Fuel additive

[Refueler]

OK .. it is true that some engines are a bit sensitive to old fuel ... especially if a bit of the light ends has evaporated off ... so in those cases - I suggest mixing in fresh fuel to the tank BEFORE opening the fuel valve and trying to start it.

 

[Momac]

.... But in reality - those additives are not needed for modern day engines.

Which perhaps explsins why the Mercedes car copes with variability in fuel quality while the lawnmower is less tolerant.

 

[Refueler]

Which perhaps explsins why the Mercedes car copes with variability in fuel quality while the lawnmower is less tolerant.

I have three Lawn tractors with typical 4 stroke Briggs and Stratton engines ... 11Hp .. 13.5HP and 15HP ...

I have a 3KW Briggs and Stratton 4 stroke engine generator ...

Two HD strimmers with 2T engines ...

A Briggs and Stratton 4str Stump grinder ....

Six 2str Outboard motors from 2HP up to 30HP ...

VP AQ170 6cyl mobo engine of vintage years !

They all run fine on E10 fuel ...

As to variable Fuel Quality .... ?? Each grade (95 .. 97 ... etc) is strict quality specs.

 

[ss2016]

I have never had problems with OLD fuel in the chainsaw or outboard but this year in view of several negative comments about 2 year old Tesco stuff I thought I would try Aspen. Any thoughts on it? It's a bit expensive but I use so little and if the outboard let me down it might be quite inconvenient.

 

[Baddox]

And please don't get me started on Aspen !! Lets just say Marketing !!

That really depends on what you want it to do.

In a two stroke engine, where the exhaust comprises of a proportion of unburnt fuel, it matters. Petrol from the pumps contains a high level of benzene, a carcinogen. Aspen is straight chain non-aromatic compounds which are much safer. Avoiding a lungful of benzene from is a very sensible reason to use Aspen if you're likely to be exposed to the exhaust fumes.

 

[Refueler]

The amount of benzene occurring in E5 and E10 street gasoline is at a low amount that to have real effect on anyone - they'd have to be standing in a cloud of continuing exhaust ... the other parts in the exhaust will affect you first ...

As to Aspen being free of Benzene ... that is not correct. It is a lower content and Aspen themselves say ... "largely free of ..." which is not saying it is not there.

Benzene in the old days - was even added to Gasoline ... some of us remember Benzoil ... but it was outlawed and now Benzene content is largely due to naturally being in the petroleum stream. This means that all gasolines will contain a measure of it.

Aspen is an Alkylate based reformulated gasoline ... with clever marketing....