New quad owner here, just wondering what everyone's thoughts are on running gas with ethenal in my quad? I'm thinking I should avoid it if possible, don't know if it matters but my quad has a carb rather than EFI. Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

I've been using ethanol gas as long as I've been riding and haven't had a problem with it yet.

 

I would prefer to run non-ethanol gas, but unfortunately I don't have that option. We have E-10. I just use marine grade sta-bil in the gas during the winter. So far no problems.

 

I run marine grade sta-bil in my gas year round in all 3 carbed wheelers I have with 0 issues.

 

At least I have an option but no I don't run it in my carbed 4 wheeler or any of my small engines, chainsaw,mowers,ice auger etc.. Do in my car and truck though.

 

If you haven't had problems with it you're lucky. The problem with ethanol gas happens when it sets for an extended period of time. Basically the ethanol (alcohol) will separate from the pertroleum fuel. When this happens it actually attracts water because it is a polar molecule and so is water. In humid climates such as where I live it can actually pull humidity from the air and that water will bond with the alcohol therefore making the tank of fuel useless.
If you run your small engine equipment on a constant basis then you won't have much problem with it other than the occasional rubber hose failure due to the ethanol disolving the rubber. (horrible problem on the late 90's model seadoo jet skis) Vehicles don't usually sit long enough to cause the problem to happen.
I personally only use non ethanol gas in all of my small power equipment and I still run stabil at the recommended dose for 12 month storage just in case.
If you can't find ethanol free gas at a local store try looking near a lake or marina. They usually keep it because people with boats hate ethanol.

 

don't have a choice here in the northeast- no issues yet. depends on the age of your atv...
I think I even heard it was going from 10% to 15% around here in the winter months

moose could probably confirm that rumor...

 

Wow that sucks beergut. Just like the government to push something down peoples throats that they don't want. Bad thing is ethanol is not the green fuel they act like it is. Just think about all the fuel burned to make a single gallon of it. Its like most other things... a way to pad the pockets of a few by robbing from many.

 

I think it something to do with how the gasoline burns in the sub temps- i dunno- I don't remember.
I do know that most engines that are fairly new are designed to run and handle the new gas blends though...

 

The problems I've encountered with ethanol has not been the ability of the engine to use the fuel, it has been more of a shelf life problem and deteriation of rubber hoses. Because ethanol can basically zap the humidity right out of the air, it tends to collect water much worst than standard gasoline therefore the shelf life is drastically reduced. Alot of people don't add the correct additives if they plan on storing thier ATV, Jetski, or other power equipment for several months.
Ethanol kind of acts like a cleaner in fuel systems because it is a very strong solvent, much more capable of keeping varnish down in the system than standard gasoline, but that also creates a problem for some of the older equipment. Because it is such a good solvent it can actually disolve rubber hoses which usually ends up in the carbs and thus a lean condition is created and BAM you have problems.