What's in TruFuel

[cablebandit]

Uh huh. The question still stands. Is there any objective evidence that Sta-bil or other fuel
treatments that advertise as such, "protect" against ethanol. Or for that matter, "keeps fuel from going bad"?

There's a guy on Youtube that has been running an experiment for the past two years or so with straight 87 pump gas with ethanol, 90 ethanol free, and 8 others mixed with whatever snake oil stabilizers. 10 brand new engines, started every two months. They all still start the same regardless of the fuel used.

And anything made in the last 20-30 years will already have fuel lines that play just fine with ethanol.

These threads are always fun to read though.

 

[M6erfan]

There's a guy on Youtube that has been running an experiment for the past two years or so with straight 87 pump gas with ethanol, 90 ethanol free, and 8 others mixed with whatever snake oil stabilizers. 10 brand new engines, started every two months. They all still start the same regardless of the fuel used.

And anything made in the last 20-30 years will already have fuel lines that play just fine with ethanol.

These threads are always fun to read though.

Project Farm did a test of fuel 'stabilizers' some time back and the conclusions were interesting. My take away was that they're a waste of money.

 

[bob15]

Project Farm did a test of fuel 'stabilizers' some time back and the conclusions were interesting. My take away was that they're a waste of money.

Is that the same idiot who tried to re-create oil tests with pvc pipe, a tape measure and a coffee pot and hot plate? If it is, I'll skip his conclusions as they are pointless.

 

[carmantl]

I've got an old '93 S10 utility truck that gets cranked about 4 times a year for my flea market runs. The gas in it is from about 2010. It still cranks and runs just fine for the 10 mile round trip. Never used any stabilizers, never will/

 

[redmondjp]

I've got an old '93 S10 utility truck that gets cranked about 4 times a year for my flea market runs. The gas in it is from about 2010. It still cranks and runs just fine for the 10 mile round trip. Never used any stabilizers, never will/

That's great, right up until it isn't.

You can watch hundreds of "will it run" videos on YT that show what the inside of the fuel tank looks like from sitting this long. Not to mention what your fuel injector strainers look like.

 

[bob15]

I've got an old '93 S10 utility truck that gets cranked about 4 times a year for my flea market runs. The gas in it is from about 2010. It still cranks and runs just fine for the 10 mile round trip. Never used any stabilizers, never will/

There is a huge difference between an S10 truck and a chainsaw carb that can be the size of only 2-3 sugar cubes or have a cylinder bore under 1-1/2" in diameter. So your comparison of old gas in a truck and a small engine is kinda pointless.

 

[M6erfan]

Is that the same idiot who tried to re-create oil tests with pvc pipe, a tape measure and a coffee pot and hot plate? If it is, I'll skip his conclusions as they are pointless.

Do have any evidence that the fuel stabilizers do what they claim? I'd really like to see some if any exists.

 

[bob15]

Do have any evidence that the fuel stabilizers do what they claim? I'd really like to see some if any exists.

Besides having seen 2 chainsaws, one without stabilizer in it's gas tank and one that does not; and then seeing how one runs like **** until you dump the gas out of it and put fresh stuff in it, and the other runs fine from square one, no. Oh, and I have seen the previous comparison and results occur several times.

You can try this experiment, take 2 gallon containers and fill one with E10 and one with E10 with a fuel stabilizer and let them sit in your garage or shed for a year or two and then run them in a small engine and report back to us. Maybe also report back on how nasty the non-stabilized gas smells as well, because it will be bad (I speak with experience).

 

[American Locomotive]

First off you are basing cost on retail pricing, he said buying in bulk at wholesale

Still paying 4x the price of pump fuel.

Second, you can't just mix it in bulk because those 30 people are strung out across town at different jobs each needing their own fuel..

I'm still failing to see the issue? So each group takes two 5 gallon fuel cans with them - one premixed, one not. Buy "red" cans for straight gas, and "blue" cans for pre-mixed. Or whatever. One trusted dude in the morning fills all the cans up, and dumps one 12.8 oz bottle into each blue can. Done.

As it sits, they already would need to be taking unmixed fuel and the pre-mixed TrueFuel. So it's not any different, besides costing much less.

Third, you mention training the workers better, depending on the workload he will pick up day laborer's that are standing in front of home depot that don't even speak English. But I will be sure to let him know you still don't approve.

If you can train a day laborer to remember to pour TrueFuel into a weed whacker, you can train a day laborer to use the different colored 5-gallon fuel can to do the same thing.

