Year long test gas in carb is done..

[Robby321]

This was a new carb I bought for a CT70 Minitrail mine, and wrong intake bolt pattern. But I had to do a "test" "leaving gas in a carb 2 months turns to crap". Calling BS, and always did. I've never ran anything "gas out carbs" since the Minibike days 6 decades ago. Only if a good pickle and going into storage for years motors mine.
This gas was 10% ETH 40-1 2 stroke mix, with Stabil (red) and sat 3 months in the shed as used chain saws/blowers. Filled the bowl the new carb it and let it sit on the bench 9 more months. I'm still hearing stories about "ETH yellow snot" as tried that too and never showed. Now clue me that and if a story?.. bring it on.
Anyway M/T thought gas, but gone. Little lingering fresh gas smell, zero film the float as the bowl. I could sell it tomorrow as "new" Pix say it all........

[pt-73]

That is a nice looking carb, just like new.

[xskeetshooter]

some people experience failures ,others don't....your test doesn't prove anything.....ive replaced lots of carbs due to bad gas......go to any small engine shop. look around......you are just lucky...but not typical.....

[H2OPERF]

Proves that 1 bowl full of gas doesn't leave much deposit, but a gravity fed engine with a tank full of fuel slowly evaporating a way as the carb refills may be a different story. Dave

[Onetime]

Do you think the Stabil helped?

[sharpeye Mike]

I leave the gas in my snowblower all year long but if I don't dump the gas from bowl on my first start up of the year she will not start. I use Stabil for all my small motors.

[FMP]

If air can get to the fuel it will draw water, it's only a mater of time.

[Flightplan]

The ethanol BS is real down here. Cant leave gas in anything. I'm sick of carb problems in ATVs, Harley's, small engines, generators, power washers, and carb boats.

weird thing is we never have problems with injected motors.

i run fuel out of every carb and drain tanks now. I don't use Stabil. Prolly should.

your two stroke oil probably had a stabilizer built in, and then you added Stabil to 3month old gas. I would have to go with luck as well.

​Corn is for Food!!!!!

[Robby321]

Let me reiterate here again. Not trying to start an argument with all the MANY variables that could apply but I did try to duplicate real conditions. I wanted to do this because I had a new carb. Chinese knock off for small Honda, so not OEM. No way to test with a used carb as it would be discolored. It was ONLY done to see what would be left in the bowl. And I THOUGHT SOMETHING would be left and some "crud" but found nothing and I was surprised! And thats all I tested it for.
And I'm going to shed some incite questions here and another forum. I've fixed small engines (and large) all my life and sure have seen some junk and some would knock ya over taking a whiff sour gas. Heck, just fixed a 1990 Tohatso 5hp that would not stay running. Bowl clean, but the jet was plugged solid with something I would have had to drill it out, so got a new jet and fixed. Plus I put a inline filter on too. And anything I have gravity feed had better have a filter and shut off, or its gonna get them. On the carb being open to air, well its the same as on a motor without a air filter (boat motor). Float bowls are vented in some fashion, why you need sooner or later a pump up/bulb prime unless gravity feed and no shut off. And here PNW aint the driest place on earth, and shop goes 50 overnight to 70's day.

I run "Gasohol" even though just up the road a Casino owned station ETH free, 20 cents more gal. I've simple had no problems. I DO "Stab" gas when bought and have a long time. Anything sitting say winter get vents closed or boats in hull tanks get tape over the vent for moisture. All outside shed lawn stuff will sit and starts right up all spring.
Case in point my 22 year old Generator. Not needed last 3 years as no long power outs. And all I ever did is fall suck the old gas out (smells fine) and burned in the Van. New stabbed in, 5 gallons, fired up warm, and shut off and gas off and new oil and put away. Still starts 1 or 2 pulls year later. Same as mowers and rest.

I've tried other test too baby food jars, sealed, vented lid, and open and all different kinds mixtures and nothing was ever found sitting for months. Heck, even did a "snake oil" test extra water in ETH fuel and tried both MDR "Waterzorb as "E Zorb, and shook it up and water dispersed. Will settle out a bit in time, but shake it and gone again and will burn in a motor.

Now I'm gonna do anther test with that same now year old gas still in the 3 gallon can and 1/2 full baby food jar, stab a hole in the lid, put it outside here rainy PNW in the weather, but out of the rain and wait until spring and see what happens. Follow up that later.

