I have a 1997 arctic cat and the manual calls for 87 octane. I decided to fill up with premium one day and to my surprise it actually had notability LESS power. I just found that really interesting and most people I tell don’t believe me when I tell them, lol.
IMO, the higher octane of premium gas won’t make your sled faster while some guys swear it does. Actually, higher-octane fuels 'technically' have less stored energy than lower-octane fuel. It’s the fuel’s ability to be compressed more without pre-igniting that results in more power overall - Depending on the machine and how it's used. That said, while I believe you, I wouldn't expect it in most cases to be dramatic enough to say "notibly less power"...but there are lots of other factors other than higher octane. Which fuel, what additives, what conditions, engine, etc etc... Thanks for watching and sharing.
30 yrs of reg fuel, no additive and tank sits wherever it was when I parked it. Clean the carbs every 2 years. I think the reason this works for me is that at the very least 2 times per storage season I dig the sleds out and rip them around the yard a bit. Keeps decent fuel in the carbs and gets the moisture out of the tank and carbs. Worked this long so mot gonna change now. One of the sleds I have Ive owned for 15yrs and it still runs just fine.
@@MyOldSled yup that guy is always me lol Just saying what works for me, does not mean it will work for you. Seen many different methods over those years, some work and some cause more problems than they are worth.
i don't need to watch your videos for the information but your classic youtube style and delivery is just nostalgic and humble it makes me remember better days of the internet, and better days of meeting better people on the trails, on my old sled
Ethanol is definitely hard on fuel lines and is not good to leave sitting in anything like you said because it absorbs moisture. I notice with chainsaws as well the ethanol eats the primer balls. So its always peace of mind to run premium fuel without ethanol when available. My 2016 F150 w/ 5.0 on the other hand eats on e85 🔥🔥🔥
Sled needs 87, gets shell 91 (ethanol free) at the start of every ride. Filling up on a ride it gets whatever is available. In older engines, there is sure to be carbon build up and snowmobile engines are operated at high engine speed for long periods of time. For me, the extra resistance to detonation is worth the extra couple bucks.
Tried this VP Racing Sled96 Gas and my sled feels sewing machine smooth ! The power is crazy ! It's expensive but damn is it ever worth it ! Best 2 stroke snowmbile gas I have tried up to now ! 🤘
I actually caled our local fuel station to ask about their premium gas and lm glad l did.not all stations are equal and not all pumps tell the whole story.thank you.
@@MyOldSled does anyone know when you push the premium button on a gas tank does the premium start from the nozzle or does it start from the tank below which means you're getting regular gas to start just curious
Your videos also seam so well researched. I have one sled that says 87 and another one that says 91. I have always and will continue to, run ethanol free, no matter what anyone might say, in everything I own that might sit for more than a week or two without running. I don't always have the time to properly store, or maybe don't always expect that this may be my last ride for the year. I live in the north east US salt is used on the roads for snow control. My motorcycle, car, snowmobiles, lawnmowers, snowblower all get ethanol free. So 91 or above
Ethanol-free premium in ALL of my small engines.. from my weed eater to jet skis and my sled.. no fuel stabilizer, no line deterioration, no cleaning carbs, etc. Works perfect for me! I'm not an ethanol fan at all. A great additive for treating ethanol-containing gasoline is Star-Tron! 👌🏼 I use that in my old 90 Chevy with regular 87 gasoline.
I found this as well as other vids very helpful. I did not realize that only shell and Cdn tire sell high test non EtOH gas. I was always of the belief that all the high test stuff had none of it. I had been buying to date PetroCan 94 since its the highest octane and (presumably) no EtOH. Not so. Thanks for this tip The other tip from previous vids that I was recently reminded of was your comment that the Woody's spring tool was a well thought out device. I had in the past used rope and made my own hooked version but the Woody's this weekend saved my sanity and time with all its little nicks and notches. Appreciate all you do on your site.
Bet you were a bit surprised how fast your shed filled up. Looks good though and you won’t regret getting it. Great info on the gas. I use premium on any performance engine.
Personally I’ve found unless the sled says it needs it, premium wont make much of a difference. I love the new shop!! Looking forward to new videos in it :)
@@MyOldSled yep, I didn’t realize my old formula sls needed premium until I looked at the manual it just depends on the sled, I wish I lived more east then we could ride our old sleds together
To be honest doing the videos is a great excuse to really look into a topic. I always ran premium, but it's good to get into the research. In my model year Formula III and Mach 1/Z and needed 91
Sea Foam all the way. These other stabilizers( STP, Motormaster, even the Lucas Oil injector and upper cylinder fuel cleaner/stabilizer) they only offer about 6 months of treatment and I have used all the above with my 1998 Ski doo Summit X 670. I am 2nd owner personally put 4000km on in last 3 yrs... mostly toboggan ice fishing/ skimmer for wood. So WORK! It truly has been a GREAT snow machine. But the fuel and stabilizers make a serious difference. I notice power loss with any octane under 87. Idling is rough and top end shake down rides/ spark plugs fouling in 1/2 life. Shell V- Power has best shelf life and noticed equal run and ride to other fuels that I treat with Sea Foam. Sea Foam' s break down video, is accurate and very knowledgeable on why the benefits are unsurpassed! I used 1yr old jerry can gas in 72cc chainsaw, ran perfect. It also does an excellent job at mixing through with gas line antifreeze or other dewatering products. In that worst case scenario.
Hi Matt, you’re not alone. Probably one of the best known brands. A lot of people swear by it. Like everything is has it has its strengths and weaknesses but overall its a very versatile product at a good price point. Thanks for watching and commenting. All the best in the New Year.
