SMALL ENGINES, however, are where the problem comes in. Many lawnmowers, weed eaters, chain saws, outboard motors, etc. are rush-imported to NA market and don't have rubber parts in the fuel system that are ethanol compatible. The ethanol eats at the rubber and you have problems starting and smooth operation. Around here, back up generators are a very particular problem as they sit idle for long periods and only used when you NEED them, so after a severe storm you get to hear all the sputtering generators (or cursing owners trying to start them LOL).
Sigh.... Small engines from any reputable manufacturer have been designed to run on E10 just like the cars. Because, in most areas of the country, ethanol free gasoline is just not available or, is only available at sporadic locations. That's because people don't want to pay the extra $.30 or more/gallon for gas without alcohol when E10 works just fine. I have a Stihl chainsaw that's been running fine on E10 for two decades. My Honda pressure washer is 17 years old and has seen nothing but E10. It's often goes two years between uses and yet it's never been tuned up, it's only had two oil changes and it always starts on the third or fourth pull after sitting all year. I had two 1981 Honda CT110's that only saw E10 for the years I owned them - again, easy starters, super reliable. And I hardly ever started them. They would sit sometimes over a year.
But, when I was younger, in the 1970's, before we had alcohol in the gas, varnish in the carb was a common problem if an engine wasn't used regularly. Sometimes all it took was six months of sitting and it was time to rebuild the carb.
Your anti-ethanol theories do not match up with my extensive experience with small engines.
Also, alcohol is hygroscopic: it will attract and hold water in solution. This a good thing in that it readily carries water through the system (keeping your system water-free) but it's also bad if you don't burn water contaminated fuel quickly as the water can corrode fuel system components as previously noted.
Nope! Another old wives tale. Back before we had E10, water in the fuel and corrosion was a big problem. You know what the solution was? Go down to your local auto supply store and buy a bottle of pure ethanol to dump in your tank. Some people put a little in each tank to keep water and corrosion issues at bay. Yeah, it cost a little extra but people wanted to treat their babies right. Now it's supposed to be bad? This is funny!
And even so, it only holds so much. If that quantity is exceeded it can drop out of solution in your tank in a gooey mess that clogs filters and pumps, even in cars designed for it. So it's a good idea to keep your tank over 1/2 full all the time unless tripping, especially in winter, just to be sure.
What? The problems were rampant before we had E10, now this kind of nightmare is as rare as hens teeth.
Lastly: alcohol's also a great solvent. It will dissolve varnishes and carry them all the way through the fuel system. Sounds good, but it also evaporates easily and leaves all that stuff right there.
Sigh... Modern fuel systems have sealed vapor systems. That means there is generally 100% saturation and nothing is evaporating or getting left behind. Besides, gasoline has components that are a lot more volatile than alcohol. There is nothing special about alcohol that causes problems in this regard.
And of course that point happens to be at the end of the system: the injectors. This can happen even in cars designed for ethanol, that's why EPA has also specified that ALL fuels have additives to keep fuel systems clean. Still, i think it a good idea to keep them clean with regular efficacious fuel system cleaner use (I like Techron).
Duh! Gasoline needed detergent additives even more before we had E10.
Never have I seen a post so full of completely wrong information. It's like it was all made up by a tooth fairy.
I'm not kicking ethanol: I think it's great.
Actually, you are.
If it's as cheap and unsubsidized as you say it's even greater!
Yes, cheaper than gasoline and the petroleum industry is the one with heavy government subsidies.
I DO think people should be informed about what it means though, and take appropriate measures to protect small engine investments.
It looks like you want everyone to be exactly as informed as you are. Which is to say mis-informed.
What DOES get me angry is I know that ethanol naturally increases octane: so if they have to sell us E15 (by EPA) we're just paying for a marketing ploy when they increase the price $.30 a gallon for 91 octane. It's the same cost to them.
More fuzzy thinking here. Currently, Federal Law limits gasoline to 10% ethanol. So when you pay $.30 more gallon for premium, it's not because you're paying more for ethanol (ethanol is cheaper than gasoline), it's because oil companies are not allowed to put more than 10% ethanol, they must use more expensive distillates to get to 91 octane. 91 octane would cost less if the feds didn't limit ethanol to only 10%. That's why E85 is about 20-25% less expensive than E10 and has an octane higher than premium.