I don't do any of that except the Stabil and I don't have any problems either!

Good for you. Some people have, based on other discussions.

Can someone define 'non-oxgenated fuel'?

Hi abc69.

You have a great fuel system maintenance program.

Good day.

Non Oxy has no oxygen enhancers in the fuel. It is harder to refine, and therefore should only be used on seasonally run, small engines. It does not collect moisture, therefore it doesn't cause the corrosion that regular gas can cause over a period of time. Oxygen is corrosive, and so is oxygenated fuel. It can ruin seals and hoses made of rubber. Non oxy also causes the engine to run cooler. There is some debate about whether it causes less, or more pollution. It can leave carbon behind in the burning process. It costs more to refine, therefore, more resources are used to make it. It's a dicey debate. Like I said, it's sold here in MN certain for collector car, motorcycle and seasonal small engine use. It does cost more, about 20-30 cents more a gallon. It is NOT available all year long, I've only seen it in the late spring and througout summer.

Interesting. I haven't heard of any such thing here in VA, either oxygenated or non. We have 10% ethanol in some areas and non-alky gas in others. Just a note, using SeaFoam and MMO at the same time along with the STA-BIL is probably not warranted. Either one with the STA-BIL should be enough.

Hello all.

Hi abc69.

Your last post indicated (The Non Oxygenated fuel)"It is harder to refine, and therefore should only be used on seasonally run,small engines".

Serious questions: Is this fuel only available during the late spring and througout summer?

Do you think the Non Oxygenated fuel w/STA-BIL would be OK fuel for Winter snow throwing engines?

This is an interesting find abc69.

Good day.

Hello all.
Hi abc69.

Your last post indicated (The Non Oxygenated fuel)"It is harder to refine, and therefore should only be used on seasonally run,small engines".

Serious questions: Is this fuel only available during the late spring and througout summer? ***Sorry, you already explained this one.***

Do you think the Non Oxygenated fuel w/STA-BIL would be OK fuel for Winter snow throwing engines?

This is an interesting find abc69.

Good day.

Hi rollerzeke. Yes, I do use it for my toro 2 cycle snowblower. I fill up a 2 gallon can in late summer/early fall so that I have it for the winter. The great thing about non oxy, is that it doesn't break down in 3 months like regular gas. You can leave it in machines much, much longer. Therefore you can leave it in a gas can for a long time before use. I've left it in my snowblower year round, and it starts on the first pull. That being said, I do use precautionary measures with the stabil and sea foam. I don't use any MMO in that mixture.
Saxman- I agree that it may be overkill to use the seafoam, but it does help eliminate the possibility that the non oxy could leave some carbon behind. I've pulled my carbs, and they are spotless. I use a very small amount, as that stuff is quite potent, in my experience. Have a great day. It's going to be 90 here again in MN today. Tomorrow it may be 30 below zero. LOL.

Hello all.

Hi abc69. Thanks for bringing this topic to the Lawn Mowers Forum!

The Non Oxygenated fuel doesn't break down in 3 months like regular gas?

This information is HOT!!

Question: abc69, what is the brand name of this Non Oxygenated fuel?.

Thanks.

I think there is some confusion between tradition fuel, reformulated fuel and oxygenated fuel. In some cases you have no choice of any of it.

Traditional fuel will last longer but is not available in many larger markets where air polution is a common daily concern because of the large number of vehicles. Reformulated fuel is becoming more common all the time and will start breaking down in 30 days. As time goes on, no reformulated fuel will become more rare. If you live in a fringe area you may find both at any time of year and the traditional fuel will provide better performance and last longer.

Oxygenated fuel is usually found in those same areas where reformulated fuel is found. Oxygenated fuel is also reformulated fuel and is the most expensive. Oxygenated fuel is traditional or reformulated fuel with ethynol or MTBE[either] added up to 10% by weight. It is mandated in some areas during either the 3 or 6 coldest months of the year. These are areas that have cool temp inversion layers in the lower atmosphere, trapping emissions near ground level. The oxygenated fuel burns cleaner and helps with inversion layer traped emissions. However because many cars run so poorly on it in warmer temps the oxygenated fuel is not used more then 6 months a year.

Here in Vegas we have no choice unless we can get on the air base to buy fuel. All of our fuel comes from S. California which is always reformulated. In the winter the local tank farms add the ethynol. Or we could drive 90 miles north to Alamo and get traditional fuel that is brought in from Salt Lake City. But I suspect even that is oxygenated in the winter.

Rollerzeke, The name of the gas is Marathon. Marathon Super Non Oxy 91, to be exact.

Based on what the walrus says, I guess we're 'oxygenated' here, because we have to use 10% ethanol. The only thing is, it's all year round - no break in the summer. I haven't noticed any problems in the vehicles or OPE.