The best octane boost I have found an tested is Lucas oil, and after years of fighting with ethanolI have found what seems to be the only stabilizer that works with ethanol is Ethanol shield, it stops separation of the fuel. I have found it at Peavey Mart. Most stabilizers stop the octane from deteriorating but that's it. Ethanol settles at the bottom after separation and will turn into a black goo if left long enough.
On a chemical level, most stabilizers are pretty similar in composition … a mixture of antioxidants and lubricants that repel water and limit evaporation. I generally use brp products but I will often grab other brands in a pinch for mowers etc. Really all a Fuel stabilizer does is bond with the gasoline to prevent evaporation. As with anything, evaporation leaves behind a denser liquid ….in gas, Stabilizer prevents fuel from forming sticky resins that can quickly ruin a carburetor. Thanks for watching and commenting.
great video!! I always put regular gasoline in all my machines, small or large unless it recommends higher octane. I always mix Star Tron especially when storing equipment and it never fails. Lawnmower or snowmobile will start on the 1st or 2nd pull. There was an old Marketplace episode on that subject and it was proven that it's a waste of money to get higher premium if manufacturer is not asking for it and it is more pollutant because of the different compression your not actually burning all the fuel. I love all your videos
Great video David, personally I use premium in all my small engines, 2003 Ski Doo Legend and my 2017 CanAm ATV. I have better storage results, smoother running and easier starting.
Good vid. I run 91 not because of octane and not because its E0 the manyal says 87 10% E is fine, but I don't like that ethanol sitting around for long. 91 here has no ethanol. I run this most of the time in my truck and always in sleds & powertoys. My math on the truck says the 10% (which i think might be even lower) cuts my fuel mileage by about 6%. I faithfully tracked the first 60,000 kms of my tundra in a fuel app... every tank.
Seems like ethanol gets a bad rap and in some instances maybe so. 5 yrs ago I bought a 1969 pickup truck mostly original including fuel lines and pump and have ran ethanol with no issue’s whatsoever. As a former 30 year mechanic I must conclude maybe the rubber used back then was better or maybe ethanol isn’t as bad as portrayed. I do run regular in my 2020 600 ski do but last tank before storage is premium. Anyway works for me and glad to see you back on you tube. Thx
There are a lot of variables…so it really depends on a lot of factors. If its allowed to sit indefinitely yes it can phase separate and then you can see issues. I think if a vehicle sits unused to long, it can contribute to a number of processes which degrade components.
Nice video and informative as always…my Yamaha sleds (2 4-strokes now) are 87 or better, but I always buy non ethanol premium for the reasons you stated…I realize it’s more expensive but for recreational fun I always use it as these machines tend to sit more than they are driven…Thanks David
I always use premium fuel in all my two stroke engines (snowblower,lawnmower and snowmobile) If I decide to get a four stroke snowmobile I would probably use 87 octane.
Great video, really important information. My two cents is that based on the rather limited amount of gas you would burn in a season why not give your engine the best fuel possible.
Bang on Dave!! I've always used premium fuel with no ethanol and Star Tron stabilizer In all my small engine equipment and I've never experienced any fuel related problems. The gas station I buy my fuel from actually state that their premium fuel is ethanol free. Also try to keep tanks topped up to prevent condensation and phase separation. This seems to have happened to my daughter's boyfriends Ski-Doo Renegade on Sunday. We went for our first run of the season on Saturday and he had half a tank of fuel from last year. (Don't know if it was regular fuel or not, he couldn't remember) On Sunday it wouldn't start. After putting the battery booster on and dumping a generous amount of Star Tron in the tank it started. It ran poorly for a while then seemed to clear up and ran fine. He has since topped it up with premium and started it and runs good on the trailer. I may be wrong but it seems that there was a fuel issue and Star Tron to the rescue!
Yeah most things are ornery when starting up for the first time after sitting. Usually once you run a bit, warm it up and parts get lubricated it wakes up. Thanks for watching.
Ohhhh...sry. Hmmmm I'll have to think about how to turn that into a video, but I think it's a 33:1 mix, so what's that half litre to a 20 L can of gas? Double check that one with your dealer, would hate you to hurt your sled.
Diversity is key! The last tank of gas of the season is non-ethanol for storage reasons. If I'm going to fly through the tank of gas on a lawn mower or snowmobile in a day or two, ethanol gas is ok. Clean all your carbs once every two years or so. Its best to run the gas out for storage.
i always run ethanol free in all my small engines. No issues to date but I also have nothing to compare since Ive never run 87. I also siphon fuel when its been sitting a couple months and dump it into my truck then add fresh fuel.
Yep enough people do that I agree its a good idea. I just found out today at the Esso that they will be switching to ethanol soon in Premium so its getting harder to find.
Great video, I personely agree 100% with putting high octain in the sleds even in my 02 polarid and 03 Articat. I think it makes them run much better. Oh yea nice sled but you need some insulation up there.
I've always used premium with no ethanol. Like you said your buying less gas overall so its worth having the peace of mind for a couple of extra dollars.
In any snowmobile made mid 90's and on, the metals are designed to be used with ethanol, so it's no big deal. I would just run whatever it says in the manual. Just don't use old gas, and you should be fine. I wouldn't use gas older than 3 months these days. Siphon it out and run it through your car at the end of the riding season. Mix up some seafoam. 1 can of seafoam to only a few liters of gas and run your machine for 10-15 min before you store it. You should never have carb or injector issues again. Note. Seafoam can be mixed up to 50/50.
Hi shperax. Its actually the rubber and plastic components that are affected by ethanol, and true as early as the 80s they started using materials that were more resistant to ethanol, (inc. modern after market replacements) but it is still harder on them than non-ethanol fuel. This is something that is often debated between those focused primarily on the environment, people in the fossil fuel industry and lots of small engine mechanics. To your point, I agree it's not as disastrous as a lot of people think, but if I can get a non-ethanol fuel, I will always opt for that. As I mention in the video there are a few negatives to ethanol. Thanks for watching and commenting.
