Fuel Additive for small engines

[Swamp Fox]

Last year, on another forum (RZR SXS), there was a long discussion regarding the ethanol in our gas supplies and the "questionable" effect it had on small engines. In NC, gas suppliers can sell gasoline with up to 10% ethanol and do not have to label the pump has having any ethanol at all. I was told that, at one time, Stihl had sent a memo to repair shops that they would not honor any warranty work where the issue could be contributed to having used gasoline with ethanol in it. I was told by the retailer/repair shop that Stihl had subsequently sent a follow-up memo that they would have to honor the warranty. Anyway, last year I searched and searched for a supplier of gasoline without the ethanol. The only thing I could find that definitely did not contain ethanol was aviation fuel, and I almost started buying it. But I was told that using 91/93 octane premium gasoline would prevent the issues related to ethanol (water in the gas). So I have been burning that ever since. With all my gas for my equipment, I have always used Sta-Bil to address the gumming issues with gasoline. A couple weeks ago, I ran across a (I think fairly new) product that address the ethanol issues in gasoline. The produce is Startron Enzyme Fuel Treatment. Ethanol in gasoline attracts moisture from the air and you get water in your gasoline. Startron, supposedly, disperses the water molecules into microscopic particles that are small enough to burn through the carburetors. My mechanic told me it is great stuff and that it has prevented him from having to rebuild at least four carburetors. He said he would pour almost a whole bottle of the stuff in the tank while the engine was running and he could literally hear and watch the engine smooth out. A friend of mine mentioned this product to his mechanic and he also said it is great stuff. Anyway, I got some and when I started using it in my chainsaws and leaf blower, I swear I could hear and feel an increase in power! (My imagination? Perhaps). Anyway, I don't have any vested interest in this product, just wondering if any of you have heard/used this product, and your thoughts?
(www.startron.com)

 

[EatenByLimestone]

Startron is well looked upon in the boating world.


Matt

 

[Beowulf]

Looks like from their MSDS sheet that it is > 95% Naptha and <5% proprietary organic compounds. If I were to guess, I would guess the organic compounds might be Isopropyl Alcohol.

http://mystarbrite.com/startron/images/stories/catalog/93008-msds-10-7-06.pdf

Might clear a little gum out or keep it from forming. The organic compound (IPA?) would disperse water, perhaps.

I believe that if you ran 100% Naptha, you would need to richen your jets up a little to avoid a lean condition. That leaning effect when compared to gasoline could give the sense of a little more power.

Probably won't hurt anything in moderation. Might keep water problems at bay, but I would think that 10% ethanol would more than likely absorb any water that got in your tank, at least until it's capacity was saturated. Ethanol isn't so good on some rubber parts. I think that may be it's worst effect, along with leaning things out a tad as well.

 

[Danno77]

Looks like from their MSDS sheet that it is > 95% Naptha and <5% proprietary organic compounds. If I were to guess, I would guess the organic compounds might be Isopropyl Alcohol.

http://mystarbrite.com/startron/images/stories/catalog/93008-msds-10-7-06.pdf

Might clear a little gum out or keep it from forming. The organic compound (IPA?) would disperse water, perhaps.

I believe that if you ran 100% Naptha, you would need to richen your jets up a little to avoid a lean condition. That leaning effect when compared to gasoline could give the sense of a little more power.

Probably won't hurt anything in moderation. Might keep water problems at bay, but I would think that 10% ethanol would more than likely absorb any water that got in your tank, at least until it's capacity was saturated. Ethanol isn't so good on some rubber parts. I think that may be it's worst effect, along with leaning things out a tad as well.

isn't naptha just lighter fluid?

 

[thewoodlands]

The Stihl dealer in our area recommends it also.

 

[Beowulf]

Looks like from their MSDS sheet that it is > 95% Naptha and <5% proprietary organic compounds. If I were to guess, I would guess the organic compounds might be Isopropyl Alcohol.

http://mystarbrite.com/startron/images/stories/catalog/93008-msds-10-7-06.pdf

Might clear a little gum out or keep it from forming. The organic compound (IPA?) would disperse water, perhaps.

I believe that if you ran 100% Naptha, you would need to richen your jets up a little to avoid a lean condition. That leaning effect when compared to gasoline could give the sense of a little more power.

Probably won't hurt anything in moderation. Might keep water problems at bay, but I would think that 10% ethanol would more than likely absorb any water that got in your tank, at least until it's capacity was saturated. Ethanol isn't so good on some rubber parts. I think that may be it's worst effect, along with leaning things out a tad as well.

isn't naptha just lighter fluid?

yep... or "white gas" or "coleman camp stove fuel", "Naphtha," etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naphtha

It has just a little less energy per barrel than either kerosene or gasoline... quite volatile, lights easy.

http://www.oilegypt.com/Webpro1/Oil/approxEnergyContent.asp

One of the components in gasoline...

 

[firefighterjake]

I've been using Star Tron for a few years now . . . can't say that it's a miracle in a bottle or anything like that . . . but a number of local dealerships recommended it . . . again . . . as mentioned . . . in moderation following the directions.

 

[ISeeDeadBTUs]

The Stihl dealer in our area recommends it also.

Same here.

This summer my Echo SRM-230 string trimmer refused to run strong enough to actually trim weeds. The Husq/Echo dealer replaced the carb and recommended the Star-Tron. Couple weeks ago at the local Dihl stealership, and they likewise recommended the Star-Tron.