Hello all.

Hi abc69. Thanks for all the great information on this Non Oxygenated fuel topic.

Seems like nevada walrus has used every available fuel type/formula under the sun.

I never knew these things about the fuel we use.

I will keep my eyes open for the Non Oxygenated fuel.

If I find two gallons, I will STA-BIL the mix and use it in my snow thrower.

Good day.

Thing is I'm old enough to remember just plain old real gas. I remember the first time we had stuck intake valves from 2 month old fuel being run in Briggs OHV V-Twin Vanguards. We gave Briggs hell about it the stuck valves because we didn't know about reformulated fuels going south so fast. We also learn about this stuff at manufacture update schools we go to every year, some 8 or 9 of them on an annual bases.

Saxman, I had heard some areas were doing that but this is the first confirmation I've recieved. That's gotta be tough for folks with older carb fed cars as well as equipment. Not to mention the rotten fuel mileage. Alky runs lean, requires approx 1/3 more fuel to equal gas. A computer controlled fuel injected engine will compensate for running but use more fuel. To tired to do the math when only 10% is alky.

Hello all.

I Have A Question For nevada walrus!, or anyone else in the know.

Day 1: Many years ago my buddy and I stopped for gas at a gas and snack shack.

Day 2: My buddy said his Plymouth w/318 cubic inch was running bad, and that he must of got some "bad gas".

Day 2 The Fix: Ten maybe twelve moth balls were added to the fuel. The Plymouth ran a LOT better.

This really happened folks.

Question: How is it that fuel "quality" can be improved by adding moth balls to the fuel?

Thanks for any input.

In the old days moth balls were at least in part if not all made from naphthalene. They either raise the octane or make the fuel run hoter, not certain. I remember it being one of the grab bag of tricks used by some racers at least on the local short track and drag strips. I never tried it for fear of doing damage.

These days most moth balls use something else so don't just go buy a couple of bags and expect improvement.

Around 20 years ago some shady fuel delivery folks were using a no longer used gravel pit to haul in tanker loads of the liquid form of naphthalene to mix with fuel they had just picked up from the fuel distribution center. They were mixing in whatever their ratio formula was to cheap regular and then delivering it as premium. True story. They had bought a Honda water pump from the shop I worked for at the time.

They lost both tankers when a spark set it all off in an explosion heard across north town. The "mixer" recieved painful but survivable burns. The next day the fire dept. was in the shop to see if the Honda water pumps were properly labeled not to be used for flamable liquids. They were and are of course, along with warnings in the owners manual. The fire dept got what they wanted, additional charges against the illegal fuel operaton for using un-approved pumps to tranfer the fuel.

Good Morning nevada walrus,
I must be older than you, because when I was a
kid the few people on the block that had power
mowers were told they had to use "White Gas" in
the machines. There were only a couple of stations
in town that carried it so some were using Coleman
Fuel, which they say was close to the same thing.

Hello all.

Thanks for info nevada walrus.

roger wilco

Good day.

"I must be older than you, because when I was a
kid the few people on the block that had power
mowers were told they had to use "White Gas" in
the machines."

That's interesting! When I was a kid, it was always pointed out to me to NEVER use "White" gas! It meant a ruined engine.
Maybe you're a little "too much" older?

Hello abc69, saxman1 and nevada walrus! Thanks for all the straight-up info. See ya on the other side.

rollerzeke is gone.

rollerzeke, white gas in small engines is indeed new to me. I remember as a kid using white gas in camp stoves and lanterns but not the mower. Isn't white gas lead free, think it would have to be to be used in camp stoves. Of course the older engine were lower compression so lead may not have been needed. I wonder if using non leaded in those days was to help with plug life with what may have been rather weak ignition systems of the day?

"Isn't white gas lead free, think it would have to be to be used in camp stoves."
Bingo!
It had basically zero additives. LEAD, amongst other things was used as an additive. Tetra Ethyl Lead. Remember "ETHYL"?
Kind of humorous now, but I remember riding my bike down to the gas station with a GLASS gal. jug and getting 20â worth of gas! The jug wouldn't hold 25â worth!

How I remember Ethyl. My favorite Alice Cooper song is "Cold Ethyl".

Good Morning Bill Kapaun, I distinctly remember the
day the hardware store dropped off our first power
mower. It was a reel type because my Mother thought
the rotory ones were too dangerous. He demonstrated
the operation of the mower and told us not to use
anything but white gas. So, I too, had to ride my
bike down to the station on our end of town, that
sold white gas, and I too used a glass jug, but I don't
remember the price of the gas, but it was more expensive
than regular gas. That was 'about' 1956.
That mower, with a Briggs engine, lasted about
20 years and then the mower fell apart but the engine
was still good.