@@MyOldSled Look up the effects of ethanol on aluminum. I've torn apart many engines. Some early aluminum carb, intake and block components look like they get dissolved by acid. That's from Ethanol. Over the years, they have come up with new aluminum compounds that resist ethanol. But yea, it also dries out and shrinks rubber and plastic. Those materials have also been enhanced to resist ethanol.
Totally hear you. I don’t think most of the issues are catastrophic. I think even in old motors the ethanol is more damaging when its allowed to sit and ends up phase separating. My thinking is with all the conflicting info i hear and read, there are negatives to ethanol, and really the only downside I can see in premium is cost, so I just run premium. Thanks for watching and sharing your experience.
Vacuum fuel pumps hate ingesting water. Its too viscous, they can't push it through in large amounts. Water separates from the gas in contaminated gas and the gas floats on top of the water as water has a higher density, therefore if you get too much water in will rise above your fuel intake line and you will literally get nothing but water and can contaminate your fuel pump and carbs forcing you to drain the tank and clean the carbs and fuel pump. There are other problems like corrosion and even hydro-lock that can occur when getting too much water in a cylinder and it becomes uncompressible. Then you need to pull the plugs and blow all the water out then change your fuel and clean the fuel system too. It can be a mess. Happened on my 1999 MXZ 600 twice!
I like shell or Esso in second but my sled requires 91 or higher (2003 skidoo Blair Morgan 800 ho Rev) with all my car buddies saying shell is better maybe it is but Esso ain't bad either and knowing now that 91 octain shell and Esso don't have ethanol due to a quick google search... That's what I'll be running in my sled when I can
age old argument this is. the petroleum industry is a well kept secret. i will regularly start my sled in the summer to prevent fuel from creating gums and deposits in my system!
Great looking shop! I've always run premium since ethanol was added. I also run a stabilizer to help with the ethanol and water absorption all season long. Does it help? No problems to date. Is it worth the cost? To me it is with the lack of repairs. I've never had a piston let go.
Yes, ethanol is hygroscopic or in other words, attracts water molecules. In the past , motors with carbs and hi/low speed jets would often find the water freezing in the small jet openings causing extreme leaning of the air/fuel mixture resulting in extreme heat, and piston meltdown. I’m not sure how modern day injectors handle this problem but like you suggested, simply avoid ethanol when possible. Another downside to ethanol is that it actually has about 30% less energy than gasoline. No matter how you cut it, if you have ethanol in your tank, there aren’t as many kilojoules of energy available. Can you sense it in the performance of your sled? Perhaps, perhaps not.
To be honest I think the negative properties listed in the video, were greatly exaggerated when ethanol was first introduced, and a lot of those fears are continued today, including its hygroscopic properties. The layer at the top of the tank can absorb water molecules, but until it is substantial enough to cause phase separation to be honest, I’ve never worried about it too much. A lot of old school guys are more worried than i have been. I did put regular 87 in once and didn’t see a difference, but with my sleds, ridden conservatively the way I tend to, I don’t expect to see any difference. If i had fuel in something for a year, i’d probably drain it. Yes moisture in carbs could cause issues, and can also cause slides to stick. To me its a matter of premium and ethanol free is worry free, and im not buying hundreds of gallons so why not. I use regular gas in the truck.
Also, yes ethanol has less energy, (and higher octane) than gasoline, but again, a typical rider, running E10, Out for a day on the trail probably wouldn’t really feel a difference. I think sometimes when guys say they do its a but of a placebo effect, but what do I know? :)
I have a 2010 ski doo gsx se 1200 it says it can run on regular but I believe in higher octane for better performance. I also try to fill up at either canadian tire or shell because their premium fuels do not contain ethanol
@@MyOldSled if you ever decide to do a road trip and travel the trails of eastern Ontario Hit me up I'm in S.D.G. county slow start this year as I've only put on 125km
Slow start here too. Not much snow until the last few days, working on the garage, now I have to move everything back in and fix the small stuff I usually have to tend to when they've been sitting.
@@MyOldSled well I know how that feels I found you on Facebook and pmd you some pics of my machine I need better ones and yes I put an underglow kit on it. It's for looks and safety. When I hit the brakes my underglow turns red. If there's an emergency I can have them flash amber or whatever colour I want. It's not obnoxious like a trail can and actually serves a purpose
Hey David do you think you could give us or make a show of the cost in my tone if someone to buy went to buy a used flatbed I know it's kind of vague but just to give us newbies and idea of some things that we might need to change and what a yearly cost to run the sled would be on repairs only I guess possible repairs
Sorry let's try that again that show on what it would cost if someone was to buy an older sled how much in general the repairs could possibly be for one year to run the machine. Sorry about not proofreading my previous comment
Yes my apologies. Maybe could you do a show on someone like myself who is looking to purchase a sled and not knowing what repairs or cost I might have to put into buying a used sled. Also what would be the operating cost per year? I always hear stuff like carburetors would probably need to be cleaned
Here's the thing. You do zip up in the UP and in Canada and in northern Wisconsin and Minnesota.. You are likely to have water in your gas compared to people better in more Southern states.. Illinois gas is way better quality of gas. Same goes for Indiana and Ohio. And a lot of the attitudes that they use in your northern states to keep fuel from freezing also cause it to absorb water.
