My Maintenance Schedule has stripped a gear...

[jhenderson]

If gasohol wasn’t bad the FAA would approve its use. It doesn’t. And for good reason. Piston aircraft often sit for weeks or longer at a time. Gasohol doesn’t store well. As already mentioned it’s hydroscopic as well as corrosive. Why do you think people are always trying to get get their hands on av gas?

 

[Wayne M.]

Why do you think people are always trying to get get their hands on av gas?

It’s the lead. The glorious lead. If you have a racetrack nearby, guys never want AV fuel.

 

[Shiner]

Well Shiner, Unless I've read your post wrong, I guess we will have to agree to disagree. I've worked on older engines with carburetors and have had to deal with the results from Ethanol mixed fuel sitting in the carbs. Not fun! That same vehicle with pure gasoline can sit for months with no ill affect.
This would be for older muscle cars, classic cars, motorcycles, small engines (mowers, scooters, tractors, etc).

I will agree that equipment properly engineered for ethanol should have no ill affect.

I agree that fuel left sitting for long periods with ethanol can and does cause problems. Most older motorcycles and small engine rubber parts were not up to the rigors of alcohol. I prefer non alcohol for small engines that do sit, but if I know I am going to be using all the fuel, I will use the ethanol mix . I do run the carbs dry. Personally, I am only picky with fuel on my newer small engines because of the sealed carburetors. I, may or not, have experimented with max alcohol mix before MIL light on an older vehicle(off road only-of course). 40%+/- 2or 3. That was a 300K mile vehicle. Ran old oliver 77 on the 10% for years. That thing would sit for long stretches.
I have heard of people having problems, not arguing that at all. I just think that most problems are more related to moisture than anything else. We all know that alcohol likes water. Heck we used to add a bottle of alcohol(methanol-usually) to our tanks in the winter so gas lines wouldn't freeze. I have taken apart many carburetors that I know for a fact were never subjected to ethanol and they are full of the normal deposits you see on aluminum that has been subjected to moisture and oxygen.
I still like being able to get a fuel mix to run the old cars that doesn't cost an arm and leg. Todays premium doesn't cut it. Ethanol fills the bill for us. I just hope it doesn't go away. I like the option.

 

[jhenderson]

It’s the lead. The glorious lead. If you have a racetrack nearby, guys never want AV fuel.

Sorry Wayne, I don’t agree. No engine builder fails to include hardened valve seats, especially on race motors. The specs for av gas include that it must store for one full year with no degradation in quality. That’s why small engine and street rod guys want it. The amount of lead in 100LL has been drastically reduced since the heyday of 130 octane.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

It isn’t just valve seats for new engines - what about original engines that are 50 years old, or ones that are rebuilt but don't have enough meat in the head to install different valve seats, etc. Like getting good oil with zinc - for flat tappet cams, etc.

 

[jhenderson]

It isn’t just valve seats for new engines - what about original engines that are 50 years old, or ones that are rebuilt but don't have enough meat in the head to install different valve seats, etc. Like getting good oil with zinc - for flat tappet cams, etc.

My buddy runs an automotive machine shop. He installs hardened seats on every set of pre no lead heads that come through the shop. It’s very rare at this date that heads haven’t already been converted. I’ve never seen, nor have I heard him mention any head that couldn’t be converted.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

It’s very rare at this date that heads haven’t already been converted.

Oh well, another we will have to agree to disagree.

If the engine has been recently rebuilt I might agree - but I stated "original". I should have also said rebuilt many years ago. My GTX doesn't have hardened seats. The 57 Plym didn't have hardened seats. The 65 Coronet doesn't have hardened seats. Well the seats are not comfortable, but I'm talking about the engine heads. There was a tractor years ago that the machine shop stated couldn't have hardened seats installed. Don't recall details anymore. So they do exist, if I believe the dude who told me that. I can't say since I am not a machinist.

Anyhow there are quite a few cars just in this area that I know do not have hardened seats installed.

 

[Wayne M.]

Valve seat recession is a casualty of no lead. There are so many benefits. Anti knock being one of them.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

Valve seat recession is a casualty of no lead. There are so many benefits. Anti knock being one of them.

Hmmm - My large dirt pile has a lot of lead in it, yet it still has a lot of small recessions in it...

 

[TFucili]

At my buddy's machine shop we saw quite a few gas engine tractor motors that did not have enough meat to cut seats in. There were some automotive, as well, but I could not tell you what they were at this point.

 

[jhenderson]

I have seen my friend put replacement seats in the lathe to reduce the outer diameter. Perhaps this is a method for replacing seats in a head with marginal material available. I just assumed it kept inventory down. Unfortunately there isn’t much tractor work around here anymore. A lot of farmland has been developed. Most of the tractor engine work goes for restoration and show n shine. No need to worry about valve recession on an engine that runs unloaded for a couple of hours a year.

 

[mwilson]

• Filled up with Ethanol Free again tonight. Good stuff!!
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• Price didn’t show in picture, $3.179 per gallon and the Caddy just luvs it!!
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[jgillott]

Finished the oil pan

 

[Wayne M.]

I just fired my lawn mower for the first time since fall. I thought I had the main jet blues, but I just held it at half choke for a minute or 4, and it must have unclogged. That was a close one! I do use regular pump gas with Sta bil. I normally never have a problem.

 

[jhenderson]

Everything here is still brown and the ground is very soft. Are you really that far ahead of me here weather wise or are you just getting things ready to go?

 

[Shiner]

Fired up my mowers last Wednesday, just to be prepared. 1st mowing here is gonna be next weekend. Only gas I use is in the trimmers. Had to put a new battery in the little Kubota mower. Grasshopper fired right up....as did the Kubota after the battery. Trimmers popped off too. I am a happy camper.……...soon.

 

[Wayne M.]

Everything here is still brown and the ground is very soft. Are you really that far ahead of me here weather wise or are you just getting things ready to go?

Things are blooming and greening here. I usually rake the yard, set the mower real low and suck up the junk. I made a bag of my 45X 25 rear yard. Then I threw down some Scott’s.

 

[Shiner]

"happy camper" because camping season is here, not so much for mowing.

 

[mwilson]

Everything here is still brown and the ground is very soft. Are you really that far ahead of me here weather wise or are you just getting things ready to go?

Same here, brown grass sticking out around the snow and lotsa mud...
Yuck..

 

[mwilson]

Oh and possible 6” of snow tomorrow.....

Was going to take snow tires off today but canned that idea after checking the weather this morning...