The Octane boosting volatile gasses leach out of the gas
and it 'goes flat'. Looses octane. There are gas additives
that help boost these.

With the advent of the OH crap in the gasoline, water is a key
element that gets into the gas. The Alcohol is hygroscopic and
absorbs moisture and waters down the gas.

Martin

On 6/30/2015 9:58 PM, Larry Jaques wrote:
On Tue, 30 Jun 2015 10:53:04 -0400, "Jim Wilkins"
wrote:

"Larry Jaques" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 29 Jun 2015 19:31:23 -0400, "Jim Wilkins"
wrote:

"Gunner Asch" wrote in message
...

I have an Emglo gasoline driven portable compressor that has been
an
exceptionaly handy compressor. Has a B&S 5hp motor on it that I
need
to replace the seals in the carby..but it worked very well for
many
years. Its on my To Do list. $10 at an auction some 10 or so
years
ago as I recall. It still works just hunky dorey..but the carby is
bad
and runs like crap. ....

Gunner

Funny, I've had to replace several old float bowl gaskets in the
last
few years. I wonder if it's something about the gas.

That, or letting the gaskets dry out between uses/old drying gas
varnishing up...

Which is the problem, storing dry or letting the gas deteriorate?

I can honestly say that I have never had a problem with gas going bad,
in CA, AZ, or OR. I usually start things up every year, so fresh gas
is going in once annually, and I store it outside in a semi-open shed.
It's all ethanol-douched now, too. (hate the stuff)

Things I've bought from garage sales usually had problems from being
stored for ten years or so with gas (or gas/oil blend) in them. But
because I always rebuilt the carbs on auto engines which had been
sitting more than a year, I never had too many problems.

I think I've seen more problems on yard implements from being stored
too long with gas/oil in them. I've seen gasket leaks on dry-stored
motors, but they usually -run- on the first fillup without problems.


Or both?

Yeah, probably C- both of the above.


The bowl gaskets crumbled when I removed the bowl to clean and dry it
before putting the engine away.

I sure like the nitrile o-ring bowl gaskets on some MC carbs.

--
Another belief of mine: that everyone else my age is an adult,
whereas I am merely in disguise.
-- Margaret Atwood