Learn More About SEF™ 94

Why Do You Need SEF94?

Ethanol – The Scourge of Small Engines
With increasing frequency, ethanol in today's street gasoline fouls carburetors and degrades fuel systems in portable gas-powered tools, making them difficult, if not impossible, to start. As a solvent, ethanol frees up the gunk in fuel tanks and engines that can clog carburetors and fuel lines. The size of a small engine exaggerates this effect, as smaller fuel lines and smaller components are more quickly compromised by these deposits.

When equipment is stored for lengthy periods, e.g. lawnmowers during winter or snowblowers during summer, the ethanol absorbs moisture and separates from the gasoline yielding insufficient lubrication for the engine, while also degrading rubber fuel lines and plastic components in the fuel system. These issues will only get worse now that the EPA has increased the ethanol allowed in street gas from 10% to 15%.

To see what small engine repair shops have to say CLICK HERE.

SEF94 – The Perfect Fuel For Light Equipment
SEF94 is ethanol-free and specifically formulated by the experts at VP Racing Fuels with the highest quality components for top performance, long life and durability of your portable gas-powered equipment.

Watch VP Racing Fuels President Steve Burns explain the origins of SEF94 and why he stands behind it, in this video:

SEF94 Ensures Easier Starts and Worry-Free Long-Term Storage
With no ethanol and other unique properties to keep it stable, SEF94 is an excellent long-term storage fuel. It will remain stable indefinitely in a sealed container and won’t degrade plastic, rubber or fiberglass components in your fuel system, allowing quick starts even after equipment sits idle for many months. It’s so reliable, many Fire & Rescue units have come to depend on it.

Fuel Stabilizers Aren't Enough
Fuel stabilizers can't fix all the problems associated with ethanol - the ethanol is still present in the fuel. Ethanol-free SEF94 prevents these problems from occurring in the first place.

SEF94 Ensures Better Performance
In addition to easier starts, your equipment will run cleaner, smoother and you’ll see better throttle response.

Avoid Costly Repairs, Rebuilds or Frustration
Like many homeowners, landscapers, outdoorsmen, farmers, emergency workers and others, you may have experienced what its like to deal with a tool that won't work when needed and the inconvenience of costly rebuilds. Even if you haven't experienced this, SEF94 can help make sure you won’t. Because SEF94 extends the engine life of your light equipment, the inconvenience, cost and frustration of hard starts and repairs due to fuel problems will be a thing of the past.

Formulated By Experts, With The Highest Quality Components
VP Racing Fuels is the world leader in fuel technology for the most sophisticated race engines in the world. And on a smaller scale, portable gas-powered tools are, in fact, sophisticated high performance engines. In developing SEF94, VP’s chemists applied all their knowledge in molecular technology to design this superior fuel. The chemistry required to make SEF94 isn’t cheap, but clearly more cost-effective than street gas with ethanol and the associated cost and inconvenience of rebuilding your gummed-up engine.

Bottom Line
SEF94 is the most dependable small engine fuel on the market, saving you the inconvenience and expense of costly rebuilds while ensuring your equipment will start when it's needed.

CLICK HERE to see what satisfied customers are saying about SEF94

The Problem Is Ethanol

Many small engine repair shops have experienced this problem first-hand. Here are some examples:

At Watkins True Value, where they offer small engine and lawn mower repair, service manager Kyle Nook said, "The biggest thing is ethanol gas. We replace a ton of lawn mower carburetors and fuel lines because of ethanol."

- Maryville Daily Forum (Mo.) (July 12, 2010)

According to mechanic Tim Kelleher, at J&D Lawn and Tractor, water in gasoline is a sure sign of ethanol in gas. And when too much water gets into lawnmower engines you get “hard starting, starts and stalls, customers just can't mow their grass and they get really frustrated. A gasoline engine will not run on water." Kelleher and other mechanics have taken apart numerous lawnmower engines and they can find no cause for the problems other than ethanol. "It's been 10 times worse this year than in past years," Kelleher said.

- WTEA-TV Pittsburgh (July 7, 2010)

Small engine repair companies say they're seeing more problems with the machines because of the (ethanol) blended gas, which is sold at most pumps. Even though it works well in cars, it's not well-suited for gas-powered tools or boats. Technician Ron Stratton says the problems all stem from the ethanol in the blend. "I would say 80-90% of our business is fuel issues," he said. "The ethanol that's in the fuel, if not sealed tightly will draw moisture and that's what this water is. It’s water in the fuel and when it gets to the point where you get to this tube and you get a shot of water. You're done. It won't run."