Hi Tyler. There is some variance between states, but the typical gasoline blends described in the video apply to most of the us and canada. The component which causes gasoline to attract moisture is ethanol. While not it’s main function, ethanol is also the primary additive which prevents freezing. The majority of Illinois motorists buy gas with a 10% blend of ethanol although the US Environmental Protection Agency issued a waiver to allow the sale of 15% ethanol blend gasoline. Minnesota and Iowa are the top 2 ethanol-blending states by percentage. Minnesota recorded a 12.6% blend rate followed by Iowa at 11.6%. One of my favourite states, Texas ranks third at a 10.7% blending rate, with california is right behind Texas. Thanks for watching and for the interesting comment.
I use recreational fuel, and add the right ounce amount of Mercury fuel additives #1 #2 many years with it on all my two stroke equipment. Check it out
non ethanol. around me thats only found in premium although not every premium is non ethanol, actually its the opposite. most premium has ethanol. although seems like every trail side pump like the single ones at restaurants are always non ethanol.
Just my opinion think it's kinda useless IF your sled is STOCK. Me and my dad have ran regular forever everything ran fine. We also go through a tonne of gas so it just doesn't make sense to get premium. But yes run premium if you care that much or if your motor is ridiculously high performance.
Hi PTWI. Very much depends on the sled you run. Even a stock sled can have a high compression motor rated for a 91 octane. If your stock sled is designed for a 91 octane fuel, you absolutely can damage your motor over time running the wrong fuel. Thanks for watching and commenting.
@@MyOldSled I have been debating all my life on buying one and eventually need to do at just let me know if you do decide eventually I sold cars for a living and realize it's more about the owner than the vehicle when it comes to buying used if you know what I mean
I have an 07 yamaha four stroke. It says to use 87 octane. I have a 2018 can am ATV and that also says to use 87 octane, I was told if I used a higher octane in the can am it could give me problems with my MAP sensor
I recently just put some low octane fuel in my sled which calls for higher octane, Since it was the only thing laying around I had. I’ve only taken it for only about a 10 minute ride since the fill up, but now I’m wondering if it would be a good idea to drain the gas?
If it was me I would probably just not run it too hard, and top up with premium. I think severe knock over time is damaging, you’re probably more likely taking a performance hit. Again, just an opinion you could double check with your dealer.
I buy premium at my esso I didn’t know esso stations didn’t have ethanol and when I bought the sled off my uncle he told me he ran premium so I just continued
Unfortunately, I think they are switching to ethanol soon. The station near me just informed me today that was supposed to have happened already, and will be soon.
Thanks James. I did see a post recently about a specific CT that had a 10% ethanol sticker on premium, and I know some stations are switching. Just check the markings on the pumps.
Just like the petroleum industry to make gas one octane number different just to confuse us….:) if it was me I would run it. I can’t see it would hurt.
I won't run Ethanol in any of my sleds. I run 91 minimum....ethanol can actually etch the fuel bowls of older sled...my buddies 96 Formula Z was horrible. Ethenol is the devil unless your fuel system was designed to run it.
I have a 1997 arctic cat and the manual calls for 87 octane. I decided to fill up with premium one day and to my surprise it actually had notability LESS power. I just found that really interesting and most people I tell don’t believe me when I tell them, lol.
IMO, the higher octane of premium gas won’t make your sled faster while some guys swear it does. Actually, higher-octane fuels 'technically' have less stored energy than lower-octane fuel. It’s the fuel’s ability to be compressed more without pre-igniting that results in more power overall - Depending on the machine and how it's used. That said, while I believe you, I wouldn't expect it in most cases to be dramatic enough to say "notibly less power"...but there are lots of other factors other than higher octane. Which fuel, what additives, what conditions, engine, etc etc... Thanks for watching and sharing.
30 yrs of reg fuel, no additive and tank sits wherever it was when I parked it. Clean the carbs every 2 years.
I think the reason this works for me is that at the very least 2 times per storage season I dig the sleds out and rip them around the yard a bit. Keeps decent fuel in the carbs and gets the moisture out of the tank and carbs. Worked this long so mot gonna change now. One of the sleds I have Ive owned for 15yrs and it still runs just fine.
Thanks for watching and sharing your experience. All I can do is share best practice. Hehe like I said, always one guy ..... ;)
@@MyOldSled yup that guy is always me lol Just saying what works for me, does not mean it will work for you. Seen many different methods over those years, some work and some cause more problems than they are worth.
Hey no worries. Always share. I don’t always follow my own advice, but I do on this one
i don't need to watch your videos for the information but your classic youtube style and delivery is just nostalgic and humble it makes me remember better days of the internet, and better days of meeting better people on the trails, on my old sled
The best channels are communities. Come hang out anytime.
Ethanol is definitely hard on fuel lines and is not good to leave sitting in anything like you said because it absorbs moisture. I notice with chainsaws as well the ethanol eats the primer balls. So its always peace of mind to run premium fuel without ethanol when available. My 2016 F150 w/ 5.0 on the other hand eats on e85 🔥🔥🔥
I run 50/50 AVGAS/85 with a 45:1 mix in my sleds no problems with plug fouling.👍👍
Sled needs 87, gets shell 91 (ethanol free) at the start of every ride. Filling up on a ride it gets whatever is available. In older engines, there is sure to be carbon build up and snowmobile engines are operated at high engine speed for long periods of time. For me, the extra resistance to detonation is worth the extra couple bucks.
Agree completely. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Tried this VP Racing Sled96 Gas and my sled feels sewing machine smooth ! The power is crazy ! It's expensive but damn is it ever worth it ! Best 2 stroke snowmbile gas I have tried up to now ! 🤘
Hey DB … your iridium plugs fouled today!
@@MyOldSled That's great ! Time to switch to the new VP Racing Sled96 gas and add new Iridium's in that beast ! ☺
Thanks for another cool video. Makes me want to get another sled.
I actually caled our local fuel station to ask about their premium gas and lm glad l did.not all stations are equal and not all pumps tell the whole story.thank you.
