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Author	Topic: Time to fire up my snowblower again...with ethanol blended fuel.	Post a Reply Back to Topics

goldseeker Champion Author West Virginia Posts:19,569 Points:2,721,740 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jan 5, 2012 6:25:33 AM Ignore goldseeker Report Abuse On Jan. 2 I had to fire up my snowblower for this first time this winter due to the first big snowstorm. That snowblower had set since last February with a tank of e10. I am amazed, that plastic gas tank did not melt. The plastic shutoff valve did not melt, and the neoprene fuel lines also did not melt. Shucks, there was not even any phase separation. Guess all those armchair experts were wrong again.

goldseeker

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West Virginia

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Message Posted: Jan 5, 2012 6:25:33 AM

Ignore goldseeker Report Abuse

On Jan. 2 I had to fire up my snowblower for this first time this winter due to the first big snowstorm.

That snowblower had set since last February with a tank of e10. I am amazed, that plastic gas tank did not melt. The plastic shutoff valve did not melt, and the neoprene fuel lines also did not melt. Shucks, there was not even any phase separation.

Guess all those armchair experts were wrong again.

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ethanolbob All-Star Author Maryland Posts:716 Points:137,325 Joined:Aug 2007	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 9:04:45 AM Ignore ethanolbob Report Abuse Darn! Didn't have to use my snowblower this past winter. But I have been using all of my power tools this spring, and they run just fine on ethanol blended fuels.
taxtaxtax Rookie Author Alberta Posts:26 Points:900 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Mar 1, 2012 7:20:46 PM Ignore taxtaxtax Report Abuse I don't think the degradation would be instantly, or within a year. But over time, there will be damage done to those seals.
catfish112 Rookie Author Tampa Posts:4 Points:405 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Feb 29, 2012 12:29:54 PM Ignore catfish112 Report Abuse Just give it time, when your mach starts miss firing, and getting hard to start. after sitting up a while you,ll find out.
RacerGene Champion Author Alabama Posts:1,703 Points:366,225 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Feb 26, 2012 8:04:01 AM Ignore RacerGene Report Abuse I didnt know that would last like that
Waterman66 Champion Author Colorado Posts:1,386 Points:494,195 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2012 10:18:41 AM Ignore Waterman66 Report Abuse Snowblower also runs as a lawnmower in the summer. Didn't have to use it until this month and sits with ethanol blend in the tank.
goldseeker Champion Author West Virginia Posts:19,569 Points:2,721,740 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2012 9:20:59 AM Ignore goldseeker Report Abuse Got about 3" of snow. Not enough to use the blower. Winter is about over and I really did not have to use my blower much. Got it out only to give it a test run. Guess it will set another year with a tank full of ethanol blended fuel.
pointerpuppy All-Star Author Idaho Posts:657 Points:140,665 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Feb 22, 2012 10:09:06 PM Ignore pointerpuppy Report Abuse No need for a snow blower here. So no ethanol
stickyvalves Champion Author Iowa Posts:5,285 Points:1,559,670 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Feb 18, 2012 7:35:51 AM Ignore stickyvalves Report Abuse Phil, I was just making suggestions of possible sources and fixes. I'll let you form your own conclusions in NY.
GM1954 Champion Author Illinois Posts:7,950 Points:131,880 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: Feb 16, 2012 4:33:11 PM Ignore GM1954 Report Abuse Then, I understood what you were saying. You had E10 and Ice formed in the bottom of the can. That wouldn't happen with E10. One of thwo things would happen with E10. One: you add water to it and the water goes into solution. No ice in the bottom of the can. Second, you add so much water that both the alcohl and water separate from the gasoline. In that case the ethanol acts as an antifreeze. It doesn't get cold enough in New York to freeze what came out of your E10. The fuel in that container was either regular gasoline or E10 with more water than fuel.
PhilT08 Champion Author Buffalo Posts:2,106 Points:121,695 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Feb 16, 2012 4:13:34 PM Ignore PhilT08 Report Abuse GM1954, it is gas for yard equipment such as my weed trimmer and leaf blower. it is E10 that I have "always" used but in the last couple years I have had some trouble if the gas "ages".
GM1954 Champion Author Illinois Posts:7,950 Points:131,880 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: Feb 16, 2012 10:58:52 AM Ignore GM1954 Report Abuse Phil, what were you buying for fuel. E10 or regular gasoline?
PhilT08 Champion Author Buffalo Posts:2,106 Points:121,695 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Feb 16, 2012 10:34:08 AM Ignore PhilT08 Report Abuse GM1954, you misunderstood it was different occasions, one where fuel that had been in my trimmer over the winter and another instance where there is ice in the can of gas I had bought at a later time.
