Ethanol/Isopropyl Alcohol

[Bakemono36]

Anything up to a gas with a 10% ethanol blend wont hurt your sled. Around here, all the pumps say on them that 93 octane does not contain ethanol.
If you are going to dump any alchohol in your gas to prevent carb icing, make sure its ISO-HEET (red bottle), not Heet (yellow bottle).
If you look on the back of a bottle of Heet, it says that it should not be used in 2-strokes.

[tweeter]

I am up in canada, and I have always heard not to use fuel with ethonal. This is for two reasons; first the ethonal like methonal will eat your lines.
second ethonal will burn at a hotter temp so it can be hard on your cylenders. Not sure if there is any truth or not but might give you something to think about.

[580pluspower]

Actually... there is a bit of truth to the ethanol argument. Currently here in Maine there is a bit of turmoil about game warden/state operated Ski-Doo's (new sleds) melting down in some fashion or another due to something wrong with the gasoline. The ethanol burns way too hot, and it apparently doesn't take long for it to turn your piston into a barbecue pit. I think the last count was nine sleds down. Not a good average.

As it is, I put 15 miles on an otherwise healthy and well cared for 780 triple before the mag piston melted. No jetting problems, the carbs had previously been cleaned thoroughly, no past issues, but this year in particular (first year for E-10 in Maine), the sled melts down hardcore. You tell me. Another good example would be my '93 580, which somehow managed to go sixteen years with original fuel lines with not a problem. It's been my 'daily driver' now since '03, and I never thought about them. A few days ago I lost 8 gallons of gas in the backyard because every single fuel line under the cowl was ruined to the point that they would slide from any fitting of their own accord. It's like it's not even the right size line anymore. New lines, and I'm rolling again, but I can only wonder how long they may last with clamps, or better yet, the fuel pump. Nothing like being sixty miles out and having one of those go south.

Eh... I may be biased, but I go on what I know, and I know that this season is a lucrative one for Sta-bil Ethanol Treatment and pistons manufacturers, this cannot all be bad luck, or coincidence. The Sta-bil is a must have IMO if you're burning an ethanol cocktail. Anything less seems like russian roulette at this point.

[Budwick]

One thing to keep in mind is that manufacturers know what fuel is available. Modern sleds should be fine. As for State/ Gov. Patrol sleds, my guess is they putt around and don't get enough oil pumping. They probably go thru belts like there's no tomorrow too. I can see older sleds having some problems with ethanol, just like some engines had a tough time with unleaded back in the day. But it's more likely that the change in fuel is the "straw that broke the camels back." The greater threat is old, stale, watery fuel from lightly used high octane tanks. Especially with bad economic times. That high octane pump handle gets touched less and less.

[northeastguy3]

Here is the real facts on the e-10 issue and why small engine "are" taking it hard...
What you need to be carfull of it ethanol is great at eliminating moisture in gas but it collects to the moisture and dries it up and then stays togeather so your engine could ingest straight ethanol resulting in bad news to your snowmobile engine... Adding dry gas is increasing the ethanol % e-10 gas basiclly has dry gas in it you could say.
I use wynns fuel addative in my sled it is a petroleum base addative and not alcohol base and will help lubricate your seals and protect your engine..
E-10 is going to be every were soon enough
attached is findings on ethanol it very interesting info for use with any small engine hate like hell to fry my riding mower engine this summer =) it has two nice cup holders for my cool-aid while i mow my lawn.

[BIG JAY]

In my manuall it says not to use any gas line antifreeze with any oxyenated fuel.

[DRHSpecialty]

I'm surprised that so many people have had trouble with fuel and that this gets to be such a big issue on these forums.

I started riding snowmobiles in the 60's and don't ever remember using any fuel additives ever.

I have rode thousands of miles (and still do) in MN, WI and the UP with every octane, ethanol and non-ethenol gas and even a 55 gallon drum out behind some little tavern out in the middle of nowhere. I have yet to ever have any fuel related problems like water, octane, ethanol content or just old gas.

Am I just lucky?

[crush4size]

You should buy some lottery tickets before your luck runs out...