FUELS & FUEL PROBLEMS

The information here should provide you everything you need to know to keep your machinery running without ever encountering any problems with fuel.

E10 (10% Ethanol) Petrol at petrol stations from September 2021.

Older machinery may have fuel systems that will degrade very quickly as components have not been designed with E10 in mind.

Ethanol is a solvent and is damaging to plastic and rubber and will often leave behind gummy deposits when the fuel evaporates. This shortens the service life of fuel system components and can cause blockages inside the carburettor causing poor running.

Ethanol binds moisture and acidifies, resulting in the shelf life of the fuel deteriorating Have you ever noticed water inside of machinery fuel tanks and questioned how it got there? It is unlikely that the owner tried to fuel their machine with tap water, but Ethanol is Hygroscopic, which means it attracts and absorbs water. The fuel mix will keep the water suspended but eventually, the moisture build up becomes too high will then separate from the fuel in a process known as phase separation.

Recommendations 
1) Ensure fuel is fresh
2) Buy fuel with 10% ethanol or less (ideally 0%)
3) If buying pump fuel use a fuel stabilizer (Briggs & Stratton fuel fit or similar)
4) Stop dirt from entering the fuel tank, make sure the fuel cap, surrounding area and funnel are clean. Use a funnel with a filter screen
5) Store fuel in an approved container which is clean, in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

Problems with fuel
Stale fuel – fuel starts to deteriorate after 30 days of storage
Ethanol – causes corrosion to fuel components and attracts water
Dirty fuel – blocks up fuel filters and carburetors
Incorrectly stored fuel – fuel can evaporate away, fuel vapours are dangerous and incorrectly stored fuel can become contaminated.

A brief comparison of fuel
Aspen – no ethanol, will stay fresh for up to 5 years, 99% less toxic emissions, prolongs machinery life, a ready mixed 2 stroke version is available
Regular unleaded – can contain ethanol, will stay fresh for 30 days in September will be E10 at 10% 
Super unleaded – can contain ethanol, will stay fresh for 30 days mostly E5 at 5% ethanol 
Regular unleaded with fuel stabiliser – protects against the effects of ethanol, keeps fuel fresh for up to 3 years.

Aspen Fuel

We only use Aspen fuel in our workshop and this is why;

1) We know the fuel we are putting in your machine will be fine when you come to use it.
2) Aspen 2 is ready mixed and will work in any 2 stroke machine regardless of what mixture of 2 stroke it requires
3) It is better for the health of the person working with the machine as it produces 99% less toxic emissions.

Ideally always use Aspen, if this is not cost effective we recommend using Briggs & Stratton Fuel Fit as a high quality fuel stabiliser in regular unleaded.

Storing equipment for a long period of time

When storing equipment for a long period of time (i.e. lawnmowers over winter) run equipment out of fuel, then use Aspen fuel, run for a few minutes and shut the engine down. It is advisable to store the fuel tank at the maximum recommended level. If this is not possible make sure it is stored empty of fuel.

Briggs & Stratton Fuel Fit

Fuel Fit is the latest fuel treatment by Briggs & Stratton.
Briggs & Stratton’s new and improved Fuel Fit keeps fuel fresh and protects engines more than ever before.
Fuel Fit not only keeps the carburettor clean for easy starting but now also protects against the corrosive effects of ethanol and maintains fuel stability for up to 3 years.

Fuel FAQ’s

Which fuel should you use?
Fuel with less than 10% ethanol, ideally 0% ethanol.

How do I know how much ethanol is in fuel?
The pump will be labelled E5 which tells you it has up to 5% ethanol E10 will be 10% ethanol. Fuels with more than 10% ethanol will invalidate your warranty with most small engine manufactures. You can test fuel for ethanol, we sell a kit to test for ethanol or we can test fuel for you.

Can I use fuel containing 2 stroke oil in my 4 stroke machine?
No, this will damage your machine.

Does cheap 2 stroke really make a difference?
Yes, always use a high quality 2 stroke oil. 2 stroke oil is the lubricant for the engine and the better the 2 stroke is the longer the machinery will last. Cheap 2 Stroke oil is of poor quality.

Other products we sell to help combat fuel issues
Funnel with filter screen
Approved containers
Stihl Motomix
Honda Pro fuel stabilizer
High quality 2 stroke