Hi Bill, That's right and some stations that are ethanol free will soon contain ethanol. Thanks for watching.
@@MyOldSled does anyone know when you push the premium button on a gas tank does the premium start from the nozzle or does it start from the tank below which means you're getting regular gas to start just curious
I have always used 87 Octane with a fuel stabilizer in mine and the wife's sled and have had no problems. Good video...
Thanks for watching LotF.
Your videos also seam so well researched. I have one sled that says 87 and another one that says 91. I have always and will continue to, run ethanol free, no matter what anyone might say, in everything I own that might sit for more than a week or two without running. I don't always have the time to properly store, or maybe don't always expect that this may be my last ride for the year. I live in the north east US salt is used on the roads for snow control. My motorcycle, car, snowmobiles, lawnmowers, snowblower all get ethanol free. So 91 or above
Hi Tuke. Thanks, I do a lot of research on each video, usually a couple of weeks. Thanks for watching.
Ethanol-free premium in ALL of my small engines.. from my weed eater to jet skis and my sled.. no fuel stabilizer, no line deterioration, no cleaning carbs, etc. Works perfect for me! I'm not an ethanol fan at all. A great additive for treating ethanol-containing gasoline is Star-Tron! 👌🏼 I use that in my old 90 Chevy with regular 87 gasoline.
Thanks for commenting Samuel.
I found this as well as other vids very helpful. I did not realize that only shell and Cdn tire sell high test non EtOH gas. I was always of the belief that all the high test stuff had none of it. I had been buying to date PetroCan 94 since its the highest octane and (presumably) no EtOH. Not so. Thanks for this tip
The other tip from previous vids that I was recently reminded of was your comment that the Woody's spring tool was a well thought out device. I had in the past used rope and made my own hooked version but the Woody's this weekend saved my sanity and time with all its little nicks and notches. Appreciate all you do on your site.
Bet you were a bit surprised how fast your shed filled up. Looks good though and you won’t regret getting it. Great info on the gas. I use premium on any performance engine.
Thanks 👍
Personally I’ve found unless the sled says it needs it, premium wont make much of a difference. I love the new shop!! Looking forward to new videos in it :)
Hi Nathaniel. Yep, some guys say its a huge difference some say its not. I always run premium. Main thing is run what your machine is designed for.
@@MyOldSled yep, I didn’t realize my old formula sls needed premium until I looked at the manual it just depends on the sled, I wish I lived more east then we could ride our old sleds together
To be honest doing the videos is a great excuse to really look into a topic. I always ran premium, but it's good to get into the research. In my model year Formula III and Mach 1/Z and needed 91
Shell 91 ethanol free only for me! love that you include the outtakes at the end. Always puts a smile on my face. Keep the videos coming!
Hey Adam. Thanks. Glad you liked it.
Sea Foam all the way. These other stabilizers( STP, Motormaster, even the Lucas Oil injector and upper cylinder fuel cleaner/stabilizer) they only offer about 6 months of treatment and I have used all the above with my 1998 Ski doo Summit X 670. I am 2nd owner personally put 4000km on in last 3 yrs... mostly toboggan ice fishing/ skimmer for wood. So WORK! It truly has been a GREAT snow machine. But the fuel and stabilizers make a serious difference. I notice power loss with any octane under 87. Idling is rough and top end shake down rides/ spark plugs fouling in 1/2 life.
Shell V- Power has best shelf life and noticed equal run and ride to other fuels that I treat with Sea Foam.
Sea Foam' s break down video, is accurate and very knowledgeable on why the benefits are unsurpassed!
I used 1yr old jerry can gas in 72cc chainsaw, ran perfect. It also does an excellent job at mixing through with gas line antifreeze or other dewatering products. In that worst case scenario.
Hi Matt, you’re not alone. Probably one of the best known brands. A lot of people swear by it. Like everything is has it has its strengths and weaknesses but overall its a very versatile product at a good price point. Thanks for watching and commenting. All the best in the New Year.
The best octane boost I have found an tested is Lucas oil, and after years of fighting with ethanolI have found what seems to be the only stabilizer that works with ethanol is Ethanol shield, it stops separation of the fuel. I have found it at Peavey Mart. Most stabilizers stop the octane from deteriorating but that's it. Ethanol settles at the bottom after separation and will turn into a black goo if left long enough.
On a chemical level, most stabilizers are pretty similar in composition … a mixture of antioxidants and lubricants that repel water and limit evaporation.
I generally use brp products but I will often grab other brands in a pinch for mowers etc. Really all a Fuel stabilizer does is bond with the gasoline to prevent evaporation. As with anything, evaporation leaves behind a denser liquid ….in gas, Stabilizer prevents fuel from forming sticky resins that can quickly ruin a carburetor. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Awesome topic that's a good one to know if you aren't aware of the different types of fuels cheer's.
Thank you!
great video!! I always put regular gasoline in all my machines, small or large unless it recommends higher octane. I always mix Star Tron especially when storing equipment and it never fails. Lawnmower or snowmobile will start on the 1st or 2nd pull. There was an old Marketplace episode on that subject and it was proven that it's a waste of money to get higher premium if manufacturer is not asking for it and it is more pollutant because of the different compression your not actually burning all the fuel. I love all your videos
Thank you Frank. I love that you watch them :)
Fantastic channel!! Especially got a new to snowmobile person.
Thanks Chuck.
Great video David, personally I use premium in all my small engines, 2003 Ski Doo Legend and my 2017 CanAm ATV. I have better storage results, smoother running and easier starting.
Thanks for sharing your experience David.
Thank you for the video! You have helped me out so much with my new and first sled. You're one smart Canadian!!! Thanks again!
