Boosting e10/87 octane gas after ethanol removal

[Stewie]

Since up north (Ontario) they decided to raise their ethanol content to 11% (soon to be 15%) and banned ethanol free fuel, I decided to filter out ethanol using the water trick. However, I noticed that a lot of people mentioned that after removing the ethanol, the octane rating would fall below the 87 which would risk damaging my engine.

Which octane booster should I use and how much of it to put it back to its original octane rating of 87? For context, my application is for snowblowers, lawnmowers and chainsaws. So I need relatively low amount of ethanol free fuel at a time (~10L-20L)

 

[TnT_M]

Since up north (Ontario) they decided to raise their ethanol content to 11% (soon to be 15%) and banned ethanol free fuel, I decided to filter out ethanol using the water trick. However, I noticed that a lot of people mentioned that after removing the ethanol, the octane rating would fall below the 87 which would risk damaging my engine.

Which octane booster should I use and how much of it to put it back to its original octane rating of 87? For context, my application is for snowblowers, lawnmowers and chainsaws. So I need relatively low amount of ethanol free fuel at a time (~10L-20L)

If it is for OPE it is likely fine except the chainsaw. They are pretty dumb engines that likely won't care. I would try it before adding anything.

My other thought is why not buy premium fuel or mix 87 with premium fuel to get the required octane level? Seems like a lot of hocus pocus to get to E0.

 

[Stewie]

If it is for OPE it is likely fine except the chainsaw. They are pretty dumb engines that likely won't care. I would try it before adding anything.

My other thought is why not buy premium fuel or mix 87 with premium fuel to get the required octane level? Seems like a lot of hocus pocus to get to E0.

Highest it will go is 89/90 and still 11-15% ethanol. I may consider premium but for me to get E0 is mainly so that my carb doesn't gum up. It's a bit of a pain to clean it up every year

 

[Cujet]

10% ethanol fuel with the E removed is about 84 octane. To bring it back up to 87 octane, you could add 17% 100LL aviation gasoline.

Or you could add 8% zylene or 9% toluene. Being aware that such concentrations will result in more difficult starting and operation. Especially when cold.

As far as off the shelf octane boosters, those that contain MMT will be the best choice for results. About 1.5 oz per gal of '104+ octane booster' should bring 84 up to 87. But keep in mind that MMT will produce significant rust colored deposits on the spark plug and exhaust. Fouling can become an issue.

All to say, the best bet is probably to procure some e-free small engine fuel from VP Racing or some other source. I absolutely love VP C9. 96 octane and it never goes bad.

 

[Surestick]

Toluene is a good octane booster. Xylene as well. Both are available at Canadian Tire.
Both are toxic so avoid exposure to skin and inhalation of vapour and, of course, both are flammable.
How much you'd need to add is anyone's guess, it'll depend on the octane rating of the fuel you're adding them to. Too much Toluene can lead to hard starting.

For what it's worth Canadian Tire also sells canned fuel (TruFuel is the brand they sell here in BC) that's ethanol free, stores well, but isn't cheap. Might be worth it for the chainsaw, might be easier just to drain the tank and carb on the lawnmower and snowblower of the E10 at the end of the season.

 

[Cujet]

Toluene is a good octane booster. Xylene as well. Both are available at Canadian Tire.
Both are toxic so avoid exposure to skin and inhalation of vapour and, of course, both are flammable.
How much you'd need to add is anyone's guess, it'll depend on the octane rating of the fuel you're adding them to. Too much Toluene can lead to hard starting.

For what it's worth Canadian Tire also sells canned fuel (TruFuel is the brand they sell here in BC) that's ethanol free, stores well, but isn't cheap. Might be worth it for the chainsaw, might be easier just to drain the tank and carb on the lawnmower and snowblower of the E10 at the end of the season.

8% and 9% respectively. And it will likely not run cleanly until fully warmed up under heavy load.

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

to get E0 is mainly so that my carb doesn't gum up. It's a bit of a pain to clean it up every year

So only add a small amount of fuel for each use, and make sure it’s run dry out of the carb every time before putting it up. Also, dosing fuel with Berryman’s B12 will keep that carb flawlessly clean if it’s mixed into your storage container.

 

[oldhp]

I have a 2 stroke leaf blower that uses 50 to 1 mixture. I said the heck with mixing gas. Also my 4 stroke push mower needs something to keep it from gumming up in the winter. So I just bought VP 50 to 1, 94 octane, pure gasoline. I keep the blower full through winter and fill the mower up and run it for 3-4 minutes, then shut it off. Come spring both of them fire up perfectly. I run the mower down on first cut then use 87 ethanol rest of the summer.

