ethanol and seals

[JT78]

Ok fellas so I now have 5 saws that I have to replace the crank seals on my question is this related to using gas containing ethanol ?

[7sleeper]

How old are the saws? And yes it is lickley.

7

[JT78]

All are older saws but never had any problems before storage and now all of them the crank seals are brittle and need replaced. Just wondered if I start using non ehtanol gas if it would keep den having this problem in the future.

[jargo432]

If you can find it, I'd use it.  I switched to non ethanol in my chainsaw and saw a real improvement in how it ran.

[markkelly]

I had same problem.  I talked with Mercury boat engine specialist.   He said all the most full has ethanol.  And the factory is requiring fuel samples for fuel quality.   I am going to start buying the pre mixed fuel.

[H 2 H]

Just remember you can buy VP Racing fuel and VP Racing LEADED fuel

[jargo432]

http://pure-gas.org/

[jargo432]

One thing I also thought of was the fact that small airports sell 100LL (100 octane Low Led).  I'm sure there's no ethanol in that, however the octane is too high.  If there was a way to lower it you might could make it work.  As a pilot we learned about detonation and pre ignition if the octane was too low.  I'm sure we could all guess what would happen to our expensive chainsaw if the octane was too high.  :D

[JohnG28]

Jargo,  the 100 octane won't hurt the saw, but I wouldn't want to breathe lead fumes personally.

[Froling]

Only too low octane will hurt, too much won't hurt a saw. 100 octane actually isn't too much for pro level saws, the motor octane number is probably closer to 93-95.  just pay attention to the heat range. Your saws will love you for running non ethanol. Check your local drag way, drag shop or motocross shop. This is where we get VP

[jargo432]

Thanks for the info

About how much does 5 gal of V P go for?

[H 2 H]

Thanks for the info

About how much does 5 gal of V P go for?

Depends on the type of VP fuel you get the MS98L here in the PNW goes for around $85

I get in trade so I haven't bought any of it - around 8 (5 gallon cans) cans so far

[JohnG28]

At that rate you might as well just buy the canned premix unless you're running through crazy amount of fuel, which I don't imagine is the case for someone running gas that pricey. I realize in a modded saw like you may use it in Brian that might make a difference,  but VP for a regular saw?

[Al_Smith]

I'm afraid you 'd just as well face the music .Ethanol will be added to gasoline forever .Of late they have made more ethanol resistant seals but the older ones will deteriate after a while .So you change the seals and rebuild the carbs,simple as that .

It's not an expensive proposition just more of a nuisance than any thing .

Oh sure you can buy av gas ,race gas ,pure gas and Mobil gas .Gas for every occasion .Now that right there would be more of a nuisance to me than changing seals every so often .

[H 2 H]

At that rate you might as well just buy the canned premix unless you're running through crazy amount of fuel, which I don't imagine is the case for someone running gas that pricey. I realize in a modded saw like you may use it in Brian that might make a difference,  but VP for a regular saw?

Each and every saw I own is modded in some way 11 now

Like I said I trade photography work with a sprint car shop and get my VP fuel for next to nothing but a few hours of taking pictures for there catalog  8)

[JohnG28]

Ahhh, I see. Didn't catch that first time. Will be a cold day before I pay anywhere close to $20 a gallon to run my saws and other outdoor equipment.  :D

[Al_Smith]

Well quite frankly that's where I'm at .I mean I like my saws ,love to soup them up but I'll be darned if I'll make love to them --so to speak .

The things are  a tool powered by a gasoline engine They aren't some iconic treasure that can't be replaced .Lawdy I think some people rate them as a classic Vincent motorcycle .--and if I had one of them I wouldn't treat it like the treasures of  the lost Atlantis either .

See what happens when you get old and grumpy . ;D

[flyfish57]

A good place to find ethanol free fuel, at least in my neck of the woods,  is at a marina on the lake.  Most of them here sell ethanol free.  But, the only drawback is it might cost a dollar more a gallon.

James