Carbs Damaged By Blended Fuels

[lnfletcher]

Originally Posted by RangerMac

Is there an addative you can put in your tank every so often to mitigate the damage of corrosion of the carbs and associated parts?

There is a number of products that you can add to your fill to nullify the effects.
One that I use and has been highly recommended by trusted mechanics in this area is Lucas Oil/5.25 oz. fuel injector cleaner. It negates the harmful effects of "reformulated gasoline". Also stabilizes for storage.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by lnfletcher

One that I use and has been highly recommended by trusted mechanics in this area is Lucas Oil/5.25 oz. fuel injector cleaner. It negates the harmful effects of "reformulated gasoline". Also stabilizes for storage.

This is not the Fuel Injector cleaner, but from the ad it looks promising. http://www.lucasoil.com/products/dis...tid=8&loc=show

[lnfletcher]

I'll have to try to find this locally!

[WardL]

Nothing will eliminate the exposure to high water in gasoline with ethanol. E10 (10% ethanol & 90% gasoline) has been around a long time. You have been using it and didn't know it. Methanol is not used in retail gasoline anywhere. When E10 gets a little water, it absorbs it and everything continues to work fine. As long as the fuel is "clear and bright" it is fine. Just a tad too much water and the equilibrium shifts to form a water-ethanol layer on the bottom of the station tank or your gas tank. The fuel will be cloudy and have two distinct liquid phases. Your car won't get out of the gas station before you know you have a water problem in the gasoline. If this happens, don't drive your vehicle. Have it towed to where the fuel tank and system can be flushed with fresh gas. The retail site should pay you for your troubles if you have your receipts.

[lnfletcher]

Well Patrickt, I'm glad I didn't find it in my area!

I have been using the Lucas fuel treatment for years without any issues. I wonder what the real difference is.
But for the past few years I have been able to buy pure gas locally and avoid the issue of ethanol.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by lnfletcher

Well Patrickt, I'm glad I didn't find it in my area!

I have been using the Lucas fuel treatment for years without any issues. I wonder what the real difference is.
But for the past few years I have been able to buy pure gas locally and avoid the issue of ethanol.

One of my car buddies was telling me that if you put a small amount of today's ethanol gas in a clean glass jar, and then allow it to evaporate, it will leave a residue that is plainly visible. Now I don't know whether that is true or not, but it makes for a nice story, especially since my air bleeds have now clogged up two years in a row on almost exactly the same date. Last year it took me a day or two to figure out what the problem was; this year I knew what it was instantly but was still amazed at how quickly it comes on. Frankly, if you've ever had a kidney stone, it's kind of like that -- your Cobra is having a small kidney stone. I remember my very first kidney stone over 25 years ago. On the way to the ER I was sure I was dying. Now, almost a dozen stones later, I can see them coming a mile away and they are nothing more than a painful inconvenience.

[lnfletcher]

It's true about the residue left behind.
I have a backup generator that I use for my home that only gets run about every 4 or 5 months. I didn't have any trouble until about 3 years ago, and then it was impossible to get it started without emptying the fuel and cleaning the carb. I finally had to replace the carb and then I continued to have problems each time until I began using gas without ethanol and I haven't had problems since.
Even fuel additives didn't seem to help over a period of months.

Just talk to the outboard motor guys about it.

[G-Pete]

Originally Posted by lnfletcher

It's true about the residue left behind.
I have a backup generator that I use for my home that only gets run about every 4 or 5 months.

Larry, if you use a 4-stroke generator you can burn the Coleman fuel. Available at WalMart. The shelf live is 10 years and has about a octane grade of 65, just fine for and low rpm 4-stroke.
When my power is out - I want to be sure that thang fires up...and it does!