Thanks for watching. Glad I could help
I like running NON-OXY 91 Octane, in my boat and all 2stroke motors, never had any motor issues.
Thanks for the comment switzer. Sorry for the delayed response.
Good vid. I run 91 not because of octane and not because its E0 the manyal says 87 10% E is fine, but I don't like that ethanol sitting around for long. 91 here has no ethanol. I run this most of the time in my truck and always in sleds & powertoys. My math on the truck says the 10% (which i think might be even lower) cuts my fuel mileage by about 6%. I faithfully tracked the first 60,000 kms of my tundra in a fuel app... every tank.
Seems like ethanol gets a bad rap and in some instances maybe so. 5 yrs ago I bought a 1969 pickup truck mostly original including fuel lines and pump and have ran ethanol with no issue’s whatsoever. As a former 30 year mechanic I must conclude maybe the rubber used back then was better or maybe ethanol isn’t as bad as portrayed. I do run regular in my 2020 600 ski do but last tank before storage is premium. Anyway works for me and glad to see you back on you tube. Thx
There are a lot of variables…so it really depends on a lot of factors. If its allowed to sit indefinitely yes it can phase separate and then you can see issues. I think if a vehicle sits unused to long, it can contribute to a number of processes which degrade components.
Nice video and informative as always…my Yamaha sleds (2 4-strokes now) are 87 or better, but I always buy non ethanol premium for the reasons you stated…I realize it’s more expensive but for recreational fun I always use it as these machines tend to sit more than they are driven…Thanks David
Thanks Ken. Glad you liked it.
Could you educate all of us with another good video about the use of Methyl Hydrate , or other fuel line anti freeze products or fuel stabilizer ?
Shop looks great! I think the experiment was an awesome add.
Hi H&J, Thank you! Yeah I'm pretty happy with it. Thanks for watching.
Thank you David
I always use premium fuel in all my two stroke engines (snowblower,lawnmower and snowmobile) If I decide to get a four stroke snowmobile I would probably use 87 octane.
Great video, really important information. My two cents is that based on the rather limited amount of gas you would burn in a season why not give your engine the best fuel possible.
I agree. Thanks for watching
Bang on Dave!!
I've always used premium fuel with no ethanol and Star Tron stabilizer In all my small engine equipment and I've never experienced any fuel related problems. The gas station I buy my fuel from actually state that their premium fuel is ethanol free. Also try to keep tanks topped up to prevent condensation and phase separation.
This seems to have happened to my daughter's boyfriends Ski-Doo Renegade on Sunday. We went for our first run of the season on Saturday and he had half a tank of fuel from last year. (Don't know if it was regular fuel or not, he couldn't remember) On Sunday it wouldn't start. After putting the battery booster on and dumping a generous amount of Star Tron in the tank it started. It ran poorly for a while then seemed to clear up and ran fine. He has since topped it up with premium and started it and runs good on the trailer. I may be wrong but it seems that there was a fuel issue and Star Tron to the rescue!
Yeah most things are ornery when starting up for the first time after sitting. Usually once you run a bit, warm it up and parts get lubricated it wakes up. Thanks for watching.
Hey David love the videos!
I had a video request, would you be able to make a video on how to properly premix? Getting a 2009 skidoo rs next week!
Hi RC. Congrats. That sled has an oil injection system no?
@@MyOldSled nope, sadly not the rs. All premix for this ol girl. But I’m new to the whole scene and wouldn’t want to kill a new motor lol
Ohhhh...sry. Hmmmm I'll have to think about how to turn that into a video, but I think it's a 33:1 mix, so what's that half litre to a 20 L can of gas? Double check that one with your dealer, would hate you to hurt your sled.
@@MyOldSled Will do thank you! Sled never came with an owners manual so I had no leads lol
www.operatorsguides.brp.com/index.php?modelId=704
Diversity is key! The last tank of gas of the season is non-ethanol for storage reasons. If I'm going to fly through the tank of gas on a lawn mower or snowmobile in a day or two, ethanol gas is ok. Clean all your carbs once every two years or so. Its best to run the gas out for storage.
Running a sled out of gas is not recommended, but i do suggest draining carbs for storage. Thanks for watching.
Love your shop congrats. I appreciate all your knowledge and preparation. You got my sub!
Hey thanks Jon, I appreciate it.
i always run ethanol free in all my small engines. No issues to date but I also have nothing to compare since Ive never run 87. I also siphon fuel when its been sitting a couple months and dump it into my truck then add fresh fuel.
Yep enough people do that I agree its a good idea. I just found out today at the Esso that they will be switching to ethanol soon in Premium so its getting harder to find.
Great video, I personely agree 100% with putting high octain in the sleds even in my 02 polarid and 03 Articat. I think it makes them run much better. Oh yea nice sled but you need some insulation up there.
Insulation in the sled? Or garage?
thanks for another great video
I would love to one day ride the OFSC trails with you seem like a great person to ride with
Thanx T. I think i’m an ok guy :) probably too slow for you.
@@MyOldSled I drive the speed limit on the trails because once your permit is gone it’s gone
I've always used premium with no ethanol. Like you said your buying less gas overall so its worth having the peace of mind for a couple of extra dollars.
I agree, and I can't think of any downside. I read a couple of articles suggesting that using higher octanes can rob power, but I disagree.
I use 98 premium non ethanol in all my sleds. Available in almost every station in Sweden and Estonia.
Can’t go wrong doing that. Thanks for watching.
In any snowmobile made mid 90's and on, the metals are designed to be used with ethanol, so it's no big deal. I would just run whatever it says in the manual. Just don't use old gas, and you should be fine. I wouldn't use gas older than 3 months these days. Siphon it out and run it through your car at the end of the riding season. Mix up some seafoam. 1 can of seafoam to only a few liters of gas and run your machine for 10-15 min before you store it. You should never have carb or injector issues again. Note. Seafoam can be mixed up to 50/50.
