Which gas is best for 4 strokes??

[anchor man]

Anyone have any input on which gas is the best for a 150 hp 4 stroke motor? I've heard Holiday's gas is the worst and didn't know if anyone knew why, or which stations carry "better" gas.

Thanks

[New Yankee]

Anchor - I think you'll find most area fuels come from the same refinery but can differ in the additives each brand uses. I'm not familar with Holidays ownership but they may simply buy spot gas or what ever is availible at the time from their jobber. I'm not to critical about a particular brands additives, but the key issue IMO is finding a station that deals in fairly high volume to ensure freshness and reduce the amount of time that it is exposed to the potential contamination from H20 - particularly important with Ethanol which will absorb water.

Of course, should you know your local operator just put in new tanks and gets a load of gas about once a week I wouldn't shy away from the small guys either.

Most folks agree that the non-oxygenated fuels have a longer shelf life as well. I'd not waste my $$ on high octane - the reasons people often use premium are usually not valid and can cause carbon build up from incomplete combustion in engines that don't require the high test for pre ignition ping.

But....I'm not positive I've answered your question

[unclejake]

When I bought my new 4 stroke suzuki the dealer said stay away from "blue planet" gas...I don't know why...I didn't ask...just wanted to get out of there and hit the water. But I take his advice and don't buy it. Like the one guy said...if you're getting gas from a joint that is pumping a lot of gas...you're probably fine.

[anchor man]

Looks like I better start filling up across the street from now on.

[waskawood]

Quote:

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Anchor - - particularly important with Ethanol which will absorb water.

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I have seen this stated more than once lately. Does ethenol absorb water or does it just mix with water that is already present?

[ozzie]

I don't know how much merit this has but I used to work at holiday and my manager told me that they add water to their gas especially in the summer! I would guess this is a practice that goes on with most stations but she said that at the headquarters they use straight gas that is why you would rarely see big wigs fill up at other stations.

[PierBridge]

It does not matter,If you are in the Twin Cities area the fuel for nearly every retailer very likely comes from the Koch Pine Bend Refinery. The most significant difference in the fuel is the name on the truck.

[New Yankee]

Ozzie - I think your former mgr was pulling your chain or simply mad at the company. When ethanol absorbs more than .5% of h20 it (the water) seperates from the gas. When that happens, gas being lighter, the water falls to the bottom of the tank. Non ethanol gas doesn't absorb any water. Retailers frequently stick their tanks. They use a long stick to physically measure the level of gas in the tank to correlate that with what their computers read and to verify no leaks have developed.

On the end of the stick a color activated gel is used to determine the amount of water in the bottom of the tank - they all have water in them due to condensation, etc. The pick up tube for the pumps aren't at the bottom of the tank, just as the pick up tube in any gas tank isn't for the same reasons (as well as particulates tend to accumulate on the bottom).

The wives tales about mixing water with gas are simply that - it physically won't work. Same for sugar in a gas tank - it just falls to the bottom of the tank and can't foul the valves as commonly thought.

[Fireguy]

The Ico station in duluth has premium grade gas with no ethanol. This is what I use. Many stations in the brainard area also have pumps labeled as no ethanol. Ethanol is just asking for problems. besides the water absorbsion the osygenated gas also does not last as long. I routinly add some seafoam or stabill to keep the gas in the tank from going skunky.