The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Smallholding => Equipment => Topic started by: arobwk on December 11, 2021, 11:03:15 pm
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So we can't buy ordinary E5 spec petrol any-more.
Have you started to fuel your small-engine (2-stroke or 4-stoke) garden machinery yet with the new ordinary E10 petrol spec' ?
I'm inclined to start using E5 "super" (high octane) petrol rather than E10 ordinary, but would be grateful to know others' new experiences/fuel-spec choices so far !
Also, if I go E5 high-octane spec ("super") petrol, do I need to tweak the carb' settings on my petrol-powered garden equip ??
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I've been using E10 in small engines for a couple of months. I havent altered any carb settings etc. Everything has run fine, new and old equipment. The one thing I am being more careful with is not leaving anything with fuel in it when is not in use, only exceptions being a small ride on which I shut the fuel tap off and run the carb dry and a Hayter Condor heavy duty mower which is too heavy to drain the fuel out.
For winter use though I am considering removing all the bio ethanol from the fuel just in case. Relatively simple process and it leaves you with premium ethanol free petrol
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SP95-E10 has been here for years and we've used it without any adjustments to any of the garden equipment. It does go 'off' quickly though, so anything with it in needs to be drained if it isn't going to be used for 6 months. The mechanic at the garden equipment centre told us to use only SP98-E5 in our new mower, because the carburettor can't be drained. Stihl do a 'long life' 2 stroke oil, which we are now using, but didn't have any problems with the standard stuff.
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A friend of mine bought a lawnmower recently that was marked up with E10 on the fuel cap.
What concerned me about using E10 in my own garden machinery isn't just how it doesn't keep as long, but I had heard reports that over time the fuel can cause more damage to the fuel lines than E5.
Over a day I went around the local petrol stations comparing prices and next time I need fuel I'll be getting a can of tescos momentum.
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E10 fuel “eats” rubber fuel lines and rubbery bits in carburettors. That’s the main reason for avoiding its use in small machinery. It also absorbs water which encourages rust in steel fuel tanks. There is a work around; replacing all rubber pipe work with E10-proof pipes but it’s probably easier to use Super (E5) fuel or drain the fuel out of the machine (which is a nause!). If anything using Super should make the machine go better as it’s also often higher octane- who remembers 5 Star petrol. Needless to say Super costs more!
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Fleecewife's husband commenting. If your machinery has a carburettor (i.e. all small horticultural machinery) avoid E10 if at all possible. The ethanol is hygroscopic and will attract in water vapour which can separate out (phase separation) particularly over winter with temperature changes and high humidity affecting the fuel in the petrol tank. Garden machinery repairers are busy replacing ruined fuel systems and particularly carburettors which have corroded.
If not using your machine for a while, either make sure the petrol tank is full or empty, nothing in between. It's also best to switch off the petrol (if you have a petrol tap on your machine) and let it run out to stop rather than just switching it off. This will make sure the carb is empty prior to storing. The last tip is to add a splash of 2 stroke oil to the petrol as a matter of course. It provides a little extra protection. 2 stroke engines of course already have oily petrol. Gordon
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I'm no expert, it all goes over my head. My brother in law, he's 54 today and has worked in the same hire place since he was 17, so I refer to him about my chainsaw, a 20 yr old Stihl 170. Expected to work once in a blue moon (when I can get someone to start it!) He told me not to worry, put the E10 in it, same as the Stihl hedgecutter we have. Has always said though to not leave fuel in them. (The place he works for is a Stihl specialist!)
My car, an 06 kia, according to the website, safe for E10. Due to monthly visit to vet 30 miles away, I can guarantee the car is run at least once a month. But I run her on the E5. £1.55 a litre around here, don't let car go below half a tank!
The day I went to pick the tup up, £25 to top up, 40 miles there, 40 miles back, called at the same garage before I got home, £23 filled her up. "Weren't you here a earlier?" I was asked!