The tech told you that because ethanol does not create varnish (gumming), that is the oxidation of chemicals in raw gas.
The canned gas that we sell - either four stroke or two stroke premix - is really a blend that has stabilizers in it, and is sealed against oxidation until the can is opened. Basically designed for a long shelf life.
If you ran ethanol-free and developed varnish, switching to ethanol-blend (a solvent) could cause the varnish to break free and gum up the carb. So you may need to clean the carb... which a carb cleaner mixed into the fuel should help with. It keeps the varnish that the low level of ethanol broke free in a near liquid state and works it through the system.
Once you are on an ethanol-blend, just make certain that the gas does not get old in the tank. The octane level is less of an issue, but high octane can result in overheating a motor... especially in a four stroke. That will show up as a ''bluing'' of the muffler near the exhaust port.
Pre-fire each season to determine if the gas is in need of replacement. Gas from the four stroke can be drained and added to a vehicle - the computerized fuel injection system has a greater ability to compensate than the carb system does.
So basically, we have new gasoline for the snow thrower and generator in the winter on-hand, but will fill the cars/truck with it by the end of the season if it goes unused.
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