 

[Skin]

Project Farm did a test of fuel 'stabilizers' some time back and the conclusions were interesting. My take away was that they're a waste of money.

The corrosion looked pretty similar to what I saw on a regular basis but, just to clarify, most carburetors arent aluminum. They're a cast zinc alloy.

I think stabilizer works but always felt that oxidation and vapor loss was also a big problem which is why I advocated against "running dry" since a float bowl carburetor actually cant be run dry. The remaining ounce of fuel would essentially turn into a puddle of burn-resistant varnish and corrosion would be more likely as well as rubber components drying out and hardening.

A minimally or non-vented fuel system or storage tank is probably more important than stabilizer.

 

[Jswain]

Some people really get torqued up over this lol. To me tru fuel is good for two things. The guy who uses his equipment very seldom say goes out and cuts a truckload of firewood once or twice a year. Or only runs 2-3 tanks of fuel in their hedge trimmer weed trimmer etc. And then the second would be at the end of the year drain you tank and put some Tru fuel in it then run it enough to flood everything.

For me I have a shell station 30 seconds away from my house so I use their premium (non ethanol), seafoam for stabilizer, and if it's mixed usually Stihl oil. Before winter any gas out of the cans goes into the truck and in the spring I refill/as needed throughout the summer.

My chainsaw is rarely used so I empty the tank and run it dry and when I refill it always starts up easy.

 

[allinon72]

I buy TruFuel when it's on sale or 11% rebate at Menards. I run it in my 2 stroke weed eater and blower. I know it's not the value buy, but for me there is value in having the machines run better (a LOT better) and I don't have to have a mix can around. I only use a few gallons per mowing season so the cost difference isn't going to send me to the poor house.

 

[ericm]

I go through way too much two stroke fuel to use the pre mixed stuff. I also don't know what oil they put in it. After a lot of years running two stroke motorcycles in competition I'm picky about the oil I use. (Redline Allsport low ash synthetic for two stroke power equipment)

The closest station that has E0 is an hour away and they want a huge premium for it. If it was readily available and did not cost too much I'd use it. But it's not. E10 works fine for me. I get 5 gallons of 91 octane at a time (and a couple 5 gallon containers of regular for the non two stroke equipment). I use Marine Stabil in the cans. If the gas lasts more than a couple months (which is rare) it goes in the truck and I get more. I mix up a gallon of premix at a time. Saws or other equipment that isn't going to get used for a while get the tank emptied and the carb run dry. The old premix goes into the lawn tractor or log splitter.

A "Ratio-Rite" makes getting the correct oil:fuel ratio easy.

 

[jeepnut24]

Run trufuel in my Weedeater and Blower, no issues, works great for the last 5ish years. Don't have to mess with mixing and correct ratios, amounts, etc...

Now the ethanol based gas in my mower.... STUPID green build-up **** in the carb drives me nuts.... Wish they sold trufuel without the added oil.

 

[Jswain]

Run trufuel in my Weedeater and Blower, no issues, works great for the last 5ish years. Don't have to mess with mixing and correct ratios, amounts, etc...

Now the ethanol based gas in my mower.... STUPID green build-up **** in the carb drives me nuts.... Wish they sold trufuel without the added oil.

They do. Tru fuel 4 cycle

 

[bob15]

Run trufuel in my Weedeater and Blower, no issues, works great for the last 5ish years. Don't have to mess with mixing and correct ratios, amounts, etc...

Now the ethanol based gas in my mower.... STUPID green build-up **** in the carb drives me nuts.... Wish they sold trufuel without the added oil.

Here you go, made by the makers of really good race gas (can also be gotten in 40:1 & 50:1 mixes as well):

VP SEF https://vpracingfuels.com/product/4-cycle-small-engine-fuel/?c=232

https://www.acehardware.com/departments/automotive-rv-and-marine/fluids-and-lubrication/fuel-additives/7795990

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/vp-racing-fuels-4-cycle-small-engine-fuel-1-gal-6201

 

[ddurrett896]

It's non ethanol pre mix sold for $25/gallon. You can mix it yourself for 1/6 of that.

 

[NBN]

A few years back my wife decided she wanted to buy her own trimmer because she saw the frustration I had keeping a 1 year old trimmer running. I took her to the closest box store, she picked out a weed eater - one of the entry level units and picked up a can of TruFuel. I made fun of her, told her it was a gimmick, yadda yadda, she told me to shut it and get to steppin, its her trimmer and she'll use what she wants. Damned if that trimmer didn't start on the first pull for six years.
Now when she says she needs more, I volunteer to go buy more.