GM1954 Champion Author Illinois Posts:7,950 Points:131,880 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: Feb 16, 2012 6:58:58 AM Ignore GM1954 Report Abuse "I went to my shed and when I moved the gas can I heard ice clunking around in the can so I know I will have dispose of that now. " Something is strange, here. If, indeed, the frozen substance was phase separation from E10, the substance in the bottom of the can would be predominately ethanol. The Freezing point of that ethanol water mixture would be well below -30 degrees F.
PhilT08 Champion Author Buffalo Posts:2,106 Points:121,695 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Feb 16, 2012 6:38:16 AM Ignore PhilT08 Report Abuse in the case of ice in my can the water could have come from the station, my shed is dry however the unusual weather this year it has been pretty damp so the most likely cause is condensation. as for the gas that sat in my trimmer over the winter seperating like it did I don't know because I always add stabilizer when I buy gas for yard equipment. only thing I can think of is different additives in the gas. there is a station that sells gasoline without any ethanol in it so I am going to see how that works out for the yard equipment.
goldseeker Champion Author West Virginia Posts:19,569 Points:2,721,740 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2012 10:44:43 AM Ignore goldseeker Report Abuse I have never had any problems with gas/ethanol blend use in any of my small engines. In fact they will set for several months every year with a tank full of fuel and still fire right up when I need them. I admit that you can indeed get water in your fuel mix at the pump. It can happen anywhere, but I think the older mon & pop stores are likely where it could happen. Many of these old stores have steel tanks that have been in the ground for decades. Not long ago I picked up my kerosene container to fill my oil lamps and I heard something clank on the side of the can. Close inspection with a flashlight showed that there was ice in the bottom of the can. How could it have got there? The can is always in the garage, so there are only two possibilities. One condensation on the inside of can, or the water came from the pump.
stickyvalves Champion Author Iowa Posts:5,285 Points:1,559,670 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2012 8:45:47 AM Ignore stickyvalves Report Abuse Phil, you are getting water from somewhere. -in the shed, -use different supplier, -get a can of nolead next time, -you may have to go back to draining gas tanks, There may be something with additives like you said. Since the water is in your gas can, was it clear empty when you filled it last, or change its location in the shed. Just suggestions.
PhilT08 Champion Author Buffalo Posts:2,106 Points:121,695 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Feb 12, 2012 8:30:19 AM Ignore PhilT08 Report Abuse interesting topic, I always used E10 fuel in my yard equipment without any problems even storing my equipment with the fuel in the tank however the last couple years I have found if I don't use the fuel within about 2 or 3 months my yard equipment becomes hard to start or will not start at all unless I dispose of the fuel and fill it up with fresh gas. last spring I pulled out my trimmer and it would not start so I left it sit for a while and came back to discover when looking at the fuel tank something didn't look right so I dumped the fuel out into a glass jar and let it sit for an hour and when I checked it had seperated, a white milky substance and a clear liquid that looked like water. I went and bought fresh gas, mixed in the 2 cycle oil and my trimmer started right up. I have never had a problem with corrosion or other alledged fuel system problems just the gas itself going bad. I have read that fuel has different additives depending on state regulations, summer mix VS winter mix and so on. maybe additives to gas in my area has changed causing the problem I have experienced. also the most recent gas I bought for yard equipment was bought in October 2011 and in January 2012 I went to my shed and when I moved the gas can I heard ice clunking around in the can so I know I will have dispose of that now.
jay93LA Champion Author New Orleans Posts:2,459 Points:601,660 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2012 8:53:49 AM Ignore jay93LA Report Abuse just another headache
goldseeker Champion Author West Virginia Posts:19,569 Points:2,721,740 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Feb 10, 2012 11:11:01 PM Ignore goldseeker Report Abuse At this time only Kohler is building an E85 compatible small engine, and as far as I know it was not for snowblowers.
stickyvalves Champion Author Iowa Posts:5,285 Points:1,559,670 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Feb 10, 2012 12:50:34 PM Ignore stickyvalves Report Abuse Has to be a difference in schooling or reading comprehension. I don't recall anyone promoting using E85 to power a snow blower engine.
goldseeker Champion Author West Virginia Posts:19,569 Points:2,721,740 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Feb 10, 2012 6:04:49 AM Ignore goldseeker Report Abuse "No E85 in my snow blower" Wait a minute, who said anything about using E85 in a snowblower? You could, but you would have to rejet the carb. [Edited by: goldseeker at 2/10/2012 7:05:52 AM EST]
