White stuff inside IH carb

[Rick Spivey]

Not to start a battle, but my habit is to turn off the gas and let the engine run out the gas in the carburetor after EACH use, even if I will be using the tractor again the next day. I do this both to avoid the white stuff, and to avoid a leak from a stuck float. So far this has worked for me the 15 years that we have owned multiple cubs. I do this in all my small engine stuff if a gas shut-off is available. So far so good, so I will continue this practice.

[NJ Farmer]

I ALWAYS turn my fuel off at the petcock and let my cubs die of fuel starvation (emptying the fuel bowl) that way there is no gas in the carb bowl….also prevents any possible fuel leaks with a stuck float or broken fuel line.

Food for thought…

NJ farmer.

[staninlowerAL]

Not to start a battle, but my habit is to turn off the gas and let the engine run out the gas in the carburetor after EACH use, even if I will be using the tractor again the next day. I do this both to avoid the white stuff, and to avoid a leak from a stuck float. So far this has worked for me the 15 years that we have owned multiple cubs. I do this in all my small engine stuff if a gas shut-off is available. So far so good, so I will continue this practice.

I've seen this instruction in several OEM B&S manuals for small engines.

[smokinmad]

I use STA-BIL 360 Marine Ethanol Treatment and Fuel Stabilizer ( blue not the red). I add to my gas cans before I go to fill them.

For me this has been a big help in reducing these types of problems. Also I am careful with my gas cans and store them inside a shed.

With Todays gas quality....Everybody should be adding this to there gas....
Little bro worked at a airport and had to test the av-gas, so he would put the extra test gas in cans and bring it home...we would add it to the ole 2-N's gas....talk about a Sweet Running old Ford....she Purred.

[inairam]

Another issue is keeping the tank full. condensation on tank walls will add water to the gas.

[Matt Kirsch]

I'm pretty well convinced that Sta-Bil doesn't do anything. Reason being, I stopped using it and have noticed absolutely zero difference in the last several years that I have not been using it. For sure it does not get rid of the ethanol in the gas, it does not have magical properties.

My opinion is further reinforced by experiments that Taryl Fixes All has done over the past year and a half with a group of identical small engines and additives. The untreated gas outlasted the untreated gas in many cases, with multiple treated carburetors having issues, and the untreated gas going the distance.