A carb kit [the last time I rebuilt one] cost $12. Even a desperate 35 yr old girl can do it, and have it back on in under an hour. Ask me how I know.
Might not be a bad idea to have a coupla kits on hand.

 

My problem is I dont have the time. Time is what I'm paying the mechanics for. Doesn't really solve the core issue here though.

 

In my area high test gas has no ethanol in it, so that's what I use in my atv and other power equipment, and have had no problems as of yet.

 

Do they make an Ethanol compatible carb kit? I know you can get them for automotive style carbs. I had a 355ci sbc in an S15 that I ran on E85.

 

Ethanol can be really hard on viton needle tips. I use Marine Sta-Bil in all of our small engines..atvs/snowmobiles/ice auger/chain saw/string trimmer/etc.

Marine Stabil Link
Also, when I am not going to be using them for a while, I drain the tank and run the carb dry. I just dump the gas I drained into my pickup.

What kind of atv do you have? $300 seems a little steep to me. There's not much to the carbs on our 4 wheelers...not too much to replace. Is your atv fuel injected?

 

Don't buy fuel with ethanol in it.

For ATV's and the like, look for gas stations that have ethanol free fuel. Most cities have one or two, many classic cars, dirt bikes, lawn mowers and boats don't like ethanol.

Marina's also typically sell ethanol free fuel.

 

Race gas has no alcohol. It only cost $9.25/gal.
Av gas has no alcohol. It only cost about $6.00/gal
Some small engine shops or ATV dealers have regular without alcohol in small quantities for about $5.00/gal.
Check with you local farm supply or feed store. Some of them can order it for you in 55 gallon drums. I don't have a current price on this option.

 

Run AV or race gas octanes in engines not designed for it and rebuilding carbs will be peanuts compared to engine overhauls. That is as long as the mechanic isn't using you to fund their kids college fund. $300 is closer to the price of a new carb, a full rebuild kit for mine is $25 and it takes me 30 mins to a hour to do the cleaning and tuning. I just googled new carbs for mine and I can get one for around $100-150. Sounds like you are being taken to the cleaners.

Better to check out http://pure-gas.org/ and see if you can't find real gas.

 

Run AV or race gas octanes

I listed them not to suggest using them. They were listed as a price comparison.

 

I've heard good things about this product:

http://www.starbrite.com/item/star-tron-gasoline-additive

And $300 is a rip off to "rebuild" a carb - likely the carb internals are deteriorated beyond use and permanently gummed and the mechanic keeps putting new brass/seals in to milk you. Get a new carb and a new mechanic

 

http://www.survivalistboards.com/showthread.php?t=300702

previous thread on topic.

it's that time of year, huh.

 

I always buy real gas with no ethanol in it. It costs me about 50cents per gallon more than the ethanol junk.

 

I googled, but could not find anything specific to ethinol.... but my spell checker keeps wanting to change it to ethanol...

 

for tha guys that use ethanol in the carbureted bikes/ 4 wheelers and FI pasta rockets and other RVs we use seafoam. in everything. it helps, but the best thing is to find non ethanol fuel.

 

There is no risk running 100LL Avgas in a typical ATV. In fact, my Polaris 330 runs on 100LL only. As it's based at the airport.

It won't overheat your engine, run too lean or too rich, cause valve problems or create other issues. In fact, 100LL lasts nearly forever and won't clog your carb or gum up. 5 year old 100LL stored in hot and sticky South Florida is still perfectly good.

Many people don't know that 100LL can contain as much as 2.0 g TEL per gallon. However, it seems that it generally contains much less than that. In fact, the modern version of 100LL, called 100VLL for "EPA" reasons, but 100LL at the pump, contains no more than 0.5 g TEL/Gal, and this fuel is becoming the norm in many locations.

Just remember that the TEL (lead) will degrade catalytic converters and oxygen sensors.

 

Ran 100 low lead in my LT-500 for years and years. It was a goer.

I always buy real gas with no ethanol in it. It costs me about 50cents per gallon more than the ethanol junk.

http://pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=UT

I've heard good things about this product:

http://www.starbrite.com/item/star-tron-gasoline-additive

And $300 is a rip off to "rebuild" a carb - likely the carb internals are deteriorated beyond use and permanently gummed and the mechanic keeps putting new brass/seals in to milk you. Get a new carb and a new mechanic

Ya think? No such thing as Permanently gummed. Take it apart and clean the crap out.

Don't buy fuel with ethanol in it.

For ATV's and the like, look for gas stations that have ethanol free fuel. Most cities have one or two, many classic cars, dirt bikes, lawn mowers and boats don't like ethanol.

Marina's also typically sell ethanol free fuel.

http://pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=UT

Ethanol can be really hard on viton needle tips. I use Marine Sta-Bil in all of our small engines..atvs/snowmobiles/ice auger/chain saw/string trimmer/etc.

Marine Stabil Link
Also, when I am not going to be using them for a while, I drain the tank and run the carb dry. I just dump the gas I drained into my pickup.

What kind of atv do you have? $300 seems a little steep to me. There's not much to the carbs on our 4 wheelers...not too much to replace. Is your atv fuel injected?

Me too.

I have done some reading here and there and now that my ATV has gone in for its third carb rebuild I find the text to be justified in what the articles are saying. I got the same story from the mechanic, the enthinol in the gas is acting as a sort of rubbing alcohol that is drying out the seals within my carburetor. So at $300.00 a rebuild, the gas pumps have cost me an additional $900.00.

Is there an additive to counter this out on the market that I can start adding to my fuel or am I stuck doing rebuilds every three years?

What's to rebuild? Jets don't go bad, needles don't go bad, float needles can, but I haven't seen one. Rubber parts sometimes. I have been running our wonderful 10% ethanol gas in my toys for years and years. If it sits over the winter it turns to glue. So if I forget to drain the carb and it gums it up, I take it apart and clean it out. Never had to buy any kind of "carb kit".

$300? You are seriously getting ripped off. Unless it takes all day to "get to" the carburetor under all the plastic.

 

I would not run ethanol in anything!! The criticism is helpful BTW!!! I don't really have time or the desire to work on my ATVs so I understand where your coming from!!

Run high octane in your small engines, use sea foam once a year. As a pilot I have to LMAO at people suggesting AVGAS whaaaaaaaat, very expensive for very little benefit!!

Bottom line don't run ethanol!!

 

As a pilot I have to LMAO at people suggesting AVGAS whaaaaaaaat, very expensive for very little benefit!!

Consider the OP's situation. He ends up with gasoline aging and quality related problems in his ATV. These problems cost him a small fortune in repairs. Probably due to modest yearly use. If he were running it all day, every day, these issues would not be such a problem.

The simple switch to 100LL Avgas would save him hundreds.

Let's look at this another way. If his ATV burns 20 gallons per year, and he pays a dollar more for 100LL, his yearly fuel costs would go up by $20. Hardly "very expensive".

I run 100LL in various things and it's not an unusual expense.