This is why I hate winter gas...

[K_W]

There was a thread not long ago about whether to store summer or winter gas, today I proved to myself Summer is better...

This mower ran excellent all summer on summer gas, today I ran out (but still running), so I went and bought some fresh gas, after a few passes around the yard I stopped to change bags, and was greeted with this at start-up...

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU1rXIycZ_w"]www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU1rXIycZ_w[/ame]

... a carb adjustment fixed it, but the adjustment was to richer, which shows that summer and winter blends do not burn the same, and in my case, I will use more ga$ using winter blend vs. summer blend.

 

[xtremegunnr]

Yeah my scag runs different too....along with my blower for leaves

 

[remauto1187]

What

"

Cars using summer-blend gasoline spew fewer harmful emissions and get slightly better fuel economy than those using winter-blend gas during the summer months.
The difference between conventional summer- and winter-blend gasoline has to do with the Reid Vapor Pressure of the fuel. RVP relates to the volatility of a gasoline. The more volatile a gasoline, the more likely it will evaporate as the temperatures rises; evaporated gasoline contributes to unhealthy ozone and smog levels. Summer gasoline has a low RVP and is less likely to evaporate when compared to the high RVP winter grade. The Environmental Protection Agency says conventional summer-blend gasoline contains 1.7 percent more energy than winter-blend gas, which contributes to the summer blend’s slightly better gas mileage.
The Energy Information Administration says the switch between the two fuels happens twice a year, once in the fall (winter blend) and again in the spring (summer blend). Summer-blend gasoline is typically more expensive to produce than the winter blend, and it won’t affect vehicle performance or the durability of the engine and fuel system, according to the EPA. "

 

[tom1025]

I love the winter blend. For me it means I don't have to spend three hours a week cutting grass.

 

[tatic05]

I love the winter blend. For me it means I don't have to spend three hours a week cutting grass.

I will 2nd that one with you!

 

[cookac88]

This is very interesting, i never even knew they had "summer" and "winter gas", Definitely learn a lot on here and not just about guns. Thanks guys

 

[jedi]

So the summer blend has better evaporation properties so it can last longer in high heat?

 

[shibumiseeker]

Whether you like it better in your lawnmower or not is irrelevant to which STORES better.

Winter gas stores better. Try using summer gas in a small appliance when it is 10 below outside and you'll see the difference, especially when the summer gas hasn't been stored properly and has lost even more of its volatiles thus further lowering its vapor pressure.

Properly stored gasoline has a very long shelf-life. I just cracked open a drum of gasoline last month that was 2.5 years old and it's running just fine in everything I am using it in. No stabilizers or anything like that, just a sealed metal drum.

 

[BE Mike]

My neighbor has a small engine repair business he does as a side line. He says use Sta Bil in the gas all the time. I have been doing that.

 

[Bigtanker]

What

"

Cars using summer-blend gasoline spew fewer harmful emissions and get slightly better fuel economy than those using winter-blend gas during the summer months.
The difference between conventional summer- and winter-blend gasoline has to do with the Reid Vapor Pressure of the fuel. RVP relates to the volatility of a gasoline. The more volatile a gasoline, the more likely it will evaporate as the temperatures rises; evaporated gasoline contributes to unhealthy ozone and smog levels. Summer gasoline has a low RVP and is less likely to evaporate when compared to the high RVP winter grade. The Environmental Protection Agency says conventional summer-blend gasoline contains 1.7 percent more energy than winter-blend gas, which contributes to the summer blend’s slightly better gas mileage.
The Energy Information Administration says the switch between the two fuels happens twice a year, once in the fall (winter blend) and again in the spring (summer blend). Summer-blend gasoline is typically more expensive to produce than the winter blend, and it won’t affect vehicle performance or the durability of the engine and fuel system, according to the EPA. "

Holy crap. Somebody actually knows what the hell they are talking about. I drive a fuel tanker have to deal with the RVP switches every spring.

As for the gas for your mower, use a high volume station to buy your gas. And use a Branded station (Marathon, BP, Citgo, Phillips, Mobil etc) They have more additives (lubrictity agents, cleaners and stabilizers) than unbranded -Swifty, Save, Family Express, Speedway etc. Low volume stations have more problems with water and contaminants in their tanks.

Hope this helps.

 

[Terry4570]

Don't forget the Ethanol part of the fuel,this site will tell you all about it www.fuel-testers.com most of the additives they put in to get the fuel to do what the E.P.A wants lowers the b.t.u of the fuel you get less m.p.g Here is a tip for all, Marathon has a fuel that is called REC.90 that is ethanol free it's higher in price but my small engins love it and it will last a lot longer in gas cans and tanks.

 

[goinggreyfast]

My wife will attest that winter gas or summer gas, it's all rank and she's sending me to the man-cave. (Which is where I wanted to be in the first place.) Just sayin...

 

[db1959]

There was a thread not long ago about whether to store summer or winter gas, today I proved to myself Summer is better...

This mower ran excellent all summer on summer gas, today I ran out (but still running), so I went and bought some fresh gas, after a few passes around the yard I stopped to change bags, and was greeted with this at start-up...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU1rXIycZ_w

... a carb adjustment fixed it, but the adjustment was to richer, which shows that summer and winter blends do not burn the same, and in my case, I will use more ga$ using winter blend vs. summer blend.

So thats what a Briggs-Harley sounds like.

 

[redneckmedic]

I always buy the highest octane for my small engines as well. You figure a small engine is exposed to more crap as it is (mulched gas, leaves, dirt, wood chips) grime is just a bigger factor for the small engine. Since the fuel isnt bought @ 50-75gal a month it is cost effective and better for your small engines.

 

[karl77]

varnish in the lines is my guess.

 

[femurphy77]

I love the winter blend. For me it means I don't have to spend three hours a week cutting grass.

Better 3 hours a week mowing than 5 minutes shoveling snow!

 

[opus1776]

My wife will attest that winter gas or summer gas, it's all rank and she's sending me to the man-cave. (Which is where I wanted to be in the first place.) Just sayin...

======================================
"Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels" K. Moss
You can NEVER be too rich or too thin.
Life is not a journey, but a series of unplanned detours...
Perfection: is not a goal---it's a demanded expectation.

 

[Don]

Holy crap. Somebody actually knows what the hell they are talking about. I drive a fuel tanker have to deal with the RVP switches every spring.

As for the gas for your mower, use a high volume station to buy your gas. And use a Branded station (Marathon, BP, Citgo, Phillips, Mobil etc) They have more additives (lubrictity agents, cleaners and stabilizers) than unbranded -Swifty, Save, Family Express, Speedway etc. Low volume stations have more problems with water and contaminants in their tanks.

Hope this helps.

Speedway = marathon gas...

 

[Don]

I always buy the highest octane for my small engines as well. You figure a small engine is exposed to more crap as it is (mulched gas, leaves, dirt, wood chips) grime is just a bigger factor for the small engine. Since the fuel isnt bought @ 50-75gal a month it is cost effective and better for your small engines.

BTW the co-op here in GF has 91 octane ethanol free on pump if you care.