Ok I'm exagerrating a bit, but filled the lawnmower to the brim in 01 Dec 2023 and started it up today. 5% Ethanol in the tank, Shell Premium fuel. Almost didn't start and had a cloud of billowing white smoke. Brand new Makita lawnmower, used less than 15 times. Ran ok after spluttering. Kept inside, no moisture.
Got a tank full of the same stuff in my JDM 1997 Toyota Celsior that's been sitting for a year + a half. Guess I'll have to drain the tank completely. Just wondering what damage could be done to the engine if I run it, assuming the tank is also metal, and that the fuel lines wont have gummed up? Am I right in assuming the gum sets at the bottom and the ethanol rises to the top?
Thanks,
Edit: Makita lawnmower, tells me not to use ethanol based, but that's the lowest content here in the UK. 10% regular or 5% premium.
Ethanol-contaminated gasoline starts degrading in weeks. You need to add a fuel stabilizer when storing the stuff for long periods of time. Either that or drain the gas completely before storage.
Your lawn mower should be OK if the bad gas has already run through it but you might want to clean the carb and check the spark plug(s), change the fuel filter if it has one. Definitely drain the tank of the Toyota and blow the bad gas out of the fuel line with compressed air if possible, change the fuel filter. That will reduce the bad gas to a minimum and you should not have any problems once fresh gas flows through.
Sta-Bil gas treatment is supposed to keep gas fresh for up to 2 years. I have not let it go that long but my cars and lawn equipment that "sleep" over the winter have been fine with it.
Just wondering what damage could be done to the engine if I run it
ethanol eats up rubber diaphragms in the carb
Am I right in assuming the gum sets at the bottom and the ethanol rises to the top?
ethanol blends into the gasoline, but when the mixture absorbs too much moisture, the water and ethanol mixture separates and settles as the bottom. In fact, that's how some people wash the ethanol out. Just mix with water and shake. Decant the good stuff off.
that's the lowest content here in the UK. 10% regular
same in Canada. You can't get ethanol free gas at the pump any more. You have to buy small cans of expensive fuel at small engine shops (yard supply, chainsaw dealers etc.). you could also try the boat marina if you're near one.
I do one of two things with my lawn mowers for winter prepping.
Completely drain the tanks and drain the carburetors of any residual fuel.
Or: Run the tanks dry and fill the tanks with one of the following: Home Depot Powercare 92 octane (produced by VP Racing Fuels) or use the branded VP Small Engine Fuel 94 octane. After filling, run the mower(s) for a few minutes to burn any E10 left over in the carb(s).
Since the ethanol-free canned fuels can be blended with any pump gas, I always keep a few gallons of the canned fuels on hand as an emergency fuel reserve.
You may be able to order VP SEF fuels in the UK??
Didn't show on my pc but this is the product: Lucas Oil 10576 Safeguard Ethanol Fuel Conditioner with Stabilizers
Thanks for the replies folks, much appreciated. I see I've done everything back to front and literally upside down. Thought if I filled the tank I'd push the air out and be ok.
@MountainManJoe I like the idea of sperating the ethanol out. I suppose if you assume 10% and add 10% water, then agitate and leave for 24 hours and drain off you will get a better grade fuel than what it was?.
Even if there's more or less than 10% ethanol, and you get a bit of water into the petrol, it's probably still better than the crap they're selling us. Something worth thinking about maybe?. I dunno. Considering that the ethanol is pretty much guaranteed to wreck old cars.
Fortunately, water does not dissolve in petrol (oil and water don't mix). I think you can add as much water as you like to make sure to get all the ethanol out. maybe 50/50 mix. Water is heavier than petrol so it settles to the bottom so you might want to set up an apparatus for it. For example a 2L bottle with the bottom cut off, a hole poked in the lid, and inverted to create a clear funnel so you can see the two layers clearly. Put a stopper or your finger over the bottom. Pour in your agitated mixture and let it separate, then open the bottom and drain off the water . Do that maybe 3 times and you should have fairly clean petrol. It might remove some of the additives too but the lawnmower probably doesn't care. I'm sure there's plenty of videos on Youtube about it.
I wont derail my own thread, but just a thought about ethanol. I was driving to work about 20 years ago before they introduced it: 20 litres a day, 400 litres a month. So 800 litres over 2 months. Scotty Kilmer says E10 gives -25% MPG, so today I'd have to use 1000 litres.
So if E10 is 10% that means I'd get through 900 litres in 2 months. So how's that better than 800 litres in 2 months?. As I said I don't want to start a whole discussion on it, just thought I'd leave that here.
And I'm not a scientist and all that. You ask questions on climate change policies these days and everyone jumps at you like you're saying the earth is flat. I know it's not flat: it's just tilted towards the corrupt people making all the money.
if E10 is 10% that means I'd get through 900 litres in 2 months
that's not exactly how it works.
- The petrol in ethanol blended fuel is different than non blended.
- Ethanol does provide some energy
- you have to consider octane rating which affects efficiency.
- You also neglected to consider cost.
For your car, in most cases it's more economical to just use the E10. It won't be harmed by the ethanol.