Posts: 3469
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya,
Couple of things to check, but I think you are on the right track...start with a fuel filter (or the fuel filter screen). My gut says you have some varnish issues in the carb clogging a jet, or a fuel filter/screen that has varnished as well.
A carb rebuild, in my humble opinion will be in order.
As for ethanol gas... If you are at all concerned about it, don't use it, but in all honesty, it will not hurt your engine at all... Now..if you let it sit, or any other unstabilized fuel in the lines or in your engine, you will have issues... That plastic liner being mentioned would deteriorate with any fuel...alcohol or not... gasoline is by its refined nature a solvent (just like water is for so many things), and alcohol. If you run the fuel out of your kicker when you are not using it for an extended period of time, you will be just fine... safe bet is seafoam for stabilizer as well as keeping things clean...
About the only benefit to running non-ethanol blended fuel is you get more HP out of your engine as you are burning a fuel that has a higher BTU rating, thus more output. Is it much? No...not really...but you do get a smoother running engine because of a higher octane...that is a nice benefit, but you pay for it as well.
Steve |
