I just fired up my Husqvarna 30" snow thrower since we have 24" of snow and it was giving me some issues. I always use startron in all of my small engines year round. I mix it directly into the gas can. This is the first time this year I used my snowblower and the engine was popping and surging like crazy. I used the blower for 4 hours straight today and the after I burned through the first tank of fuel I had new gas here I mixed startron and redline fuel system cleaner in the fuel and after a half hour it started to run normal again for the rest of the night. My question is what works better than startron? I've nvr had an issue with it before this time. The the " stabilized fuel " was in it since last April.
Used stabilizer and still having gas issues
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I use a mixture of MMO and Seafoam. Zero issues.
Use ethanol free fuel, and if you don't have access to that add gas stabilizer at end of season and run it dry. Only use gas no more than 4 months old.
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You can't not use your equipment for 8 or 10 months and expect it to work flawlessly. This is what I do. Run it once a month, don't waste your money on stabilizer, it doesn't do any good. When you don't use your equipment the fuel evaporates and it leaves nice white chalky deposits inside the carb from the aluminum oxidizing and also whatever fuel is left also turns into a nice solid brown carmel like mess. Either run it once a month to circulate the fuel and prevent evaporation or just replace the carb each season, since you can buy them for like 20 bucks.
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Originally Posted By: Danno
Use ethanol free fuel, and if you don't have access to that add gas stabilizer at end of season and run it dry. Only use gas no more than 4 months old.
Nope nope nope. Use the equipment periodically or expect fuel related issues, it's that simple!
Use ethanol free fuel, and if you don't have access to that add gas stabilizer at end of season and run it dry. Only use gas no more than 4 months old.
Nope nope nope. Use the equipment periodically or expect fuel related issues, it's that simple!
I usually start my blower once or twice In the summer which I did this year. I hoped the startron would do what it was supposed to do. There really aren't any ethanol free gas stations close to me. I wish there was though. Does anyone think the amsoil stabilizer would be better? The good news is the redline fuel system cleaned got it running good again. All the years I used startron I never had one issue until now.
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Originally Posted By: Indiana79
I usually start my blower once or twice In the summer which I did this year. I hoped the startron would do what it was supposed to do. There really aren't any ethanol free gas stations close to me. I wish there was though. Does anyone think the amsoil stabilizer would be better? The good news is the redline fuel system cleaned got it running good again. All the years I used startron I never had one issue until now.
Should have been started 5 or 6 times. Not trying to be a ****, but I know what keeps these things alive and have went through the headaches to see what works and what doesn't
I usually start my blower once or twice In the summer which I did this year. I hoped the startron would do what it was supposed to do. There really aren't any ethanol free gas stations close to me. I wish there was though. Does anyone think the amsoil stabilizer would be better? The good news is the redline fuel system cleaned got it running good again. All the years I used startron I never had one issue until now.
Should have been started 5 or 6 times. Not trying to be a ****, but I know what keeps these things alive and have went through the headaches to see what works and what doesn't
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A snowblower with gas in it over the summer is worse than a mower over the winter. I try and run my OPE till its out of gas at the end of the season. I also use E0 and Marine Stabil.
Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
Originally Posted By: Danno
Use ethanol free fuel, and if you don't have access to that add gas stabilizer at end of season and run it dry. Only use gas no more than 4 months old.
Nope nope nope. Use the equipment periodically or expect fuel related issues, it's that simple!
Been doing it with my blower since 1996. Same blower, runs like new.
Yes, yes, yes.
Originally Posted By: Danno
Use ethanol free fuel, and if you don't have access to that add gas stabilizer at end of season and run it dry. Only use gas no more than 4 months old.
Nope nope nope. Use the equipment periodically or expect fuel related issues, it's that simple!
Been doing it with my blower since 1996. Same blower, runs like new.
Yes, yes, yes.
I have used Stabil for 3 season now in my lawn mower, edger, and snow blower. When the season starts for the piece of equipment I need, they have worked flawlessly.
I do not start them during the off season.
I suspect there are other issues going on here.
I do not start them during the off season.
I suspect there are other issues going on here.
i always use MMO but i always thought sea foam was too harsh for the small engines.. I may try sea foam.. My neighbors snow blower is running very rough i may use a little in that before i take the carb off and clean it.
Originally Posted By: KingCake
Does 'stabilizer' like stabil *actually* do anything? Doesn't seem to make a difference in my experience.