 

[Nessism1]

Use marine Stabil in your garage gas can and relax. Maybe have two cans: 4 stroke and 2 stroke. Put a date on the can, and make sure to use up the fuel in one year.

 

[SumGuy]

If you start with 93 octane 10% ethanol pump gas and use the water trick to remove the E what would the resulting octane likely be?

 

[Cujet]

If you start with 93 octane 10% ethanol pump gas and use the water trick to remove the E what would the resulting octane likely be?

There is always somebody with a more practical solution

The answer is likely around 89 octane.

 

[SumGuy]

I just read this:

https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-a-brief-history-of-octane

It's confusing how the the word, or term, "octane", is used or what it means. To my understanding, octane is hyrdocarbon molecule, like butane, hexane, pentane, etc. But in the above document, you can apparently add tetra-ethyl-lead, or MTBE, or a BTEX complex, or ethanol, to "boost octane" levels in gasoline.

So I have to ask - if you want to increase octane levels in gasoline then WHY NOT INCREASE THE OCTANE LEVEL IN GASOLINE ?!?

If octane is one of several "anes" then why not add more octane to gasoline? And what is it about octane that makes it better in IC engines vs say butane or hexane from an ignition pre-detonation pov?

Is it possible to have gasoline that is pure octane?

What exactly is gasoline? What are you starting with before you add any of these octane-boosters?

 

[CleanSump]

Do they sell ethanol free gas at marinas and near lakes? You guys have lots of lakes.

 

[Stewie]

Do they sell ethanol free gas at marinas and near lakes? You guys have lots of lakes.

No they don't sell, the government banned it and I have yet to see one.

Bought a mighty funnel to filter out the ethanol using water

 

[Stewie]

If you start with 93 octane 10% ethanol pump gas and use the water trick to remove the E what would the resulting octane likely be?

10% is subjective, it will soon to be 15%. The content of ethanol is always up to but never accurate

 

[Stewie]

There is always somebody with a more practical solution

The answer is likely around 89 octane.

I may just bite the bullet and buy 93 or 94 octane. about 50 cents more per liter

 

[Stewie]

Toluene is a good octane booster. Xylene as well. Both are available at Canadian Tire.
Both are toxic so avoid exposure to skin and inhalation of vapour and, of course, both are flammable.
How much you'd need to add is anyone's guess, it'll depend on the octane rating of the fuel you're adding them to. Too much Toluene can lead to hard starting.

For what it's worth Canadian Tire also sells canned fuel (TruFuel is the brand they sell here in BC) that's ethanol free, stores well, but isn't cheap. Might be worth it for the chainsaw, might be easier just to drain the tank and carb on the lawnmower and snowblower of the E10 at the end of the season.

Snowblower will likely be using up a lot of it

Would shutting off the fuel supply and burning the remainder in the carburetor be enough? That's my plan if removing ethanol doesn't work well

 

[Skippy722]

Snowblower will likely be using up a lot of it

Would shutting off the fuel supply and burning the remainder in the carburetor be enough? That's my plan if removing ethanol doesn't work well

That's what I've always done, or just fire the stuff up once a month after "storing" it with some sta-bil. I never drain my zero turn, 4 or 5 years now and it fires up just like the day I bought it.

My 2 strokes live on VP pre mix exclusively.

 

[dadto2]

Since up north (Ontario) they decided to raise their ethanol content to 11% (soon to be 15%) and banned ethanol free fuel, I decided to filter out ethanol using the water trick. However, I noticed that a lot of people mentioned that after removing the ethanol, the octane rating would fall below the 87 which would risk damaging my engine.

Which octane booster should I use and how much of it to put it back to its original octane rating of 87? For context, my application is for snowblowers, lawnmowers and chainsaws. So I need relatively low amount of ethanol free fuel at a time (~10L-20L)

IDK where you are in Ontario, but if in Ottawa or Kingston area... Next time you cross the border and travel down I81, get off at exit 45 in Watertown, turn right, and fill a 5 gallon can at the FasTrac. They sell 90 octane E0 there. Filled my boat tanks there several times on the way to our place in Rideau Lakes

Edit: looks like there is a Byrne Dairy at exit 46. They too have 90 octane E0 at all the locations I am familiar with.