And on snake oils? I don't care Stabil, either one, Startron, Seafoam but do SOMETHING all gas as works for me and have since the 70's with my XS Switzer that sat out midwest all winter. And as diff regions all us, seems humidity in the south and heat might have something to do with "watered gas" as hear many stories there "chit gas". I dunno. And just last week buddy mine took his wifes car the wrench here as running rough. Diesel motor. Said try some injector cleaner first or injectors need work. Asked me and said put a full can Seafoam into 8 gallons. Well, it cleared itself up. Also a fan Techron "concentrate", not injection cleaner but ok that for treating gas occasionally . Old dude across street only used his ATV hunting once a year and it ran terrible one fall. I dumped a heavy dose Techron in it and well, cleared up. So yes, some stuff does work. Just wish the "uninformed" knew what to do, but OK me as does keep up the bucks coming in to Mechs to "fix". Leave your mower sit outside in the rain all winter no "preventive maintenance" and I'll see ya in the spring..........(and I'm not talking you guys here as know better than that anyway)

[home made tunnel]

With new england weather as crazy as it is, 70* one day, down to 25* at night, back to humid 50* the next day... It's terrible on carbs. The temperature changes draw in air / fuel / evaporation as the temperature of the air goes up and down. This can make a lawn tractor Briggs & Stratton carb fuel bowl turn to jelly in a matter of 2-3 months !

[Robby321]

With new england weather as crazy as it is, 70* one day, down to 25* at night, back to humid 50* the next day... It's terrible on carbs. The temperature changes draw in air / fuel / evaporation as the temperature of the air goes up and down. This can make a lawn tractor Briggs & Stratton carb fuel bowl turn to jelly in a matter of 2-3 months !

Thats what I'm thinking as weather is "benign" here. Little temp swings. Think of this as a Barometer ..pressure change. When high pressure hits? I have a kit sink pump squirt bottle soap. High pressure hits and it starts to show a drop coming out.

Anyway, doing a new "mad science off season now test" Baby food jar with that same old stabbed gas a year ago, ETH mix, 40-1 oil in it. Stabbed a hole/vent in the top and set out outside, ALONG with a open glass same. Let ya all know when I find something.

[pointer]

We have ethanol related issues here, New Brunswick Canada eh!
Just above Maine.
Summer 2015 *edit - was not has * been the worst yet. Funny thing is only a couple of small 4 strokes (prone to plugging jets) and more larger even DI 2 strokes.
Found this video a few years ago, totally agree with his comments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzFzYoxxA10 .

pointer

[XstreamVking]

Good separator/filter while running, add just what fuel you need for the outing, and keep the tanks dry if gonna sit for months, this beats ethanol problems every time. Then, the only problem you are left with, is the hoses going bad in 3-5 yrs versus the 10+ yrs like we used to get out of them......Only snake oil I use is the merc engine cleaner for my 2 stroke optis. Keeps the injector's clean and carbon free.....

[j_martin]

Robby, point well taken. 1 bowl full of gas evaporating off doesn't leave much residue. However I think H2O nailed it. Most engines are gravity fed and the fuel flows in replacing what's evaporated. The dino components are more volatile than the alcohol, so it'll tend to concentrate the alcohol. If there's any water or humidity anywhere near, the alcohol will grab it. That brew, and a little fungal or bacterial activity can make a mess.

My small engine maintenance is down to nearly zero since I quit running that crap in them.

[Robby321]

Robby, point well taken. 1 bowl full of gas evaporating off doesn't leave much residue. However I think H2O nailed it. Most engines are gravity fed and the fuel flows in replacing what's evaporated. The dino components are more volatile than the alcohol, so it'll tend to concentrate the alcohol. If there's any water or humidity anywhere near, the alcohol will grab it. That brew, and a little fungal or bacterial activity can make a mess.My small engine maintenance is down to nearly zero since I quit running that crap in them.

No argument me that! But I addressed the gravity feed thing already.."And anything I have gravity feed had better have a filter and shut off, or its gonna get them". I got the thread on another forum too so if I repeat, sorry.

But the gas in the glass outside is almost gone now (one day and nothing yet the vented baby food jar) and and been drizzling all night and day here. What I AM gonna do is NOT touch whats left gone, and refill it full, let it evap, and repeat until I can find something. Same year old gas too.

I think the other forum was brought up the about ETH mix at 10% was attacking fuel line hoses and deteriorate the hose and bulb and "black flecks" found carb. One of my 4 boats (the dogs boat) is 28 years old, a Bayliner 20' cuddy/125 Force that sits in the slip (salt) all summer with the original OEM in tank gas hose to motor, bulb in the wet well and sun exposed. Been on 10% since I owned it. I do get a little "carbon black" the paw a first time fire prime spring. Not needed again until parked off season and spring again. Witch just won't quit running fine as "I dunno". Luck? OK me!

But on hoses/ bulbs going bad with ETH? Damn, I got no clue but "cheap chit" made now? Curious about cages that run E85 as gotta be some "rubber hose" them somewhere? There has to be answer that for good hose. Heck I dunno as own nothing newer than my 1991 Astro (dogs van). Don't want new as what I need simple works fine and does intended. Being out the rat race 22 years now I simple don't need new, but what I do still have? "Works"

But ya gotta believe in something so like WC Fields said long ago?

“Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer.”