- WSYR-TV Syracuse (September 16, 2010)

SEF94 is the Solution!

More and more customers have found SEF94 to be the best fuel available for small engines:

I tried to start my Honda walk-behind mower and finally got it started on full choke. It would only run on full choke and when I backed the throttle off to full, it would die. I topped it off with SEF 94 and re-started the mower. After running for a few minutes on full choke, I again backed it off to full throttle and it ran fine. I’m not saying that the SEF94 cleaned out the carb, but it sure looks like it. The motor runs like a top.

- Bob, San Antonio, TX

I was amazed at what a difference the new SEF Fuel has made in the performance of my generator and mower. My equipment starts faster, runs easier and overall performs significantly better thanks to VP Fuels’ new SEF94.

- Rusty Baker, "Rusty Baker Outdoors" TV Show

We have used our equipment since switching over to SEF94 and as expected the equipment started with ease. This is a much welcomed change to the days of using fuels with ethanol.

- Jim B., Chief of Mount Upton EMS

SEF94 To The Rescue!

Like many other users of portable gas-powered tools, several Fire and Rescue units in the Northeast U.S. were experiencing problems with hard starts and total breakdowns of their equipment. Clearly, such failures are unacceptable in emergency situations. In these units were several people familiar with racing and VP’s ability to formulate custom blends, so in late 2009 they sought VP’s help

Upon researching the issue, VP learned that ethanol in street gas was the primary cause of the engine failures experienced not only by the firefighters but many other users of light equipment. And the problem had grown worse as more and more street gas was blended with ethanol.

In response, VP’s chemists set about formulating a new fuel to prevent these problems from occurring in all portable gas-powered tools. After extensive field and laboratory testing, the result was SEF94, the most reliable fuel on the market for quicker, easier starts and worry-free long-term storage, as reflected by the comments of the Assistant Chief for Mt. Upton EMS:

We don’t have a lot of calls that require the use of our small equipment such as generators or chain saws, but when we do our engines have to start quickly and easily. We switched over to SEF94 about a month ago…since switching over, as expected the equipment started with ease. This is a much welcomed change to the days of using fuels with ethanol.

We have spread the word to other departments and would hope that they try this product and enjoy the success we have.

Jim B.
Assistant Chief - EMS
Mt Upton-Rockdale

Whether it’s an emergency or Saturday yard work, you can depend on SEF94 Small Engine Fuel!

Questions & Answers (With Steve Burns, President - VP Racing Fuels)

As a race fuel company, are you equipped to take on the small engine market?
Yes, Perfectly. Engineering and production of fuels for specialized racing engines is what VP has done successfully for over 30 years. Small engines are, in fact, very sophisticated engines, with a power to size ratio similar to that of a large displacement racing engine. Small engines are also air cooled, which makes them harder to maintain. And the problems caused by ethanol are magnified in small engines precisely because of the small size of the fuel system components which can be compromised so much more quickly. It takes sophisticated technology to effectively address these problems and our extensive background in designing fuels for some of the most intricate racing engines in the world makes us just that much more prepared.

I've never had any problems with my small engine–why do I need this fuel?
You're one of the lucky few, and it's very possible that luck will run out as the EPA continues to increase the amount of ethanol allowed in pump gas. SEF will slightly increase power, but that's only a small benefit of SEF. You'll benefit from easier starting, worry-free long-term storage and in the case of the SEF94 Pre-Mix versions for 2-cycles, better lubrication performance. It's highly unlikely you have used an oil as good as the oil in SEF94 Pre-Mix.

Aren't gas-powered tools designed to run on street gas? Why do I need a special fuel?
Yes they were designed for street gas, because prior to our introduction of SEF94, the only fuel available to the engine designers was street gas. But think about it—street gas is designed to conform to the lowest standards possible. The lowest CHEAPEST possible formula that passes the government standards is what they make. Why? Because street gas is sold almost exclusively on price. The cheapest price. But at the same time, the competition between small engine manufacturers leads them to make better, more powerful engines. And better, lighter engines demand more and more from fuels, even while the street gas they're designed to use is getting worse for these small engines. Even while newer production engines are being set up to run on street gas with 10% ethanol, the engines aren't being designed to resist the harmful effects of ethanol, i.e. gumming and corrosion. So why do you need a good fuel in your small engine? Scaled up, your small engine offers performance comparable to some of the best, most powerful racing engines in the world. And it's air cooled. Let me repeat that…It's AIR cooled. There has not been an air cooled racing engine in the last 25 years, because air cooled engines put very high demands on fuel and oil requirements. So what you have in your string trimmer is a high performance F1-caliber engine that's air cooled…running at RPMs only attained by world class racing engines…running on street gas that was made with the cheapest possible formula…laden with ethanol that will ultimately destroy your fuel system. And that's no way to "feed" your high performance thoroughbred.

