[AT] Ethanol

[carl gogol]

Gene-
I took my Stihl chainsaw back to the dealer about 6 weeks after I bought it 
complaining I couldn't get it to rev and have enough power - this was about 
2 weeks after I took it back so the mechanic would set the max RPM with his 
tach after break-in .  They said the problem was the gas; probably water in 
it.  --- and of course I was using high test they said!  They had just 
dumped the gas and put a little of their own high test mix in it and 
everthing worked fine.  High test for a simple old chainsaw?? - I sputtered! 
Looks of "How stupid can this guy be"  were focused at me - of course I knew 
that everything else has varying degrees of ethenol in it and absorbes water 
like crazy!  Well I didn't ever think about it and I am quite sure the 
manual says 87 octane is reccomended.  Like you, the gallon a month I use in 
the saws and weedwacker won't break the bank for high test, it is less than 
$ 10% more these days.
Now I am really confused, because ethanol is also a good way to increase 
octane - so what is really going on here.  Does ethanol in 87 octane regualr 
allow them to put something cheaper into the blend that really does who 
knows what to our fuel systems?
Carl Gogol - Manlius, NY
Tasty grazing in the Oran valley of Central NY
AC D14, 914H
JD 5320 MFWD
Kubota F-2400, B7300HST
Simplicity 7116H, 3112H
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gene Waugh Elgin, Illinois USA" <gwaugh at wowway.com>
To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Sunday, June 15, 2008 11:02 PM
Subject: [AT] Ethanol


> This thread got me to thinking.  I have had a Honda lawnmower for years;
> it is a great mower, bu I have had continual carb problems with it.
> Sometimes I can fix it, sometimes I have had to take it to the shop.  I
> had become almost paranoid about clean gas cans, not getting crap in the
> tank, etc.  I