Anyone on BITOG study the issue?
I didn't 'study' the issue, but i put a full bottle of stabil in half a tank of fuel (with a vented tank) and let the car sit from January to August. It started and drove acceptably afterwards but did seem to have more 'pep' when I filled with fresh fuel later.
Does 'stabilizer' like stabil *actually* do anything? Doesn't seem to make a difference in my experience.
Anyone on BITOG study the issue?
I didn't 'study' the issue, but i put a full bottle of stabil in half a tank of fuel (with a vented tank) and let the car sit from January to August. It started and drove acceptably afterwards but did seem to have more 'pep' when I filled with fresh fuel later.
Buy non-oxy gas. Drain gas at end of season-dump in the car.
http://www.pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=PA
Start with fresh fuel in the fall with a little Sea Foam in it. I have my entire block on this and no more issues with neighbors bringing their OPE over with carb issues. I think the pure gas has more to do with it than the Sea Foam
Dave
http://www.pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=PA
Start with fresh fuel in the fall with a little Sea Foam in it. I have my entire block on this and no more issues with neighbors bringing their OPE over with carb issues. I think the pure gas has more to do with it than the Sea Foam
Dave
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91 octane
Ethanol free
Double dose of stabil red
Have cranked a motorcycle that was sitting for three years.
Ethanol free
Double dose of stabil red
Have cranked a motorcycle that was sitting for three years.
Stabil is the product that is known to work. Other products may or may not help fuel last longer.
Non ethanol, non oxygenated fuel is must if long fuel life is required. There are websites that list non ethanol stations.
Another option is 100LL aviation fuel. Works wonderfully in cold weather. Never, ever goes bad.
Non ethanol, non oxygenated fuel is must if long fuel life is required. There are websites that list non ethanol stations.
Another option is 100LL aviation fuel. Works wonderfully in cold weather. Never, ever goes bad.
Startron has a great reputation here ...but that doesn't mean it works well in all applications. As I understand it, it is not first and foremost a fuel stabilizer ... but an additive that tries to make the best of old fuel. I'm sure it works better with some blends/ages than others.
"Run it once a month, don't waste your money on stabilizer, it doesn't do any good."
I disagree ... unless when you run your OPE, you do so for at least 20+ minutes to get it up to temp ... or you are loading up the combustion chamber with carbon and you'll have other problems further down the road.
As for stabilizers use a NEW formula stabilizer that specifically cites "prevents ethanol issues" on the label. I would avoid traditional "Stabil red". It was fine a decade or more ago. Now I wonder if it really helps much at all. There are better products now available ... even if you want to stick with the Stabil brand.
I use this stuff now:
http://i.ytimg.com/vi/88hu_ZlXqoE/maxresdefault.jpg
I have never had any problem with any OPE: push mowers, tractors, sickle-bar mowers, 3-wheelers, generators, wood splitters, snow blowers, roto-tillers or power washers. Some of these have sat for over 12 months and all are run on E10. Never replaced a carb in 25+ years.
If you are replacing a carb each year, the old adage applies: "you're doing it wrong."
"Run it once a month, don't waste your money on stabilizer, it doesn't do any good."
I disagree ... unless when you run your OPE, you do so for at least 20+ minutes to get it up to temp ... or you are loading up the combustion chamber with carbon and you'll have other problems further down the road.
As for stabilizers use a NEW formula stabilizer that specifically cites "prevents ethanol issues" on the label. I would avoid traditional "Stabil red". It was fine a decade or more ago. Now I wonder if it really helps much at all. There are better products now available ... even if you want to stick with the Stabil brand.
I use this stuff now:
http://i.ytimg.com/vi/88hu_ZlXqoE/maxresdefault.jpg
I have never had any problem with any OPE: push mowers, tractors, sickle-bar mowers, 3-wheelers, generators, wood splitters, snow blowers, roto-tillers or power washers. Some of these have sat for over 12 months and all are run on E10. Never replaced a carb in 25+ years.
If you are replacing a carb each year, the old adage applies: "you're doing it wrong."
Well I just don't want to have any more fuel issues. I could have been in real trouble if that redline fuel treatment didn't get my snowblower running good again. Especially with 2' of snow. Does anyone recommend that ethanol shield they sell at Home Depot or amsoil fuel stabilizer? There are so many products out there I wish consumer reports or some company would do a comparison to test them all. I have to make it a point to start my snowblower more frequently also.
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