tdhawk Veteran Author Virginia Posts:459 Points:566,045 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2012 6:48:14 AM Ignore tdhawk Report Abuse I use Stabil in everything that doesn't get used regularly (snowblower, generator, chain saw, etc.) and have never had a problem with ethanol blended fuel.
rhail2 Champion Author Kentucky Posts:1,452 Points:287,485 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Feb 5, 2012 12:06:16 PM Ignore rhail2 Report Abuse No E85 in my snow blower
stickyvalves Champion Author Iowa Posts:5,285 Points:1,559,670 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Feb 5, 2012 7:20:18 AM Ignore stickyvalves Report Abuse Darn. The snow stopped before it got here.
maryph1958 Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:1,420 Points:283,095 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Jan 27, 2012 11:24:16 AM Ignore maryph1958 Report Abuse No E85 in my snow blower
stickyvalves Champion Author Iowa Posts:5,285 Points:1,559,670 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jan 23, 2012 7:32:02 AM Ignore stickyvalves Report Abuse I don't intend to use E85 in my snow blower, and I'm not worried about E15. Gasohol and oil has worked fine since it was new in 1990.
goldseeker Champion Author West Virginia Posts:19,569 Points:2,721,740 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jan 23, 2012 6:26:24 AM Ignore goldseeker Report Abuse "Lets see you run that snow blower on e-15 or better yet e-85." There is no doubt in my mind that it would indeed run on e15, however to get it to run on e-85 you would likely need to rejet the carb.
rumbleseat Champion Author Winnipeg Posts:22,939 Points:3,532,260 Joined:Oct 2002	Message Posted: Jan 22, 2012 10:41:35 PM Ignore rumbleseat Report Abuse "sometimes I'm lucky and the carb isn't gummed up and it starts okay, other times I spend an afternoon dinkin' around with the gummed up carb." Funny, there have been gummed up carbs, forever, and shelves full of things like carb cleaners in the stores. If you carb is gummed up, it is gummed up by, you guessed it, gasoline! If the filter in your car is plugged with junk after first tanks of E10, it is plugged up with junk cleaned up by ethanol that was left by, you guessed it, gasoline! Or is it contended that gummed carburetors in the 1960s and 1970s were all caused by the ethanol that was not yet part of our fuel supply line? Because it sure can't be stated with any degree of truth that carburetors never needed cleaning before the advent of E10.
1993SC2 Rookie Author Grand Rapids Posts:89 Points:39,485 Joined:Aug 2003	Message Posted: Jan 22, 2012 5:20:53 PM Ignore 1993SC2 Report Abuse sometimes I'm lucky and the carb isn't gummed up and it starts okay, other times I spend an afternoon dinkin' around with the gummed up carb. I used stabil in the motorcycle this winter, and before and it fired right up... but not in the mower and snowthrower.
SilverStreaker Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:11,949 Points:2,218,490 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Jan 22, 2012 4:55:21 PM Ignore SilverStreaker Report Abuse lewpuckett says "Ethanol is just horrific to small engines" I've never had an ethanol related problem with my small gas engines.
lewpuckett Champion Author Georgia Posts:1,155 Points:648,435 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jan 22, 2012 3:25:34 PM Ignore lewpuckett Report Abuse Ethanol is just horrific to small engines and if it is bad to them what makes us think it is good for bigger engines?
feldagast All-Star Author Toledo Posts:897 Points:104,560 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Jan 22, 2012 2:41:10 PM Ignore feldagast Report Abuse Lets see you run that snow blower on e-15 or better yet e-85.
stickyvalves Champion Author Iowa Posts:5,285 Points:1,559,670 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jan 22, 2012 12:52:23 PM Ignore stickyvalves Report Abuse Here is a for what it's worth. Still raining and blowing in Iowa. Enjoy winter, folks.
stickyvalves Champion Author Iowa Posts:5,285 Points:1,559,670 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jan 22, 2012 12:51:10 PM Ignore stickyvalves Report Abuse " filled with non-ethanol gas" You are entitled to do that.
GM1954 Champion Author Illinois Posts:7,950 Points:131,880 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: Jan 22, 2012 6:56:27 AM Ignore GM1954 Report Abuse I stored the snowblower in a hot nasty barn over the summer, with a partial tank of entanol blended fuel. It fired up with one crank of the starter and moved 8 inches of snow over the past two days.
goldseeker Champion Author West Virginia Posts:19,569 Points:2,721,740 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jan 22, 2012 12:16:13 AM Ignore goldseeker Report Abuse Won't be blowing any snow today as there is about 1" of frozen sleet and ice on top of the snow. Too bad ledfut.....that ethanol free gas is far more likely to have gasline freeze up.
Ledfut911 Rookie Author West Virginia Posts:46 Points:613,725 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jan 21, 2012 9:23:47 PM Ignore Ledfut911 Report Abuse Dang I'm lucky. Haven't had to use my snowblower yet in Eastern WV and it's filled with non-ethanol gas since I got it 2 years ago. Nice to have a non-ethanol station nearby!
