Don't use ethanol-gas mixtures in small engines. I just heard today; right after I blew up my Stihl 044. Thought I might save someone some trouble.

God Bless, Louis

My Uncle Bill told me Nitromethane from his drag car does not agree with small engines either. Just saying

What is it you're hinting to that the ethanol gasoline does to small engines? You know that Stihl 044 is a two cycle engine and it's requires are totally different for fuel then a 4 cycle engine.

Many have no choice because the ethanol blend is all that is sold. I've been running it on 4 cycle small engines for years with no problems. One thing that I had to do though was change the mixture by making it more rich.

Ethanol has killed/injured several of my small engines due to the damage it does to long standing Equipment. After many repairs each spring, a buddy suggested I go to the airport and purchase aviation gas. High octane with NO ethanol.......Problem solved!! And repairs due to ethanol fuel are gone! Yes, it's much higher per gallon, but worth it to me.

Ethanol is a fact of life. There are many additives that will negate the effects of ethanol in two cycles. I use Stabil (blue/green stuff) in chain saws, blowers, and trimmers

In my bass boat I use an additive from Mercury Marine that is made specifically for two cycle outboards.

I make sure I mix enough oil with the tools, the outboard is DFI so the mixture is what it is. Nothing has blown up yet.

Sounds interesting..... 100 or 110 octane lowlead in a weedddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddeater... don't let it get away from ya.

Not sure how widespread this is but in central Canada reg gasoline may have up to 10 % alcohol. Mid grade may have up to 5 % alcohol and premium has NO alcohol. Alcohol is nothing but trouble for small motors. I only use premium in any small motors.

There is one bad issue to ethanol that I hate, personally and that is the ability of the alcohol to pick up water, whether it is from the station, condensation, whatever and emulsify it and carry it through the fuel system.

Bought the wife a John Deere X300 lawn tractor/mower.

I asked about using ethanol gas.
He stated "ethanol gas is a factor of life now...

The dealer told us to use Sta-Bil, or Sea Foam with every fillup.

I have been using Enzyme Additive for a few years now.Plus I use premium gas after what a friend with a saw shop showed me twenty years ago what alcohol and ethanol in gasoline does to cyl surfaces ,carbs and fuel lines. Enzyme additive counteracts the ethanol. They have been cutting lower blend gases for years with cheaper alcohol.

Starting today I am doing a test. I will add 4oz of Marvel Mystery Oil to every 10 gallons of gas I put in the tanks of my vehicles.

This is their recommendation.

I am also going to buy the 89 octane gas for a while and see how that works out.

In the small engines I will still use Sta-Bil.

A local Shell dealer told me all gasoline sold in the great state of California is currently 10% ethanol.

I used to sell small engines back in the mid-80's. The plastic products used then in gas tanks, gas lines and seals were almost immediately destroyed by ethanol. Ethanol killed many, many small engines from the 80's forward. Most small engines today are tolerant of ethanol. If you have old equipment, you're out of luck. Scream, moan, and curse but the reality is you need to buy newer equipment that is designed for the newer fuels. Expensive, yes, but that's the deal. I have lost old Homelite chainsaws, old weedeaters, old snowblowers due to ethanol and my forgetfulness in running ethanol-based fuels through this equipment.

Luckily I have access to two different stations that sell real gas and so use that in all small engines here.
May not make any difference, but this way I did the best I could.

No real gas around here!

Use Stabil ... but not sure it's as good as gas without ethanol.

Seafoam is good for this but yesterday I went in to get some and the store owner told me he's switched to StarTron enzyme treatment and is sure it's better stuff. He said he's using a small amount with each fill but that he tried it in a boat with injection issues and it cleaned it right up though he said he didn't measure very close. Link