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knuckledust3r

knuckledust3r

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Anyhow, I don't know if it makes a huge difference at all, but last winter, I filled up my 2 gas cans with "marine grade" rec fuel with which I ran my snowblower all winter, and the lawnmower in the summer - something like 105 octane or something.

Come this winter, the blower is having a helluva time starting up - the plugs are all black and sticky, fouled up. It won't fire up unless I spray start fluid into the cylinder (which I'm not super worried about due to it being a 4 stroke engine). I went to the regular gas station and bought regular rec fuel (92 octane, ethanol free) which is what I've run for the past 10 winters (basically the same juice, there are a couple of gas stations nearby that sell 92 octane ethanol free fuel) and haven't really had an issue at all.

I've been dosing the gas tank with carb cleaner stuff (you know the stuff, not the aerosol spray but the injector cleaner stuff you buy at Autozone that's probably just snake oil) and with Seafoam every other fill-up but haven't had any luck. Next step is a new spark plug, so we'll see how that goes.
 
Andyman

Andyman

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knuckledust3r said:
Anyhow, I don't know if it makes a huge difference at all, but last winter, I filled up my 2 gas cans with "marine grade" rec fuel with which I ran my snowblower all winter, and the lawnmower in the summer - something like 105 octane or something.

Come this winter, the blower is having a helluva time starting up - the plugs are all black and sticky, fouled up. It won't fire up unless I spray start fluid into the cylinder (which I'm not super worried about due to it being a 4 stroke engine). I went to the regular gas station and bought regular rec fuel (92 octane, ethanol free) which is what I've run for the past 10 winters (basically the same juice, there are a couple of gas stations nearby that sell 92 octane ethanol free fuel) and haven't really had an issue at all.

I've been dosing the gas tank with carb cleaner stuff (you know the stuff, not the aerosol spray but the injector cleaner stuff you buy at Autozone that's probably just snake oil) and with Seafoam every other fill-up but haven't had any luck. Next step is a new spark plug, so we'll see how that goes.
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If you get a chance, take off the carb take the fuel bowl off and spray it off real good with carb cleaner. pay good attention to all the little holes and orifices (tee hee).

Or get a replacement from amazon, probably the same cost of 3 cans of carb cleaner. (guessing)

From what i've read, high octane fuel in a low compression engine has no benefit to running or maintenance, just stick with the 92 ethanol free. (JMO)
 
knuckledust3r

knuckledust3r

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Initial findings:
-Threw a fancy e3 spark plug at the snowblower
-Burned up all the 100 octane boat gas last time I used it, and topped it off with fresh rec fuel this time

Fired up in 1 pull (wow, even when it was brand new, it didn't do that)...didn't have as many visible/audible backfires...didn't blow thick exhaust smoke nearly as long as it used to...BUT, I did have to run it on half choke for a few minutes (not just the 30 seconds that the instructions say), which is what I'm used to doing. Even the winter we bought the machine, I had to run it on half choke for the time it took to do 2 lengths of the driveway.

Verdict? Obviously I don't have a ton of data points, but I think there's a pretty strong correlation between the boat/marine gas and the machine not working as expected. Both in fouling up 2 spark plugs, and in blowing a TON of smoke out the exhaust...come to think of it, the lawnmower ran sketchy all summer too, using the same 2 cans of gas. I don't think I'll be buying ethanol free boat gas anymore for my outdoor power equipment.
 
Andyman

Andyman

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knuckledust3r said:
Initial findings:
-Threw a fancy e3 spark plug at the snowblower
-Burned up all the 100 octane boat gas last time I used it, and topped it off with fresh rec fuel this time

Fired up in 1 pull (wow, even when it was brand new, it didn't do that)...didn't have as many visible/audible backfires...didn't blow thick exhaust smoke nearly as long as it used to...BUT, I did have to run it on half choke for a few minutes (not just the 30 seconds that the instructions say), which is what I'm used to doing. Even the winter we bought the machine, I had to run it on half choke for the time it took to do 2 lengths of the driveway.

Verdict? Obviously I don't have a ton of data points, but I think there's a pretty strong correlation between the boat/marine gas and the machine not working as expected. Both in fouling up 2 spark plugs, and in blowing a TON of smoke out the exhaust...come to think of it, the lawnmower ran sketchy all summer too, using the same 2 cans of gas. I don't think I'll be buying ethanol free boat gas anymore for my outdoor power equipment.
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I think having to have the choke on is related to fuel air mixture, but if it takes too long to open it fully, maybe the carb isn't heating up?
 
knuckledust3r

knuckledust3r

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Andyman said:
I think having to have the choke on is related to fuel air mixture, but if it takes too long to open it fully, maybe the carb isn't heating up?
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It's a manual choke. It's just one of those small quirks - the instructions say to leave it on full choke for 30 seconds, then take it all the way off, but I've always had to run it on half choke for 2-3 minutes before taking the choke totally off. I do gotta go out (like Ponch said) and visually check the splug.

I'm coining a new term - portmanteau of 'spark' and 'plug' into 'splug'
 
Jim C

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Looking at the tip of the insulator can only give you a rough idea. You want to see a 1 mm band that is way up on the insulator.
To do this right, warm the engine up, put in a new plug, run it for 10 minutes like usual and kill the ignition while letting go of the throttle. Remove the plug and cut the threaded section off with a hack saw. You will see this band I'm talking about.
Less than 1 mm is lean, more is rich.
This is the proper way to do a plug chop. Works for 2 or 4 stroke engines.
 
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ponchonlefty

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knuckledust3r said:
No air filter, it's a winter-only engine:

Husqvarna 179CC Winter Use Gas Engine

Designed for winter use
www.fcsurplus.ca www.fcsurplus.ca

Loading…

www.lausonpower.com

I think, with all the splug shenanigans, I may have pulled a piece of the spark plug boot out :(
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just thought a filter would change the mixture. your good already i think. its usually a good idea to change plugs every season. but if yours is doing fine,don't bother. the wire is easily fixed.
 
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