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George

wrote:
On Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:27:54 -0500, wrote:

On Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:10:10 -0500, wrote:

On Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:17:12 -0800 (PST), Doug
wrote:

OK, I've spend some bucks to get my Murray carb cleaned out, and I'm
told that I can avoid that problem (though it's taken ten years to
happen ...) in the future by using appropriate, well seasoned gas.

I'm told (1) to use Sta-Bil or equivalent in my gas, (2) I really
should use 92 octane -- the "good stuff", and (3) I was told
separately to throw in some "lead substitute" as well.

So, what's the real deal here? The stabilizer is, I know, to keep old
gas from gunking up the engine, but what about the others? I need a
gasoline recipe for low maintenance and reliable service. I don't
recall the Murray instructions saying anything about all this stuff.
Use Stabil. It must be added to the gas when the gas is still fresh.
Nothing will revive old gas and the problems it causes. Do NOT use 92
octane gas in a lawn mower! Also skip the lead substitute if your
mower is newer than 1975.
What's wrong with 92 octane? Just make sure it is ethanol free.

Lawnmowers run much better with 87 Octane than 92. High Octane gas is
only an advantage in engines designed for it. On your other point... I
don't think you can buy ethanol free 87 Octane gasoline in the U.S.

You can and it would typically be at an independent station. But the
government increased the subsidies earlier this year so it wholesales
for less than the good stuff. I know of a local owner who has two
stations that each do 14,000+ gallons of fuel sales/day. He doesn't like
the idea of ethanol. But the government increased the amount of money
they pull out of our pockets to subsidize it so now it is artificially
cheaper than quality gasoline. The big box places immediately jumped on
it and lowered their prices. He can't afford to not do it so he is
converting both plazas to ethanol blend. Typical big box race to the bottom.