The jury's stihl out . . .

 

[elijah]

Not sure if this helps anyone or not, but there is a website that supposedly tells you where you can get gasoline without ethanol added to it. I found one about 4 miles from my house and can tell the difference with my vehicles as well as small engines.

http://pure-gas.org/index.jsp

http://www.buyrealgas.com/

I'm not positive if all the listings are accurate or not. I just happened to find one near me.

 

[Danno77]

how do you know if a place has ethanol or not in it? I think I read that they have to post when it has ethanol in it, but I can come up with a list of about a million things people are required by law to do that they don't...

 

[elijah]

The station I use actually displays it on their large sign as well as at each pump. The regular has 10% ethanol, mid grade has 5%, and the premium has no ethanol. I'm not sure how you would be able tell at other stations.

 

[Danno77]

FWIW, Phillips 66 and Conoco stations MIGHT have some ethanol free stuff. I pulled up the MSDS sheets on their website, so I know they make the stuff. I just don't know where they distribute it. Another piece of information from their MSDS sheets is that they tell how much Toulene and Benzene they put in their gas mixtures. When we talk about additives into gas it might be beneficial to actually know which additives the gas already has in it. I'm sure MSDS sheets are available for just about every gas company on the interweb.

 

[elijah]

It is a Conoco that I use.

 

[CSAW]

Not my video, but I have a similar tester. I have only tested a couple stations and came up with 7% at both (Shell and Circle K). Would it be feasible to just mix water with ethanol, let it settle, then skim or pour gasoline off the top? Wouldn't want to be something to do a lot, but for a gallon here and there shouldn't be too difficult.

 

[Nic36]

This site posts Ethanol Free gas stations in the US and Canada. You can even add stations to their site if you know of any:

http://pure-gas.org/ (Sorry Elijah. Didn't realize you beat me to it a few posts up)

Fortunately, I have some ethanol free stations in my area. (if they sell it here, they usually advertise it somewhere like on the pump or billboard) I switched to ethanol free gas after my weed eater started running rough on some not so old gas mix. I haven't had any issues since.

Another plus of using ethanol free is gas mileage is noticeably better. I visit my parents from time to time-about 2 1/2 hours away. On the ethanol gas I could usually not make it there and back on a full tank of gas. I would even bring along a 5-gallon gas can in the back of my truck and top off the tank before I left to go back home. On the ethanol free gas, I have no problem making it there and back on a tank, with gas to spare. It's worth the extra pennies per gallon.

 

[HeatsTwice]

How does startron compare with Sta-bil? There's no chemical composition mensioned on the

http://www.goldeagle.com/brands/stabil/products.aspx#stabil

I just started using it last week.

 

[Beowulf]

How does startron compare with Sta-bil? There's no chemical composition mensioned on the

http://www.goldeagle.com/brands/stabil/products.aspx#stabil

I just started using it last week.

Looks like about the same stuff... 95-100% Naptha, upto 5% "other."

http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=brands&id=7006001

SeaFoam is also mostly Naptha, with some IPA and "Pale Oils".

http://www.seafoamsales.com/component/option,com_rokdownloads/Itemid,42/view,folder/

 

[HeatsTwice]

How does startron compare with Sta-bil? There's no chemical composition mensioned on the

http://www.goldeagle.com/brands/stabil/products.aspx#stabil

I just started using it last week.

Looks like about the same stuff... 95-100% Naptha, upto 5% "other."

http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=brands&id=7006001

SeaFoam is also mostly Naptha, with some IPA and "Pale Oils".

http://www.seafoamsales.com/component/option,com_rokdownloads/Itemid,42/view,folder/

Thanks good info. That stuff is 9 bucks per quart at tractor supply. For 4 bucks/quart you can get a stabilizer called gumout at a store around here called "BigLots".

http://www.gumout.com/ourProducts/fuelStabilizerCleaner.asp

There is no information on this page about its chemical make up.

 

[Beowulf]

Thanks good info. That stuff is 9 bucks per quart at tractor supply. For 4 bucks/quart you can get a stabilizer called gumout at a store around here called "BigLots".

http://www.gumout.com/ourProducts/fuelStabilizerCleaner.asp

There is no information on this page about its chemical make up.

Looks like the gumout stabilizer is mostly "light petroleum distillates" and a little Naptha. Coleman lantern fuel is about $12/gal. I'm not sure if there is a cheaper source than that of clean Naptha, but it might be worth adding a couple of ounces of pure IPA to a pint of lantern fuel to use for fuel stabilizer.

I've used Stabil before with good results, but it's kinda pricey considering what it is.

http://www.epc.shell.com/Docs/GSAP_msds_00019534.PDF


1. MATERIAL AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION
Material Name : Gumout Fuel Stabilizer & Cleaner
Uses : Fuel system cleaner
Manufacturer/Supplier : SOPUS Products
PO BOX 4427
Houston, TX 77210-4427
USA
MSDS Request : 877-276-7285

2. COMPOSITION/INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS
Chemical Identity CAS No. Concentration
Distillates (petroleum),
hydrotreated light
64742-47-8 85.00 - 95.00%
Distillates (petroleum),
sweetened middle
64741-86-2 < 5.00%
Solvent naphtha (petroleum),
heavy aromatic
64742-94-5 < 5.00%
Naphthalene 91-20-3 < 1.00%
Blend of petroleum distillates and additives.