Hi shperax. Its actually the rubber and plastic components that are affected by ethanol, and true as early as the 80s they started using materials that were more resistant to ethanol, (inc. modern after market replacements) but it is still harder on them than non-ethanol fuel. This is something that is often debated between those focused primarily on the environment, people in the fossil fuel industry and lots of small engine mechanics. To your point, I agree it's not as disastrous as a lot of people think, but if I can get a non-ethanol fuel, I will always opt for that. As I mention in the video there are a few negatives to ethanol. Thanks for watching and commenting.
@@MyOldSled Look up the effects of ethanol on aluminum. I've torn apart many engines. Some early aluminum carb, intake and block components look like they get dissolved by acid. That's from Ethanol. Over the years, they have come up with new aluminum compounds that resist ethanol. But yea, it also dries out and shrinks rubber and plastic. Those materials have also been enhanced to resist ethanol.
Totally hear you. I don’t think most of the issues are catastrophic. I think even in old motors the ethanol is more damaging when its allowed to sit and ends up phase separating. My thinking is with all the conflicting info i hear and read, there are negatives to ethanol, and really the only downside I can see in premium is cost, so I just run premium. Thanks for watching and sharing your experience.
Vacuum fuel pumps hate ingesting water. Its too viscous, they can't push it through in large amounts. Water separates from the gas in contaminated gas and the gas floats on top of the water as water has a higher density, therefore if you get too much water in will rise above your fuel intake line and you will literally get nothing but water and can contaminate your fuel pump and carbs forcing you to drain the tank and clean the carbs and fuel pump. There are other problems like corrosion and even hydro-lock that can occur when getting too much water in a cylinder and it becomes uncompressible. Then you need to pull the plugs and blow all the water out then change your fuel and clean the fuel system too. It can be a mess. Happened on my 1999 MXZ 600 twice!
He’s back. Let’s goo!
Hehe. I was back a couple weeks ago :)
I like shell or Esso in second but my sled requires 91 or higher (2003 skidoo Blair Morgan 800 ho Rev) with all my car buddies saying shell is better maybe it is but Esso ain't bad either and knowing now that 91 octain shell and Esso don't have ethanol due to a quick google search... That's what I'll be running in my sled when I can
Hey Nitro, makes sense. thanks for watching.
age old argument this is. the petroleum industry is a well kept secret. i will regularly start my sled in the summer to prevent fuel from creating gums and deposits in my system!
Great looking shop! I've always run premium since ethanol was added. I also run a stabilizer to help with the ethanol and water absorption all season long. Does it help? No problems to date. Is it worth the cost? To me it is with the lack of repairs. I've never had a piston let go.
Thanks WH! Its getting there.
I always use premium fuel with no ethanol in all my equipment including my sled. At the end of the season I pump the fuel out of it
Hey CB. Thanks for watching and commenting
Yes, ethanol is hygroscopic or in other words, attracts water molecules. In the past , motors with carbs and hi/low speed jets would often find the water freezing in the small jet openings causing extreme leaning of the air/fuel mixture resulting in extreme heat, and piston meltdown. I’m not sure how modern day injectors handle this problem but like you suggested, simply avoid ethanol when possible. Another downside to ethanol is that it actually has about 30% less energy than gasoline. No matter how you cut it, if you have ethanol in your tank, there aren’t as many kilojoules of energy available. Can you sense it in the performance of your sled? Perhaps, perhaps not.
To be honest I think the negative properties listed in the video, were greatly exaggerated when ethanol was first introduced, and a lot of those fears are continued today, including its hygroscopic properties. The layer at the top of the tank can absorb water molecules, but until it is substantial enough to cause phase separation to be honest, I’ve never worried about it too much. A lot of old school guys are more worried than i have been. I did put regular 87 in once and didn’t see a difference, but with my sleds, ridden conservatively the way I tend to, I don’t expect to see any difference. If i had fuel in something for a year, i’d probably drain it. Yes moisture in carbs could cause issues, and can also cause slides to stick. To me its a matter of premium and ethanol free is worry free, and im not buying hundreds of gallons so why not. I use regular gas in the truck.
Also, yes ethanol has less energy, (and higher octane) than gasoline, but again, a typical rider, running E10, Out for a day on the trail probably wouldn’t really feel a difference. I think sometimes when guys say they do its a but of a placebo effect, but what do I know? :)
I have a 2010 ski doo gsx se 1200 it says it can run on regular but I believe in higher octane for better performance. I also try to fill up at either canadian tire or shell because their premium fuels do not contain ethanol
Hi Raymond. Nice sled. Sound thinking.
@@MyOldSled if you ever decide to do a road trip and travel the trails of eastern Ontario Hit me up I'm in S.D.G. county slow start this year as I've only put on 125km
Slow start here too. Not much snow until the last few days, working on the garage, now I have to move everything back in and fix the small stuff I usually have to tend to when they've been sitting.
@@MyOldSled well I know how that feels I found you on Facebook and pmd you some pics of my machine I need better ones and yes I put an underglow kit on it. It's for looks and safety. When I hit the brakes my underglow turns red. If there's an emergency I can have them flash amber or whatever colour I want. It's not obnoxious like a trail can and actually serves a purpose
Hey David do you think you could give us or make a show of the cost in my tone if someone to buy went to buy a used flatbed I know it's kind of vague but just to give us newbies and idea of some things that we might need to change and what a yearly cost to run the sled would be on repairs only I guess possible repairs
Sorry let's try that again that show on what it would cost if someone was to buy an older sled how much in general the repairs could possibly be for one year to run the machine. Sorry about not proofreading my previous comment
Hey Marc, Sorry I'm not sure what you mean. I saw you updated this but I don't see the second message now. Can you edit or repost?
