Using ethanol damaged carbs.
 

I am wondering if a 50:1 two stroke oil mix would protect a repaired ethanol damaged carb. Or would it be enough just to keep it on a diet of E0 gas?

A 20hp vanguard I have runs well on the mix. Without it an exhaust valve sticks intermittently. Maybe it is good for the carb too.

I highly doubt that it was ethanol that damaged your carb. Unless it's a two stroke motor, I'd leave the oil out. If you think ethanol was to blame, don't buy it. Just run straight. Sorry to sound like a jerk, but this debate gets old. I run a shop and ethanol gets the blame for things that usually amount to lack of maintenance somewhere along the line. Just my :TwoCents: I have no issues at all with 10% blend in my machines.

I understand you see a lot more carbs than I do but I would guess they are mostly newer ones. It is easy for people who don't do maintenance to use ethanol as a whipping boy which muddies the water. I am not sure that all ethanol blends are created equal. So lets just agree to disagree.

But the question still stands. Just xxx out the ethanol in the question.

I do run straight in my air cooled engines even though I have to cart it in from the next county.

We all have hot buttons.

Howard

Your wrong about the "newer" carbs. I work on carbs that are older than old. Right along with "newer" ones. Actually, have more trouble with the newer ones. I will agree to disagree on this one. I've found it to be a losing battle anyway. Experience tells me one thing, the internet spouts another. No worries, it doesn't upset me or anything. Sorry it's a "hot button" for me. :beerchug:



Don't add oil. It's not a two stroke. If you want to add something, add Sea Foam or a little MMO. (MMO is kind of redundant, as it's similar but it will burn better.) All in all, it's your engine so do as you want. We all have differing opinions about what works and what doesn't. I've tried some, and seen most all tried. I still run 10% blend straight gas in all my engines with no issues, so I'm staying the course. What you are proposing isn't going to hurt. Might foul plugs and have lower power, but other than producing carbon it's not going to directly blow your engine. Eventually it will create carbon build up that is unnecessary.

I'm sure the others will be along to give other opinions. :beerchug:

I've been running ethanol since the 80's with no problems. Back then, it was called Bio-Gas.

As J-Mech said........poor fuel maintenance cause more problems. The carbon build up and exhaust valve sticking problems were not cause by ethanol. One thing ethanol will do is help clean the carbon deposits that your Van Guard is having. I wouldn't use sea foam...I would use MMO.

Ok let me restate the question.

Will a carb with the white oxidation continue to work if it can be made to work?
I seem to recall hearing that carbs are plated with zinc and once the zinc is gone it will keep on coroding. This could be wrong too.

If it will be undependable I need to start hunting for a new Walbro WHG 52 or one close enough to work. It is sad because everything above the float chamber looks like new.

Not if the oxidation is on the inside.... like in the bowl. But if it is on the OUTSIDE, then that has nothing to do with anything internal. If you you have white gunk in the bowl, clean it out and put a kit in the carb.

http://www.archoil.com/ar6200-fuel-m...ation-complex/

Give this stuff a try. The ethanols ability to absorb water is the biggest problem. I get an added 2 mpg when I put this in my truck. I treat all of my equipment fuel with it every time I fill up. It's nice knowing that gas will be fine in 2 years from now if it's in something I don't use regularly. The worst part is getting the dosage right when dealing with 5 gallon containers since you only need about 3 ml.

The 9100 is also good stuff. I have seen it fix numerous stiction issues in HEUI engines when all the other more expensive treatments failed. I run atf and 9100 in my hydros without any problems. I swear they seem quieter.

I would second that or recommend Startron. It is a bit pricey, but seems to always do a great job on my fuel systems and acts as a better than Stabil stabilizer for fuel storage.

Cub Cadet 123

I used Startron until I found Archoil. The AR6200 is actually a bit cheaper if you figure it per gallon treated. And it does more than just stabilize the fuel. :beerchug:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...6/638/bowl.jpg

I ran this several times in the ultrasonic cleaner. Everything topside including the venturi and shafts look and feel new. There is a good explaination of the WHG carb at this site.

Thanks J-Mech

FWIW I am not responding to the gas additive discussion because I use E0 gas in my small engines. That way it does not matter what the truth is regarding ethanol I will not get bitten.

Howard

Howard, that damage is from water. Not from gasoline of any kind.

I suggest replacement. You could bead blast it, but the seat isn't even replaceable, so I'd can it.

That definitely is water damage.

I've never had problems with the old Sta-Bil. The new Sta-Bil is still being test.

The fuel that I use in my small engine(s) is replaced every 30 days. Fuel starts to go flat after 30 to 35 days. After 30 days any fuel left goes in one of my autos. I buy my from a fuel station that sells gas in volume. The fuel container(s) that I use are plastic and are sealable. The fuel containers are stored on a piece of wood because the floors are cold and damp ( good way to get moisture in your fuel ). I shake my fuel container before I add fuel to my engine. The different ingredients weigh different weights and will separate from each other. A good example is 2 cycle fuel. Leave the container sit for 2-3 weeks and start filling a fuel tank. You will get straight gas for a few seconds. All the small engines that have a fuel shut off have the carbs run dry when I'm done using them for the day. The ones that don't have a fuel shut off are run out of gas or the fuel is dump back into the fuel storage container.

a3v03v0-
How do you store your fuel?
Is your small engines stored in a dry place?

I haven't tried Startron. The archoil product is one I want to try.

It is not worth my time to go to another county to get non ethanol fuel plus pay $.20 to $.30 more for a gallon for non ethanol fuel. Alcohol blended fuels take a little time in terms of storage. I still would do the same storage practices with non ethanol fuel as ethanol blended fuel.

Bad link.

I respect that and also envy that you can get E0. I don't have any stations within 30 minutes of home that sell it at reasonable prices. Last I checked there was one 45 minutes and they sell it for over $4/gal. :angry:

I do the majority of my mowing with a diesel which cuts down on how much EO I need.

Unfortunately the station is 60 miles away and about 20 cents more. But we shop there at least once a month and I view the extra cost and hassle as insurance.

I was not aware of that product, but now I am and will look for it on the shelf. Although, I believe that the Startron also cleans up the fuel system, too. Thank you!

Uh, I believe that there are other "secret ingredients" added to this Merkle Mix that I have heard about.:bigthink: I talked to your dad/grandpa at the Portland Small Engine Show and spoke with some other fellows in NE Indiana and NW Ohio who have folklore on your fuel mix! :biggrin2:

Cub Cadet 123

Cub Cadet 123, I'm not sure you'll find it in a store yet. I order from them through Amazon. :beerchug:

Merkle Mix.......:biggrin2: It's just a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Plow days for are a test and tune time for me. That is where I found a few things and still learning as I go.

That was my Dad you talk to. He doesn't know what is in my gas.

I think he said you was either running (moon)shine in it or maybe he said you was just running shine...:beer2:. Nonetheless, I have heard about that Mystery Merkle Mix from several guys in several geographic locations in my region and one of them even said that you put some in their cub and stated that their cub "loved" it!! hahaha....

Cub Cadet 123

I remember when it was started...I was at a plow day where there was a group plow (everybody plows a round together). 1 or 2 out of the 3 in front of me ran out of gas. I called my Wife and told her to bring the gas can that says plow juice on it. My fuel was added to 2 tractors. Both ran and sounded better the rest of the day.

My 149 is the one that has done most of the testing. The engine was rebuilt 12 years ago. The only problems I've had with my 149 was breaking pins in the drive shaft, blowing the end cap of the muffler and a electrical fire under the dash.