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Thread: My small engines are sobbing

  1. #1
    Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat Omega Man's Avatar
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    Exclamation My small engines are sobbing

    Apparently the Ethanol Monster has had a reprieve-

    https://www.reuters.com/world/us/bid...es-2022-04-12/

    I just replaced a carburetor on an Onan twin…..a five hour job as I stretched it out as long as I could. Ethanol and it’s ability to affect the pot metal of the little carburetors is a real problem.

    I wish there was a non-ethanol station within a reasonable distance.

    OM
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    SURVIVOR akbeemer's Avatar
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    We are fortunate out here in the hinterlands. Just about every station sells ethanol free premium gas….. as it should be.
    Kevin Huddy
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  3. #3
    If non-ethanol gas is required for small engines that might be damaged by alcohol, one can make their own by mixing water with the ethanol gas and allowing the water/alcohol mixture to precipitate out. The Internet has detailed instructions on how to do this and container/processing kits are available where legal to sell them. There is a small octane reduction to consider as well, along with appropriate safety procedures and caution when handling the gas.
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    Did you try the web site Pure gas?

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    Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat Omega Man's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by EUGENE View Post
    Did you try the web site Pure gas?
    Yeah….. the best I have been able to do on the local level is 104 octane non-ethanol near a local track. Last time it was $11.00/gal. When using it, the gas fumes (aroma) was like a trip back in time. It even pours like a light oil rather than water.

    Hey Eugene

    OM
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    I see your closes station is one is in Needham , MA. $6.00 here now for 92 Oct.

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    Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat Omega Man's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by EUGENE View Post
    I see your closes station is one is in Needham , MA. $6.00 here now for 92 Oct.
    Looking at the details, it seems most are selling the “canned” fuel like the home centers sell. I think that a SUNOCO gas station would be the best bet. Nothing local along those supply lines.
    It has been a big seller at the lawnmower/small engine repair shops- about $22.00/gal.
    OM
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    Liaison 20774's Avatar
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    This seems to only affect a small portion of the gas supply...I heard that it was 2%. The article mentions that it involves a few thousand pumps that normally stop selling E15 but won't this summer in a way to help.
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    Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat Omega Man's Avatar
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    I wish they would leave the (sweet) corn on the cob. Two problems solved and I would only need to look for butter.
    OM
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    #13338 PGlaves's Avatar
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    The world will be facing a food shortage this coming fall as the loss of crops from Ukraine and parts of Russia fall short. And here in the US we consume 40% of the corn crop making ethanol. Using the corn to help feed the world and keep food costs down is a better policy than ethanol as far as I am concerned.
    Paul Glaves - "Big Bend", Texas U.S.A
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    Quote Originally Posted by PGlaves View Post
    The world will be facing a food shortage this coming fall as the loss of crops from Ukraine and parts of Russia fall short. And here in the US we consume 40% of the corn crop making ethanol. Using the corn to help feed the world and keep food costs down is a better policy than ethanol as far as I am concerned.
    +1. Ethanol gas is cronyism at work...The OP's article mentioned the secy of agriculture pitted against some environmental lady in the WH. No one with actual expertise in lowering costs, increasing supply, consequences of futures speculation etc etc. Just the agribusiness VS the kill IC at all costs peeps.we are screwed

  12. #12
    Registered User nyfty's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by PGlaves View Post
    The world will be facing a food shortage this coming fall as the loss of crops from Ukraine and parts of Russia fall short. And here in the US we consume 40% of the corn crop making ethanol. Using the corn to help feed the world and keep food costs down is a better policy than ethanol as far as I am concerned.
    Paul, humans can't consume the type of corn used to make ethanol. Unless you are on the carnivore diet, then you can feast on all the beef, pork, and chicken you want. A byproduct of ethanol production is dried distillers grain. It is a better feed stuff to grow those tasty animals than straight corn. By utilizing dried distillers grain it allows 40% of US corn production to be converted to food humans can consume. From your friend from Nebraska, the beef and corn state.
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    Registered User RIDERR1150GSADV's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by PGlaves View Post
    The world will be facing a food shortage this coming fall as the loss of crops from Ukraine and parts of Russia fall short. And here in the US we consume 40% of the corn crop making ethanol. Using the corn to help feed the world and keep food costs down is a better policy than ethanol as far as I am concerned.
    Bingo!
    I have always said that burning a food source as fuel is a moronic idea at best.....
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    Quote Originally Posted by nyfty View Post
    Paul, humans can't consume the type of corn used to make ethanol. Unless you are on the carnivore diet, then you can feast on all the beef, pork, and chicken you want. A byproduct of ethanol production is dried distillers grain. It is a better feed stuff to grow those tasty animals than straight corn. By utilizing dried distillers grain it allows 40% of US corn production to be converted to food humans can consume. From your friend from Nebraska, the beef and corn state.
    It isn't that that bothers me about ethanol so much- the whole meat thing is a story in itself- as well as the quantities we consume and the production thereof (I LOVE meat BTW- lately only buying locally produced-upstate NY) Anyway- the Oglala reservoir, source of irrigation for ethanol corn and the production of ethanol, is losing BILLIONS of gallons a year- so we can have lower MPG, damage to carbourated engines and small engine damage. If I were the paranoid type, I'd think the entire ethanol canard is a confluence of agribusiness special interest, dubious environmental claims and shady politicking and bad regulations by the administrative state...good thing I'm not paranoid!

    The link below- which I scanned and didn't read in depth is from what appears to be an Ethanol industry publication...and it don't look good for Oglala. do we really want the trade off given the potential we have for drilling oil, transporting and exporting as well as development of other sources? I take my gas straight-up please. (We won't even get into recent supply issues aka Ukr**ne)

    http://www.ethanolproducer.com/artic...llala-aquifer/
    Last edited by rick601; 04-14-2022 at 06:34 PM.

  15. #15
    #13338 PGlaves's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by nyfty View Post
    Paul, humans can't consume the type of corn used to make ethanol. Unless you are on the carnivore diet, then you can feast on all the beef, pork, and chicken you want. A byproduct of ethanol production is dried distillers grain. It is a better feed stuff to grow those tasty animals than straight corn. By utilizing dried distillers grain it allows 40% of US corn production to be converted to food humans can consume. From your friend from Nebraska, the beef and corn state.
    I really don't want to prolong an argument, but many millions of people in Central and South America, and an equal number in sub-Saharan Africa who eat tortillas or other corn masa almost every day would disagree. As would the largest employer in Battle Creek, Michigan, the home of Kellogg's Corn Flakes.
    Paul Glaves - "Big Bend", Texas U.S.A
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