Yes my apologies. Maybe could you do a show on someone like myself who is looking to purchase a sled and not knowing what repairs or cost I might have to put into buying a used sled. Also what would be the operating cost per year? I always hear stuff like carburetors would probably need to be cleaned
Hey Dave, just wondered how the new track is holding up
Great so far. Looks like the day i put it on
Here's the thing. You do zip up in the UP and in Canada and in northern Wisconsin and Minnesota.. You are likely to have water in your gas compared to people better in more Southern states.. Illinois gas is way better quality of gas. Same goes for Indiana and Ohio. And a lot of the attitudes that they use in your northern states to keep fuel from freezing also cause it to absorb water.
Hi Tyler. There is some variance between states, but the typical gasoline blends described in the video apply to most of the us and canada. The component which causes gasoline to attract moisture is ethanol. While not it’s main function, ethanol is also the primary additive which prevents freezing. The majority of Illinois motorists buy gas with a 10% blend of ethanol although the US Environmental Protection Agency issued a waiver to allow the sale of 15% ethanol blend gasoline. Minnesota and Iowa are the top 2 ethanol-blending states by percentage. Minnesota recorded a 12.6% blend rate followed by Iowa at 11.6%. One of my favourite states, Texas ranks third at a 10.7% blending rate, with california is right behind Texas. Thanks for watching and for the interesting comment.
I use recreational fuel, and add the right ounce amount of Mercury fuel additives #1 #2 many years with it on all my two stroke equipment. Check it out
You have to keep in mind ethanol fuel attract wAter.
Well, I kept it in mind when i was talking about it in the video….
I use 98 octane non ethanol fuel (Sweden) in all my season based vehicles. Not worth the chance of damage or running issues with cheap fuel.
Hi Daniel. Thanks for watching.
non ethanol. around me thats only found in premium although not every premium is non ethanol, actually its the opposite. most premium has ethanol. although seems like every trail side pump like the single ones at restaurants are always non ethanol.
Video idea fan cooled vs liquid cooled snowmobile
Thanks Carson.
Hi Carson. Good idea, can you drop me a note on my facebook page?
@@MyOldSled sorry i dont know how to do that
Just my opinion think it's kinda useless IF your sled is STOCK. Me and my dad have ran regular forever everything ran fine. We also go through a tonne of gas so it just doesn't make sense to get premium. But yes run premium if you care that much or if your motor is ridiculously high performance.
Hi PTWI. Very much depends on the sled you run. Even a stock sled can have a high compression motor rated for a 91 octane. If your stock sled is designed for a 91 octane fuel, you absolutely can damage your motor over time running the wrong fuel. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Any chance you will be selling your old sled David? Need a first sled and I am 55 yrs old from Manitoba
I go back and forth on that. I still have a lot of fun with it. Thats a long way to come for a sled!
@@MyOldSled I have been debating all my life on buying one and eventually need to do at just let me know if you do decide eventually I sold cars for a living and realize it's more about the owner than the vehicle when it comes to buying used if you know what I mean
I have an 07 yamaha four stroke. It says to use 87 octane. I have a 2018 can am ATV and that also says to use 87 octane, I was told if I used a higher octane in the can am it could give me problems with my MAP sensor
What model atv?
Can an outlander 650
Nice machine. Yep, I’d be running 87, as the manual states. Thanks for watching and commenting.
I recently just put some low octane fuel in my sled which calls for higher octane, Since it was the only thing laying around I had. I’ve only taken it for only about a 10 minute ride since the fill up, but now I’m wondering if it would be a good idea to drain the gas?
If it was me I would probably just not run it too hard, and top up with premium. I think severe knock over time is damaging, you’re probably more likely taking a performance hit. Again, just an opinion you could double check with your dealer.
I believe the skidoo site mentions occasional use of 87 wont damage the sled. Its just a bad practice
@@MyOldSled alright! Thanks
www.ski-doo.com/ca/en/owner-zone/getting-started/vehicle-information/what-type-gas-snowmobile.html
I buy premium at my esso I didn’t know esso stations didn’t have ethanol and when I bought the sled off my uncle he told me he ran premium so I just continued
Unfortunately, I think they are switching to ethanol soon. The station near me just informed me today that was supposed to have happened already, and will be soon.
@@MyOldSled Apparently Canadian Tire gas bars will still have Ethanol free 91!
Thanks James. I did see a post recently about a specific CT that had a 10% ethanol sticker on premium, and I know some stations are switching. Just check the markings on the pumps.
@@MyOldSled that’s good to know that you for the information
I buy 90 ethanol free..manual says 91..should be ok I would imagine?thanks
Just like the petroleum industry to make gas one octane number different just to confuse us….:) if it was me I would run it. I can’t see it would hurt.
@@MyOldSled ok thanks I appreciate it...loved your story on this..thanks🙂
Glad youenjoyed it.
Yeah, I just go to the local Esso and get the premium because there's no ethanol.
good call.
I won't run Ethanol in any of my sleds. I run 91 minimum....ethanol can actually etch the fuel bowls of older sled...my buddies 96 Formula Z was horrible. Ethenol is the devil unless your fuel system was designed to run it.
Not a bad thought, unfortunately it's getting harder to find ethanol free fuel and some stations that currently carry it are switching.
That's why I draine gas out of my slep
My Old Slep
Costco premium is ethanol free and at a reasonable price.
Thanks Robert. I am a long way from a Costco :)
try to only put ethyl free gas in every thing i own
Can’t hurt! Thanks for watching.
hey i am the first comment lol
Congrats!