 

[Skin]

It's non ethanol pre mix sold for $25/gallon. You can mix it yourself for 1/6 of that.

It's not really pump gas. Odor is totally different. I don't think it's worth the cost though.

 

[bob15]

It's non ethanol pre mix sold for $25/gallon. You can mix it yourself for 1/6 of that.

It is cheaper than $25 gallon....closer to $15 a gallon if you buy a 5 gallon can. So how can I buy it for a 1/6 of that price?

And the odor than the canned gas has is due to the higher levels Benzene and Toluene they add to it.

 

[Showkey]

The corrosion looked pretty similar to what I saw on a regular basis but, just to clarify, most carburetors arent aluminum. They're a cast zinc alloy.

I think stabilizer works but always felt that oxidation and vapor loss was also a big problem which is why I advocated against "running dry" since a float bowl carburetor actually cant be run dry. The remaining ounce of fuel would essentially turn into a puddle of burn-resistant varnish and corrosion would be more likely as well as rubber components drying out and hardening.

A minimally or non-vented fuel system or storage tank is probably more important than stabilizer.

This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^......fuel stabilizers work on slowing or stopping evaporation of the light hydrocarbons. Most small engine and motorcycles only hold a few ounces.....so...... An ounce or two fuel or less in a float bowl is asking for trouble.

Long term storage fill the tank, shut off the fuel, drain the carb has always be the recommendation.

Farm Project makes a ton of money on YouTube..........but.........not all his conclusions are solid. Guess why his videos are always the same length with all that filler ?
$$$$$

 

[Buster21]

I always find it hilarious when people actually start an argument trying to justify their position because they don't agree with how someone else does things.

 

[mcspeed]

I run pump gas in my two stroke engines with oil added of course. No stabilizers or other additives. I leave fuel in the tank of my chainsaw which gets used 2-3 times a year if that....... it’s over 30 years old. Yes it starts and runs great.

My understanding is that the oil is what preserves the gas and prevents issues. This has worked in 4 different states so far with the same chain saw.

I think they sell the hell out of that packaged fuel. People are sold on the issues pump gas causes......but I’m not.


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[dacan23]

I luckily now live in a land that sells no ethanol fuel, wish 91 was more accessible there's only one place near and price varies. Many places sell 87 e-free but can't run that in most my cars. I was shocked to find 91 pure gas from Iowa to Wyoming on I-80. I use ethanol free in my pressure washer since installing the new carb, I think it sitting with fuel in E10 land is what caused it to fail.

I think the bottom line is many of you need to switch to battery powered OPE lol

Isn't most race & marine fuels mentioned leaded? Can you use leaded in gas OPE? I think some people use it in recreational vehicles.

 

[bob15]

I luckily now live in a land that sells no ethanol fuel, wish 91 was more accessible there's only one place near and price varies. Many places sell 87 e-free but can't run that in most my cars. I was shocked to find 91 pure gas from Iowa to Wyoming on I-80. I use ethanol free in my pressure washer since installing the new carb, I think it sitting with fuel in E10 land is what caused it to fail.

I think the bottom line is many of you need to switch to battery powered OPE lol

Isn't most race & marine fuels mentioned leaded? Can you use leaded in gas OPE? I think some people use it in recreational vehicles.

As long as the OPE doesn't have a catalytic converter on it, you can use leaded gas. You might have to clean the plugs and the spark arrestor screen once in awhile.

And they do use and run unleaded race gas a well. Not sure on the cost. Leaded 110 purple gas from Sunoco (cam2) and VP was ~$11/gal last year

 

[Bert_]

I'm running on a gallon of gas I mixed up last summer in this little saw. I used it the other day started up on the third pull, cuts good, runs great and I can set it down and it keeps idling for as long as you leave it.

I had to replace the diaphragm and primer bulb once but it's a cheap saw that's probably 20 years old.

I'm not sold on any need for trufuel.

 

[Super Mech]

Short answer: no

Long answer:

Here is the sds for Coleman Fuel(cas # 68410-97-9) :http://www.deep-south-chemical.com/PDF%27s/SDS/Lactane%20SDS.pdf

Now, what are you going to add to make this the same as trufuel because octane booster 104 and 2 cycle oil isn't going to be everything needed? Plus, now you must re-jet your carbs because this concoction isn't going to burn the same as the Trufuel or VP SEF or even gasoline with 2 cycle oil. Will you be able to adjust the carb enough to not melt the engine down?

