[AT] Gas Additive

Sat Jan 14 18:40:51 PST 2023

Different refiner and oil that is for sure.

Dean VP
Apache Junction, AZ

-----Original Message-----
From: AT <at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com> On Behalf Of BRUCE MAHR
Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2023 6:34 PM
To: Antique Tractor Email Discussion Group <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Subject: Re: [AT] Gas Additive

Your getting very different gas than we do in Illinois.

Bruce Mahr

----- Original Message -----
From: deanvp at att.net
To: 'Antique Tractor Email Discussion Group' <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Sat, 14 Jan 2023 17:10:03 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Re: [AT] Gas Additive

I've come to the conclusion that today's gas(Non ethanol) doesn't require an additive when in a seldomly used or long time stored engines. I have probably over 12- 15 different gasoline engines of various sorts in tractors (antique and Garden), generator's, trimmers, pressure washers, etc. that sit unused for over 5 months a year due to us wintering in AZ.  I've never in ,recent years, had a carburetor gum up due to lack of use. Does gas lose some of it's energy? Yes. I think a major reason why I don't have much problem is I religiously turn the gas off to the engine and run the carburetor dry every time I store any kind of gas engine. Even for short periods. I do have a different type of problem that has caused me carburetor problem and that is out in my unheated barn where  I have had condensation form in the barrels of horizontal duplex carburetor's when stored in a tractor has been unused for years or is in some stage of restoration. .  I now remove carburetor's and store them in semi-heated dryer areas such as the 3 car garage attached to the house. The house is maintained at 55 degrees while we are gone.   That seems to keep the moisture out. 

  In fact I have 4 two barreled carburetor's here with me here in AZ that I am working on. Two of them had condensation form in the bottom of the horizontal barrels and rust plug the idle jet and associated holes. One of the idle needles was so rusted in that I inadvertently twisted the idle needle off. Primarily because I got impatient and am now paying for it. The cost to try to repair a broken off idle needle is prohibitive so I have purchased a replacement carburetor. Fortunately I found one at a reasonable cost. The other carburetor I have been able to clean up without having to remove the steel balls which is sometimes required to clean out the passages. Removing the steel balls requires a technique that I don't really have the skills to do or the tools to do it.  One of the tricks to get them out is to weld a wire feed Mig welder wire to the ball and them pull them out. My hands are not steady enough for that so I would probably weld the ball in rather than pull it out. If I absolutely need to pull the little steel balls I send it away to someone who is skilled in pulling them. 

 I haven't had this condensation problem before but I had two JD 60's in various states of disassembly for several years and I am now paying for it.  Not due to gas issues but due to condensation.  I have noticed less power in my Garden tractors when I fire them up in the Spring when I get back but they always start and run just fine and I don’t even put a battery maintainer on them.  That has surprised me. At least one of the batteries is over 10 years old.  I have been topically getting 7 years or more on my Garden Tractor batteries. Now 6 Volt batteries are another thing.   I've had very poor luck with 6V batteries. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. Buying the wrong brand, not maintaining or charging them properly or what. I'll admit the 6V batteries are in low usage tractors. That may be the primary problem. I used to have problems with points on my hand start tractors but I solved that by no longer owning any hand start tractors. I don't know what the issue was on Magnetos that were on tractors I had stored in my barn but each spring I would have to clean up or replace the pints A whit milky film would develop on the points which I coined aa name for as the Washington fuzz,  I'm pretty sure that was condensation related. We get so much rain (drizzle) in the winter with temperatures in the 50 to 30's through the whole winter all the way to June.  Not much drying action in that environment.  I've gotten off track but it is my belief that today's gas does not gum up carburetors'. As an example I have a 1958 620 that has been stored in the barn in the same area for over 15 years. Next to a 12' x 12' sliding door.  With the exception of last year it starts every year when I get back in April. And again w/o a battery maintainer.  All I have to do is turn the gas on and hit the starter.  But last year realty fooled me.  Went through the normal routine in April when we got back, turned the gas on, hit the starter and it turned over just fine but wouldn't even fire.   Hmmm, the Washington Fuzz has finally hit this tractor.   But checked the spark and had good spark. Now this is really weird. Now remember I have been conditioned that this tractor ALWAYS starts in the spring for 15 years and I had driven the tractor into the barn.. Well, finally I got my head out of my rear end and checked the gas tank. Dry as a cork.  I guess I didn't need to turn the gas off to run the carburetor dry.  Absolutely no gasoline gum in that tractor! 😊 Sum times ve get oldt before we get smardt. YMMV

Dean VP
Apache Junction, AZ

-----Original Message-----
From: AT <at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com> On Behalf Of BRUCE MAHR
Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2023 8:44 PM
To: Antique Tractor Email Discussion Group <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Cc: farmall 1947 <farmall_1947 at yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [AT] Gas Additive

I only use Marvel mystery oil and have had better results with it. Use it all year round.

Bruce Mahr

----- Original Message -----
From: Stephen Zakaluk <szakaluk at aol.com>
To: at at lists.antique-tractor.com
Cc: farmall 1947 <farmall_1947 at yahoo.com>
Sent: Thu, 12 Jan 2023 19:03:07 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Re: [AT] Gas Additive

Ray, I also use Sta-Bil in the 85 octane gas I put in the Ferguson TO20, riding mowers, etc. As advertised, it seems to keep the carbs from varnishing up for at least a year. 
My limited experience with propane is that it’s very stable over time. 
Steve Zakaluk 
Falcon CO
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