Today's fuel

[stans02]

Just got done changing the pump in my motor home. Don't want to go through that again for a while. I know for a fact my pump stopped because of a fuel issue. The motor home ran good for a week's vacation, then sat for couple months. Then the pump stopped supplying gas to the engine. Now that I have a good operating pump, how can I make it stay that way? Stan

[Crabman]

It sounds like you may have had a case of ethanol fuel poisoning, not uncommon when an engine sits a few months without running. I use the marine grade STABIL fuel treatment in all my power equipment and add the extra storage dose when it will not be run for a month or more. As added insurance I would start up the engine in between uses whenever possible.

[Jagiven]

Ethanol is a bad thing! There are a few different fuel stabilizers designed for ethanol blended fuels, to add additional shelf life to the fuel. Some people I know swear never park a MH or any car for more than a few weeks without a 100% full tank of fuel. Reason being Ethanol absorbs water and not a little bit of water. I will absorb its weight in water. If the tank is full, there is a very small area (neck tube) where water rich air can get in contact with the fuel. I have read, but have no proof, that ethanol fuel has a shelf life of 90 days. So if it has been sitting in a small not so popular gas station tanks for 30 days and in your MH for 45 days, it is now considered old fuel. When looking at fuel stabilizers, make sure to find a good one designed for ethanol based fuels.

Especially in older vehicles (you do not mention model year), ethanol damages rubber parts like hoses and fuel pump seals.

[robkelly]

I also use now STA-BIL in everything. Learned the hard way that todays fuel additives kill carburetors, especially on small power equipment with 4-stroke motors. I also make it a point refuel my truck at popular stations so I don't run into the "old fuel" issues that Jagiven mentions.

[John LLRV]

I use sea-foam in my personal equipment, to include all vehicles. I recommend it to all customers that own/use generators as well. keeps the fuel fresh and carbs clean.

Star Brite makes an ethanol remover as well, just a fuel additive.