For me, I buy my pre-mixed VP SEF for $60-70 for 5 gallons at the local saw shop. For the lawn mower and other equipment, I buy my ethanol-free gas when I go to NY in multiple 5 gallon containers.

Where in NY do you find ethanol free gas? I just had my brother in law bring me 5 gallons from PA.

 

[MikeF2316]

Where in NY do you find ethanol free gas? I just had my brother in law bring me 5 gallons from PA.

https://www.pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=NY

 

[bob15]

Where in NY do you find ethanol free gas? I just had my brother in law bring me 5 gallons from PA.

See MikeF's post and link.

Hudson/Catskill area and go North or West. Most Stewart's Shops carry it. I usually go to The Center in Worcester when I visit a friend who lives up there.

The Stewart Shop is 91 octane gas. I'll put a couple gallons in the truck to purge the hose/lines, then fill the cans and then finish topping off my truck off

 

[chipjumper]

Any local airport has either 100LL or 90 octane ethanol free fuel. Stuff allegedly lasts forever. I fill my 14-gal gas caddy with 100LL and keep it for emergencies; I usually rotate it out every couple years. My equipment runs great with it. Obvious the 90 MOGAS is ideal as it has no lead. I’ve never been hassled by anyone airport staff when filling up fuel cans. It the pumps are behind a security fence, ask a staff member if they can ****** you to the pump.

 

[jeepnut24]

It's non ethanol pre mix sold for $25/gallon. You can mix it yourself for 1/6 of that.

Sure if you can find non ethanol gas.... which is a challenge for some of us.

I’ll have to get a picture of the clogged carb with the green **** from the ethanol. Forgot to run it out last fall...

 

[Mechanical Noise]

I swear sometimes I must be the only one who has never had a real major issue with E10 fuel.

I've never had a problem related to E10, with the exception of early rubber parts that didn't like it.

Most people can't tell the difference, either.

 

[Mechanical Noise]

I suspect that this difference in experience largely has to do with your first paragraph above - the composition of gasoline must vary depending upon what part of the country you live in.

That seems likely. Around here, there's extra EPA mandates for gasoline. Maybe those mandates have resulted in E10 that stores well.

 

[bigtiger]

I live in California so cant find any non ethanol fuel for cheap.. Can i go out of state and buy cheap non ethanol fuel and bring it with me in car.. Like lots of it..

Or put it this way.. Whats the best, cheapest way to bring non ethanol fuel into California..

I use true fuel in my echo chainsaw as it's not used heavily, let it sit with true fuel for months and starts every time on first pulls

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[JRC3]

One sale at Menards right now.

 

[bigtiger]

No.. Talking about getting cheap non ethanol gas at gas station for like $4-5 a gallon.. Not sold in California at gas station, but i hear other states do.

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[bob15]

No.. Talking about getting cheap non ethanol gas at gas station for like $4-5 a gallon.. Not sold in California at gas station, but i hear other states do.

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Click on the link below and find a gas station that is close to you and fill up your can cans. Who cares if you buy it out of state.....

https://www.pure-gas.org/

 

[bigtiger]

Click on the link below and find a gas station that is close to you and fill up your can cans. Who cares if you buy it out of state.....



https://www.pure-gas.org/

Yeah.. I know about those damn places, racing fuel 100 octanes and 92 octane... Guess what... I am not going to pay $70 for 5 gallon... When you can pay $4-5 gallon for ethanol free has in other states..

Could careless if its vip, truefuel or whatever branding... Just want cheapest ethanol free gas in California..and pay $4-5 a gallon.

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[bob15]

Yeah.. I know about those damn places, racing fuel 100 octanes and 92 octane... Guess what... I am not going to pay $70 for 5 gallon... When you can pay $4-5 gallon for ethanol free has in other states..

Could careless if its vip, truefuel or whatever branding... Just want cheapest ethanol free gas in California..and pay $4-5 a gallon.

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Well I guess you need to go on a vacation to another state and bring 5-6 five gallon cans with you and then stop at a regular gas station that sells 91 octane ethanol free gas and fill up. That is what I do in CT for lawn mower and tractor gasoline. Or, move out of CA.

 

[Showkey]

One sale at Menards right now.

On Sale ?????? $12.00/gallon