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: