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Petrol with 10% bio-ethanol

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Ranso-mess Fri, 25/10/2019

Since a few months regular Euro 95 petrol in Holland contains 10% bio-ethanol, don't know if this is the same in UK.  Bio-ethanol is hygroscopic and is said to destroy rubber gaskets etc. Winter storage with a full tank (to prevent inside tank corrosion) seems to be not a good idea. Moreover the water containing bio-ethanol seems to sink to the bottom, causing start-up problems in spring. Don't know if this topic has been addressed before, if yes pls let me know. Thanks, Ranso-mess from Holland  ;-) 

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wristpin Fri, 25/10/2019

We’ve had ethanol contaminated petrol for several years - about 7.5% , I believe. To a greater or lesser extent it causes the issues that you list . Many issues can be avoided by only purchasing fuel in a quantity that will be used within a month and storing that fuel in clean, plastic, air tight containers. Also there is a variety of “ anti ethanol” additives.  Most of the most dire effects that were forecast have not materialised at whatever % we have although I am told that as ethanol attacks fibre glass it has caused problems for classic motor cycles using that material for fuel tanks. My understanding is that 13% ethanol fuel is available in France as an option.

 

 

 

 

Henno Sun, 27/10/2019

Hi there, 

To avoid this, i use Aspen4. Has been mentioned here before. Some of the forum or club members have an issue with its price, which is high. 

But it resolves al the issues of modern Euro95.

Regards from the Netherlands as well. 

Triumph66 Mon, 28/10/2019

I have used Aspen too as well as the Stihl Moto mix for two stroke engines. I use this on my modern Stihl equipment which always fires up  even when it was last used a few months ago. Apart from the longevity of the fuel, it's better for the operator and the environment, as it contains less harmful additives. 

Ranso-mess Mon, 28/10/2019

Hi guys, thanks for your comments!   Euro 95 contained already 5% bio ethanol and caused me no problems so far.  Maybe 10% is also okay, we'll see.

 Aspen4 is probably a good alternative, but it is pretty expensive and I burn quite some fuel during the season. Maybe it's reasonable to use it for the last mow before winter, next week ??

We probably have to go to all electric ;-) 

 

 

  

Henno Wed, 30/10/2019

Using it just for the winter is pretty pointless. Aspen will keep your engine en carb a lot cleaner, this avoiding extra maintenance. Also you will work in cleaner exhaust fumes.

Why not try it and see for yourself?

wristpin Wed, 30/10/2019

The removal of nasties from the exhaust gases is undoubtably a sound justification for the price of alkylde fuels, particularly with close proximity hand held tools such as hedge cutters and nylon line trimmers. If I were using one professionally, or even more so, employing someone to do so , I think one would be foolish not to.  However as someone who uses and repairs  all sorts  petrol powered equipment running on pump fuel with virtually no fuel related issues I would confidently say that most of the claimed advantages can be achieved by careful housekeeping and fuel management.  If one is a fill and forget user there may be more justification of the price. 

Its interesting that since Aspen originally came onto the market in the UK the distributors have also pulled back from the original claims for almost unlimited shelf life . I see that Tru-Fuel are stating two years once their can has been opened and five for unopened sealed cans.

I now use 56 volt rechargeable battery technology for the nylon line trimmers ,  hedge cutters and leaf blowers,  and talking to those still in the trade, they are selling more and more professional battery kit to garden contractors - no fumes, greatly reduced noise and vibration and no combustion engine related maintenance issues. In a commercial environment , add greatly reduced risk of “ fuel shrinkage” and it is a compelling case. 

 

Henno Thu, 31/10/2019

Regarding the electrical equipment: I have used a Stihl hedge cutter from my neighbour with the battery pack hanging on a belt round the waist. It works very nice indeed. Not cheap though.

Ranso-mess Thu, 31/10/2019

Yes, all electric has the future and the products are getting better and better!

For hedge clipping I use a battery operated Echo DHC-3000 clipper (no more available), carrying the rather heavy 12 Volt lead-acid battery in a back pack. Heavy, hard work, but no fumes, no noise, okay!. 

Modern Lithium-Ion batteries are less heavy and last longer.

Recently I googled this elegant all-electric "meangreen" zero turn mower (meangreenproducts.com).

Also interesting: frisianmotors.com from Holland :-).

Maybe we have to open a new all-electric topic?

Regards, Ranso-mess

Chris G Sat, 02/11/2019

I drained a carb bowl and tank from a recently purchased mower into a glass container and a few mm of water were clearly visible at the bottom. The days of "fill and forget" are over for me, I have 5 x 4 stroke mowers, a generator and 2 x 2 stroke (chainsaw & leaf blower) and some motorbikes. I'm now draining all tanks and float bowls as a regime and adding B&S "Fuel Fit" to my stored fuel but can only go with their marketing on how effective it is against the hygroscopic ethanol. For the upkeep of some of the mowers I see it as part & parcel of ownership, for motorbikes, gennies etc It's become a bit of a chore... 

I have a friend who lives near Gent with a very big garden, when his ride on expired he did the numbers, and even with laying the sensors in his big lawn, the robot battery mowers worked out cheaper than a replacement ride on, time will tell if they work out cheaper in the long run..

 

 

hillsider Sun, 03/11/2019

Re the ethanol content of pump fuels I checked while filling the car recently at our local Shell garage and their petrol nozzles all display E5 stickers indicating as I understand up to 5% Ethanol content, I have read that certain higher grades of petrol are Ethanol free but that was not evident from the pumps that I saw.

On the subject of using Aspen fuel aside from the benefits of cleaner combustion and less harmful emissions there is a also benefit in the case of the ready mixed Aspen 2 in that it removes the possibility of mis fuelling wrecking the engine. 

Personally I tend to use Briggs and Stratton Fuel fit fuel stabiliser and have had good results from using it so can only assume that it does do what it says on the bottle. Any two stroke mix that I make up is made using a two stroke oil that also contains a stabiliser also so in effect my mixes are stabilised twice but have shown no ill effects. 

 

 

Chris G Sun, 03/11/2019

His biggest hobby is gastronomy, not gardening! - if he carries on he will not fit on a ride on anyway :-)

 

 

Chris G Sun, 03/11/2019

That is interesting re the two stroke fuel stabiliser, I'm using a Castrol T2 oil which does not comment on that. What are you using?

hillsider Sun, 03/11/2019

The oil that I use is Stihl HP Super the oil is part synthetic green in colour and according to the label contains a fuel stabiliser.

It is important to note that if you are using older two stroke engines you may need to use a simple mono grade oil as the oil for mixing with your fuel also if you are using your Castrol product to mix fuel for a chain saw or strimmer engine do check the oils suitability for the application in particular the correct mix ratio, for instance I have seen oils that could not be used for a 50:1 mix.