EXTREME gasoline damage: vehicles and small engines

[ErnestBidder]

  If you haven't been paying too much attention to news of methanol treated gasoline, you should: news reports are saying that the new 15% methanol-gasoline is destroying all kinds of rubber/vinyl/plastics in all sorts of vehicles and equipment with small engines, and the damage is not covered by warranty. This gas is, apparently, now making its way into Canada; my (very professional) auto repair shop owner said that even the 10% mix we get now is eating plastic small-engine carburettors and other bits. The only answer is to go to high test gas, and even then you have to check to see if methanol is present, even when it is not supposed to be, and I'm cursing because I just filled up my lawn tractor, snowblower, and, this past fall, my weedeater! Fuel stabilizer is of no help.
  My auto repair shop owner is also a farmer; he says that even the diesel fuel does not contain the proper lubricants, and he has had to add a litre of automatic trans fluid to each tank of diesel fuel. All this to support the corporate farming conglomerates, and I come from a farming background.

[g2020]

Very interesting! I only use the shell premium gas in my lawn tractor, trimmer etc for that very reason. Last spring I started the restoration  of a brick and stone house that I bought on Tax Sale near where I live. It had been professionallly landscaped but was overgrown in 2 to 3 foot high weeds and garbage. I had to cut the lawns twice a week with a trimmer for the first 3 months while the overseeding and fertilization worked it's magic. If I had been using regular gas I would have gone through several trimmers. The dealer who services our cars recommends only shell and petro Canada gas for the methanol reason. Your farmer friend is probably referring to premium diesel which is only available from shell and has the extra cleaners and lubricants - I use it in my wife's Bluetec after reading about the issues on another blog last year. I know this may seem off topic but all those who do well on tax sales seem to be very dependent on their small engines to get their tax sale winnings into shape before listing them for sale. When I read about the effort Dave2 puts into his lots to make them marketable for top dollar, I am not surprised that he is successful at it. It sounds like Earestbidder is doing the same.

[netpred]

This has nothing to do with tax sales or beers. A plague on both of your houses!!!  

Two stroke engines are the most susceptible to damage from this fuel. One solution is to add a bit more oil to the mix. Premium gas works too as mentioned. The best solution is to change the jets on your carb(s) to one size larger. This enriches the mixture and results in cooler operation. It never hurts to have new jets and at a dollar or two this is great insurance.

I wasn't aware that the same issue applies also to diesel fuel and motors.

[Frank]

Last spring I decided to fire up the Stihl chain saw and cut a tree down.  Darn thing just would not start.  I could get it to fire by pouring a bit of gas into the carb, but then nothing...sore arm from pulling the cord.  Checked further and found that the rubber hose that went into the gas tank was completely rotted.  Took it into the nearest dealer and got a lecture on using nothing but high test in these machines as the methanol eats the rubber.  Lesson learned the hard and expensive way.

This has a lot to do with tax sales, since most of these properties are dogs and you need to put a suit and tie on them to put them on the market and make a few sheckles. 

[DRD]

Lets add to the troubles... 2-stroke oil, use good oil only (stihl eco ect.) or you will get carbon issues. I can say that I personaly have had troubles with ctc and esso 2-stroke oils and heard many more stories.

[ErnestBidder]

 Was just told, yesterday, that you can buy non=methanol fuel at any marina, for only a few cents more than pump gas.

[g2020]

Yes, but premium shell has zero methanol and it says so right on the pump. You also get the cleaners that are not in the marine gas, and it is available all year round. The document on the gas pump shows that the intermediate grade is up to 5% methanol, and their regular grade is up to 10% methanol. I used to get my gas at Costco but for my 4 cycle trimmer and lawn mower I now only use shell premium. I have two tax sale houses on the market and I use the trimmer every week on one and cut the grass twice a week due to all this rain and heavy fertilization. Buying at tax sales is easy - it is the selling part that makes you wish you were not so "lucky".

[ErnestBidder]

 As ever, I stand to be corrected; I forgot to say regular fuel, and the person who told me about it apparently never read the pump stickers! So, back to Shell. Thank you g2020.

 Dave11, there is an "islands for sale" website, but I think they charge a fee. Have you posted on the bulletin boards of marinas? Have you warmed up you CB radio, and talked to the boaters? Of course, these are the actions for someone with nothing else to do, and I know you're busy, and an early riser, from the time stamps on your postings.

  Cheers to all.

[Dave2]

 Dave11, there is an "islands for sale" website, but I think they charge a fee. Have you posted on the bulletin boards of marinas? Have you warmed up you CB radio, and talked to the boaters? Of course, these are the actions for someone with nothing else to do, and I know you're busy, and an early riser, from the time stamps on your postings. Cheers to all.

We will talk about this problem tomorrow.  I am well aware of private islands website and have talked with them but not sure.  May try another approach and and going to talk at senior level first before I talk further.  

Early rise more often then I like to admit related to following problems 

a) super mouse who sprang our mouse trap between 5 and 10 times before we got him last night and

local coyotes.  

one of the perils of living by the country.  

[ErnestBidder]

  Go to almost any hardware store, and look for the traps that come 2 in a pkg; they have a loop for your finger, and a little peanut butter compartment, with a lid; the lid is a hair trigger, and I defy any mouse to beat it: you barely get to move it before it snaps shut. I almost got my finger caught the first time I tried it. It is infallable.

  I don't know how secluded is your location, or how brave & daring you be, but I'm told that you can keep coyotes away by urinating around your property. Midnight sounds about right. Oh, yeah, it was the same guy who told me about the marina gas.  ;>))

  You can always put signs out at the end of your driveway: "free coyote target practice".