Abby’s Guide > Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) > Discussions > While I wait for the snow, what about the fuel?
Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions |
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JoelKlein
I wonder how a 2021 snow blower will look like...
Joined: Sep 26, 2011
Points: 74
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While I wait for the snow, what about the fuel?
Original Message Dec 25, 2011 9:50 am |
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Happy holidays every one! ... bought the toro 1028 OXE back in October, right after the very first early snow storm. Was not able to try it in snow... I added the startron stabilizer And filled up the tank with 93 octane. I tested the new baby, showed off without spinning augers... But now it's a long time unused. My question is: is it okay for the fuel to sit in the carb for such a long time? Thanks!
This message was modified Dec 25, 2011 by JoelKlein
Toro 1028 OXE
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MGreiner
Location: Iowa
Joined: Dec 12, 2011
Points: 8
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Re: While I wait for the snow, what about the fuel?
Reply #50 Dec 30, 2011 11:40 pm |
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just my 2 cents, it says right on the sta-bil bottle that it's only good for 2 years after breaking the seal, so you need to check on how long you've had it.
Machines: 80s era 826 John Deere, 1977 Ariens 932001 20in and 2.7hp Tec, 2004 Frontier ST0521
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CharlesW
Joined: Jan 9, 2011
Points: 76
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Re: While I wait for the snow, what about the fuel?
Reply #51 Dec 31, 2011 12:47 am |
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I was reading somewhere about using the Startron in fuel will increase its shelf life to 2 years! Is that possible? Read some more. What Startron actually says on their web-site: "Gas and diesel fuels break down rapidly which results in lost power and poor performance. Star Tron stabilizes the fuel chemistry for up to two years in gas and in diesel." Up to two years is not the same as saying it will definitely increase shelf life to two years.
Personal opinion. (worth what it cost you) I use one year as my fuel life limit, stabilizer or not.
Those that say stabilizer is a waste of money have had much better luck than me. I have cleaned plugged carb jets on lawn mowers, snowblowers, snowmobiles and motorcycles when they were left for the off season without stabilizer added.
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CharlesW
Joined: Jan 9, 2011
Points: 76
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Re: While I wait for the snow, what about the fuel?
Reply #53 Dec 31, 2011 10:08 am |
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CharlesW:
You'll have less trouble with carbs if you store them dry. Why spend money on an additive of questionable performance when a know method will prevent problems? Drain the tank, run the carb dry and/or drain the float bowl and you shouldn't have a need for additives.
You could very well be correct. Or I could pour a little stabilizer in my fuel can and fuel tanks and I shouldn't need to: "Drain the tank, run the carb dry and/or drain the float bowl". FWIW, I don't find stabiliozers to be all that expensive. Less than $10 will buy enough Stabil to treat 25 gallons of fuel and about $7 will buy enough Seafoam to treat 16 gallons.
This message was modified Dec 31, 2011 by CharlesW
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RedOctobyr
Location: Lowell area, MA
Joined: Nov 5, 2011
Points: 282
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Re: While I wait for the snow, what about the fuel?
Reply #56 Dec 31, 2011 12:11 pm |
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I'm not disputing what you guys have found. You have way more experience with it than I do. I can say that I typically put stabilizer in my gas between seasons (but not always, I'm sure), and I have not had trouble the next time I go to start them. What do you suggest for engines without drains in the carb bowls? Just run them dry? I know people say that a smaller amount of gas will still be left in the bowl, if you do that. I could see, for instance, running them dry, after putting stabilizer in the gas, to help the amount that's left. Even if stabilizer doesn't do much, I typically don't use it mid-season, when I'm going through gas quickly. So maybe it costs me a few dollars a year. I have no problem paying that for a bit of peace of mind, even if that's perhaps all it gets me I will say that using Chemtool B12 to try and clean some carb parts was somewhat interesting. I was using it straight, and it certainly wasn't just dissolving the junk on the parts I was soaking. So it did make me curious what it's able to do when mixed into gas at a much lower ratio. But I'd already tried to clean some of the junk off the parts. It's also possible that I'd already removed what it would have helped loosen.
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