleaner), or methanol (as I'm sure race-saw fans or kart racers will attest to.) so why not straight ethanol? If your fuel phase-separates you're not getting a straight shot of alcohol anyways. When phase-separation occurs, the alcohol, which has absorbed water like a sponge, separates from the rest of the fuel and this alcohol/water solution is the killer of carbs.

MasterMech said:

It is my understanding that phase-separation only occurs after a certain moisture threshold is reached, not a certain age. Straight shot of alcohol shouldn't hurt anything. After all, engines run just fine on pure isopropanol (usually a main ingredient for aerosol carb cleaner), or methanol (as I'm sure race-saw fans or kart racers will attest to.) so why not straight ethanol? If your fuel phase-separates you're not getting a straight shot of alcohol anyways. When phase-separation occurs, the alcohol, which has absorbed water like a sponge, separates from the rest of the fuel and this alcohol/water solution is the killer of carbs.

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exactly......and you show me one gas station that doesn't have water in the fuel. Alcohol in fuel makes the water the devil

Scotty Overkill said:

exactly......and you show me one gas station that doesn't have water in the fuel. Alcohol in fuel makes the water the devil

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Had one near me last year. They got a load of fuel delivered and shortly afterwards there were cars stopped all over town. Some made it down the street some made it across town. Took a while before they figured out what was happening and got the station shut down. Water in the fuel was the culprit.
But hey, its great stuff right?

A small amount of water would actually be absorbed and burnt/passed thru the engine, probably wouldn't even notice it happening. A beneficial side-effect of alcohol in the fuel. After all, what's the main ingredient in dry-gas or heet? Alcohol! (Isopropanol) But cross that magic threshold of too much moisture and we all know what happens.

MasterMech said:

A small amount of water would actually be absorbed and burnt/passed thru the engine, probably wouldn't even notice it happening. A beneficial side-effect of alcohol in the fuel. After all, what's the main ingredient in dry-gas or heet? Alcohol! (Isopropanol) But cross that magic threshold of too much moisture and we all know what happens.

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I can still remember the Sohio slogan " you go or we pay the tow". That was obviously way before ethanol.

My stuff never sits that long. But since motorized equipment sits at the store empty for years and then starts right up when filled with fuel and oil, I like to leave my stuff empty or as empty as possible then I fill it with new fuel when its time to use. My 2cycle gas I only buy a gallon at a time. If the gas gets old in the gallon jug I use it for outdoor fire ignition or throw it in my truck.

seeyal8r said:

My stuff never sits that long. But since motorized equipment sits at the store empty for years and then starts right up when filled with fuel and oil, I like to leave my stuff empty or as empty as possible then I fill it with new fuel when its time to use. My 2cycle gas I only buy a gallon at a time. If the gas gets old in the gallon jug I use it for outdoor fire ignition or throw it in my truck.

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Go with plan B -- put it in the truck . . . much safer. Just about every Spring there is someone who makes the news when they get badly burned while lighting up their fire pit or brush pile with gasoline.

Guy at work works on OPE for extra money. Talks daily about the stuff that comes in. 99% of it is fuel related problems. Guaranteed this time of year the shops are plum full gummed up OPE. Carb mfgs have to love it cause the shops just replace carbs they don't clean them.

Just got a BG 85 in with carb issues (not gummed) The whole carb was $28. Who's gonna spend time rebuilding that one? I admit some shops get more than a little carried away with tossing carbs but it really is in the customer's best interest to not fool with a $30 carburetor.

MasterMech said:

Just got a BG 85 in with carb issues (not gummed) The whole carb was $28. Who's gonna spend time rebuilding that one? I admit some shops get more than a little carried away with tossing carbs but it really is in the customer's best interest to not fool with a $30 carburetor.

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Got a good fried that owns a Cub Cadet dealership. He told me yrs ago there never open up a carb on anything. Always replace. Couple yrs ago I raided his drum of old carbs and found several Farmall Cub IH carbs. In rebuildable condition there nearly always bring 100.00 on Ebay.