Isn't SEF94 just street gas without the ethanol? Or just street gas with oil added?
Not even close. SEF94 is not just ethanol-free, but specifically formulated with the highest quality components for top performance, long life and durability of your small engine. We made no concessions to cost in the development of this fuel and oil package. SEF94 was developed to solve a problem many consumers are already facing and others will in the near future. We've taken the same approach to designing this fuel for small engines that we use for the world-class racing engines for which we provide fuel. At the VP Racing Fuels website (vpracingfuels.com) you can see the worldwide application of VP fuels in many of the world's best racing engines. That's why we built a framework using the best raw materials we could find and conducted extensive field and laboratory testing to ensure SEF94 will work in all relevant small engine applications.

Is SEF94 the same every time?
YES, absolutely. SEF94 is made by VP Racing Fuels, so you can be assured that every ounce goes under extensive quality control testing. VP has been blending fuels for 35 years, including fuels for sanctioning bodies like the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) and American Le Mans. VP fuels supplied to these sanctions face the scrutiny of gas chromatograph examinations (the same instruments used for Olympic Drug Testing) at every race. SEF94 is produced to the same standards.

Why would SEF94 be more consistent than standard pump fuels?
There are more than 28 different fuel specifications for gasoline fuel dispensed from pumps across the U.S. These specifications vary seasonally and geographically, leading to differences in components within the fuels, whether or not a fuel is oxygenated,different ratios of ethanol in the fuels, and different octane ratings, each of which can require a different air/fuel ratio for tuning an engine. This makes it almost impossible for the small engine manufacturers to accurately tune an engine at the factory. SEF is made exactly the same every time and is designed to give good throttle response along with a wide tuning window

Why should I pick SEF94 over other Pre-Mixed fuels?
What other companies are selling is pure convenience. It's just a standard pump fuel mostly without ethanol and using an oil that meets minimal standards. We're selling a fuel that is blended and designed for high performance in small engines without concession to cost. If you own a piece of gas-powered light equipment, then essentially you possess a small, high-performance engine. The only difference is that you have an air-cooled engine, not one that is liquid-cooled like race engines. In simple terms, that means you must protect your investment that is very vulnerable to heat and deposits. An excellent way to do that is by using quality fluids, including fuel.

Can I be sure the SEF94 meets the manufacturer's specifications for my equipment?
You can be 100% confident that SEF94 will meet or exceed your manufacturer's specifications. The Pre-Mix versions of SEF94 for 2-cycle equipment—both 40:1 and 50:1—contain a top quality synthetic oil that exceeds API TC and JASO FD lubrication standards. Both the 2-cycle and SEF94 4-cycle versions include the highest quality components available, such that our fuel will burn cleaner and with fewer harmful emissions than any gasoline available at the pump. Note that SEF94 4-cycle fuel can also be used in 2-cycle engines when mixed with an oil to your manufacturer's specifications.

How can I justify the high cost of SEF94 when street gas is so much cheaper?
How much do you value your time? Your cost may be lower in the short term with ethanol-laden street gas, but over the long run, you'll pay more for repairing or rebuilding the degraded fuel system in your small engine. Depending on the tool, repairs can easily run $75-$150, or in some cases the cost of a whole new piece of equipment when yours can't be saved. Not to mention the cost of downtime while your equipment is being repaired, along with the aggravation and stress. Paying a few dollars more for SEF94 can help prevent those long-term costs and the frustration that comes with them. Plus, the Pre-Mixed versions of SEF94 save you the time and hassle of measuring, mixing, extra trips to the store for 2-cycle oil and the risk of getting the mix ratio wrong.

Do I have to shake the Pre-Mixed SEF94 before I pour it in?
There is no need to shake Pre-Mixed SEF94 prior to pouring.

My generator and mower use larger volumes of fuel – do you have container sizes larger than quarts?
For generators and other equipment that use a greater volume of fuel, SEF94 can be purchased in 5-gallon pails, as well as 30- and 54-gallon drums. These can be especially convenient for commercial users of light equipment.

