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What else can you use instead of starting fluid?

178K views 35 replies 19 participants last post by  kccats 
#1 ·
So I'm too lazy to go out and buy a bottle of starting fluid, so I'm wondering if you guys know of anything that works just as good as starting fluid (besides carb cleaner) and doesn't hurt your sled?
 
#2 ·
Premixed gas from lawn equipment, chainsaw, ice auger, any kind of premixed gas will work great. Make sure it's premix or else it'll dry out the cylinder walls if it doesn't start, which isn't good. And for starting fluid, make sure it has upper cylinder lubricant in it for the same reason to use premix gas.
 
#3 ·
X2. i try to stay away from starting fluid.
 
#4 ·
Yeah I'll be sure and try that, and yeah I always use starting fluid with the upper cylinder lubricant. I rarely use starting fluid, being that my sleds are always in good running condition and don't usually need it, but I'm working on a new sled that I just bought and it needs a good fuel cleaning.
 
#5 ·
sea foam. i love that stuff.
 
#6 ·
Seafoam and Sta-Bil are possibly the greatest things man has ever created, besides snowmobiles of course. We try stay away from starting fluid too, but sometimes it's easier since it's in a can and you can spray it directly in, no trying to find a funnel of some kind of just trying to pour it in then you get gas on the heads and it's a lot easier to just grab the starting fluid and spray it in, although I try refrain from using it.
 
#10 ·
thats what i use also. I tried a old spray can. yeah that lasted about a hour. lol
 
#9 ·
mans 4 greatest creations. in no particular order

WD-40
SeaFoam
Stabil
Duck Tape.
 
#23 ·
BFH = Big F-Hammer
 
#13 ·
the reason i steered away from starting fluid was cause the can... my colt never would start regardless of how i set the choke. so i relied on starting fluid. well when it gets below a certain temperature spray cans loose their pressure and ability to spray... needles to say i spent one sucky afternoon hugging a frozen starting fluid can close to my stomach so i could start my sled after a day out ice fishing... after that experience i have always torn apart carbs and cleaned/tinkered with them till they will always start 100% with the choke and never need starting fluid

so there best alternative is figuring out the choke... but i like the idea of an oil can and the next time i need any starting fluid i think i will put 2 stroke into an oil can and give her a try
 
#15 ·
i was poking around my garage a while bck and in my dads old car i found a cans all white so i sprayed a bit and i didnt know wht it was weel tht day i happened to be working on somthing i reached for starter fluid and grabed the white can by mistake and first try fired right up ran for a while i was kewl then i realized i grabed the wrong can i flipped i went to my dad and told him he said No problem dnt worry bout it i asked wht it was he told me its a secret so i still dnt know im gonna find out 1 of these day but ive benn using it for about a year best stuff ever lucky he had more than 1 lol
 
#17 ·
IDK about hairspray...

I think you need something that burns more stable then hairspray. although it does burn very well. I can attest to that lol
 
#21 ·
Fix the sled so you don't need it. If it has a choke, the choke isn't opening or it is plugged. If it has a primer, then you should be able to squirt enough fuel in there to get it running or flooded. If not, replace the primer.

The only reason you should need starting fluid is if it is -30 or colder and you don't want to waste much time starting, but even then it would be better to not use it at all. The only other reason would be low compression.

As far as using pre-mix. Why? The primer squirts straight gas directly into the engine side of the carb. Shouldn't make one bit of difference being premix or not.

If the the machine has a choke and no primer, put a primer on it and be done with it.
 
#24 ·
WD-40 is a solvent and while it burns, it doesn't burn very well. Better off just using gas.
 
#27 ·
brake cleaner shouldn't burn. The idea of brake clean is to clean the brakes and be resistant to heat, so the customers' car doesn't burst into flames the first time they apply the brake.
 
#28 ·
I know this is an old post but its one of the first to show up when you Google starting fluid alternatives so i want clarify that brake clean, atleast that stuff i use, is most certainly flammable. It is not intended to be nonflammable. It's used for brakes because it will break down oils n grease and itself will leave no residue behind. And i have witnessed it used to fire an engine in the past.
 
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