Pitbull1 Veteran Author Detroit Posts:395 Points:23,790 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jan 21, 2012 8:09:45 PM Ignore Pitbull1 Report Abuse Here in Michigan we got our first snow this year. A whopping 2 to 3 inches. It is supposed to be 45 degrees and rain Sunday. Looks like the "snowbelt" has moved South! No complaints here, I had my fill from years past.
stickyvalves Champion Author Iowa Posts:5,285 Points:1,559,670 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jan 21, 2012 11:39:53 AM Ignore stickyvalves Report Abuse goldseeker, I said you had snow coming. We only had 5"; got slighted. But neede to be sure the Chicago people and you got part of this one also. Once again, my old snowblower ran just fine on gasohol and oil.
goldseeker Champion Author West Virginia Posts:19,569 Points:2,721,740 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jan 20, 2012 9:43:30 PM Ignore goldseeker Report Abuse We are now getting a mixed bag of snow, sleet, and rain. I think I will send some back to you sticky. OK.
goldseeker Champion Author West Virginia Posts:19,569 Points:2,721,740 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jan 20, 2012 1:15:04 PM Ignore goldseeker Report Abuse Hey Sticky. We got a surprise last night. Did you send it???? They called for a trace of snow, but when I got home it was 8". Call for a mixed bag tonight with up to 1/4" of ice.
sluggopyle Champion Author North Carolina Posts:23,608 Points:1,075,890 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Jan 20, 2012 1:13:26 PM Ignore sluggopyle Report Abuse => Oh, yeah, there is always the pipeline from Canada we didn't get! <= That finished product was/is going to end up in China anyway, pipeline or no pipeline.
Pitbull1 Veteran Author Detroit Posts:395 Points:23,790 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jan 20, 2012 12:34:15 PM Ignore Pitbull1 Report Abuse Funny thing, my Toro with E10 fired up too. No problems at all. And, your right, nothing melted. Gee, I guess there is nothing to complain about. Oh, yeah, there is always the pipeline from Canada we didn't get!
stickyvalves Champion Author Iowa Posts:5,285 Points:1,559,670 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jan 20, 2012 8:28:33 AM Ignore stickyvalves Report Abuse Hey, goldseeker. We'll let some of this snow blow your way tomorrow. I get to use my 20 year old snowblower tonite. It's already fueled with gasohol and oil from the local station and ready to go.
AFOS Champion Author Chicago Posts:30,421 Points:3,075,090 Joined:Jul 2001	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2012 7:56:54 PM Ignore AFOS Report Abuse As usual, mine fueled with E10 started on the 2nd pull after at least 10 months vacation today. 17-18 years...same experience. But I do run it dry and wick up the remainder the end of each winter, having had the opposite experience after it's first winter of existence (when we may not have been using E10)
goldseeker Champion Author West Virginia Posts:19,569 Points:2,721,740 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2012 3:52:11 PM Ignore goldseeker Report Abuse Sticky, we only got about 3" of snow here, but it is very cold and windy. Currently 13 with 40 MPG gusts. Don't have to worry about blowing the snow, as it is already blowing. LOL.
goldseeker Champion Author West Virginia Posts:19,569 Points:2,721,740 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2012 12:50:45 PM Ignore goldseeker Report Abuse emmettgalloway....Ask the multitude of people that have been forced to have their tax dollars given to oil producers. Oil companies have been collecting subsidies to the tune of 4.8 billion annually since 1918. All of this with no benefit to anyone other than high paid oil execs. Do you remember when Exxon gave its retiring CEO a $300 million bonus? We should also mention that gasoline is laced with known cancer causing substances including benzene. Did you know that one in every three Americans can expect to be diagnosed with cancer sometime in their life? Did you know that benzene and other common components of gasoline has a poor compatibility rating with elastomers that are commonly used in todays modern engines? [Edited by: goldseeker at 1/13/2012 1:52:31 PM EST]
krzysiek_ck Champion Author Illinois Posts:5,338 Points:731,085 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2012 9:44:38 AM Ignore krzysiek_ck Report Abuse I cranked my snowblower this morning with last winter E10 in it without any issues. [Edited by: krzysiek_ck at 1/13/2012 10:45:56 AM EST]
stickyvalves Champion Author Iowa Posts:5,285 Points:1,559,670 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2012 8:46:44 AM Ignore stickyvalves Report Abuse Not enough snow to crank the blower. Scooping is good exercise. Most of our snow landed in another state anyway. But I did finally get to feel the snow blowing against the face. Ahhhhh. [Edited by: stickyvalves at 1/13/2012 9:47:01 AM EST]
stickyvalves Champion Author Iowa Posts:5,285 Points:1,559,670 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jan 12, 2012 6:23:43 AM Ignore stickyvalves Report Abuse WOW. One whole inch of snow with 30 mph winds doesn't leave any to scoop. Oh well, the wind's out of the north and I figure OceanArcher might actuall get some of this in Mississippi.