Re: [MV] After Action Report for Hurricane Rita in East Texas

From: J. Forster (jfor@quik.com)
Date: Mon Sep 26 2005 - 10:36:50 PDT


JTravis wrote:

> One other idea, depending on what you might have hanging around out in
> the garage, might be to cut the old gas with paint thinner, tolulene,
> acetone, etc.to raise the octane.

Low octane will NOT keep an engine from running. Low octane will make it knock
or ping, which can be remedied by adjusting the timing a bit. Octane is ONLY a
measure of a gasoline's ability to withstand higher compression before pre
igniting. NOTHING MORE.

Old gas looses some of its lighter components which makes starting harder. Try
starting on it and changing to the old stuff when the engine is running, very
carefully to avoid a fire.

Also, be very careful with adding solvents like acetone, MEK, or others to gas.
If there are plastic parts in the fuel system, it may dissolve them. Pure
alcohol (200 proof) should be OK.

FWIW,
-John

> I know you can't go out and buy it,
> but if you or a neighbor has any left over from a painting project, that
> might work and maybe you could barter something for it if your neighbor
> has some. (Maybe he'd care to join you in some A/C for a while?) Don't
> suppose you could rig a way to use the engine and belt drive from your
> riding mower to spin your generator, if it will run on the old gas you
> have? Just trying to think of ideas that might help.
>
> Floyd Petri wrote:



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