Fuel stabilizers are cheaper than SEF94 – why shouldn't I just use them instead?
You can try, but there is a strong possibility of failure. Before SEF94 was developed, our goal was to come up with a fuel additive to solve ethanol-related problems in the cheapest possible way. We couldn't find the answer nor have we seen anyone else pull it off. There are too many issues to solve with an additive and in the end, an additive cannot fix all the problems caused by ethanol and its negative impact on the fuel systems of small engines. The only truly effective way to address the issues is to remove ethanol from the equation entirely, as we did with SEF94. Bear in mind, though, the qualities of SEF94 go far beyond a gasoline without ethanol in it.

Do I need a fuel that is 94 octane?
Most small engines are designed to run on 87 - 92 octane fuels. However, the higher octane can help when engines are running hotter than they should. Elevated engine temps will require higher-octane fuel to prevent pre-ignition and detonation. Pre-ignition and detonation can be devastating to small engines. Example: If the needle valve on your carburetor is not adjusted properly the engine may be running lean, which could raise your engine’s operating temperatures. The engine may seem like it’s running and performing well, but the added heat is a drawback, which will create a demand for extra octane. This can occur with the changing of seasons as air density is fluctuating. If you’re not readjusting the engine’s carburetor accordingly, it’s likely that your engine will be running in a lean condition. Higher octane can assist air-cooled engines in cooling, even if dirt and build-up have formed on the engine head.

I've read not to use high-octane fuels in these engines—why is that?
In some cases, that's a true statement. BUT…if the high-octane fuel has been designed properly (such as SEF94, to which VP Racing Fuels can attest), it can actually allow small engines to have better ignition, vaporization, and cooling capabilities than street gas or lower octane fuels.

How does SEF94 lower engine-operating temperatures?
SEF94 vaporizes better and burns more "efficiently" than other fuels, which results in lower exhaust temperatures and thus, lower engine temperatures. In addition, a properly designed fuel like SEF94 can make more power, burn cleaner and extend engine life. The cost of running SEF94 through your light equipment is a small one to pay for these benefits in performance.

My manufacturer's requirements consist of using a 50:1 gasoline-to-oil ratio, but I've had friends tell me that a 40:1 ratio is safer. Is that true?
In certain instances that could be true, but rarely have we seen that be the case. For the most part, follow your manufacturers specifications.

What kind of oil do you use in SEF94 50:1 and 40:1?
Currently, we use a synthetic oil that exceeds API TC and JASO FD and ISO-L-EGD lubrication standards and is produced by Motul. We've worked with Motul in the past on development projects and have found them to manufacture some of the best oils in the world. Regardless of history though, we'll continue to keep using the best. At VP we continually look to improve our fuels and oils. In racing you have to get better every race.

What are the features and benefits of the oil used in SEF94 Pre-Mix??
The oil is extremely clean burning but does not sacrifice film strength or extreme pressure qualities just to be a clean oil. Oil is usually a compromise of qualities over cost. In our case, nothing has been sacrificed to save a buck. Sure, it will create a product with a premium price, but the added value exists in the quality of the product. It's relative.

Is SEF94 the best possible product I can choose for my small engine?
Definitively yes. Its components are the highest quality available, making it the most cost-effective protection you can buy for your equipment investments.

How long will this fuel last in storage?
SEF94 will last three years when kept in its original sealed container. Even after pulling some of the fuel out, you’re looking at about a two-year life as long as you properly re-seal your container. The SEF94 container was designed with an enclosure that will properly seal and allow no venting.

How long will it last in my small engine's tank?
As a rule, SEF94 can be left in a fuel tank through a whole season, making it an excellent “winterizing” fuel to ensure easy start-ups in the spring (or winter start-ups for snowblowers and the like). The ultimate life of fuel in the tank depends on how vented the tank is and the conditions in which it's stored, i.e., extreme vs. moderate temperatures.

I had to change my spark plug after running SEF94. The plug was fouled—why did this happen?
This is a very unusual occurrence. SEF94 will burn extremely clean, but if the engine isn't tuned properly then no matter what gas you use, it will run excessively rich and be more prone to foul plugs. Technically, SEF94 should improve this situation once tuning occurs. SEF will be the cleanest running fuel you have ever used.

What's the difference between the SEF94 4-Cycle, SEF 94 50:1, and SEF94 40:1?
The SEF94 4-cycle fuel is the same as 50:1 or 40:1, but without the oil. The difference between 50:1 and 40:1 is simply the ratio of gasoline to oil mixed in the blend.

Do any of the SEF94 products contain lead?
NO, there wouldn't be any benefit to using lead in this fuel blend.

Are there any oxygenates in SEF94?
No oxygenates are used in SEF94. It is a straight hydrocarbon fuel.

Can I ship SEF94 to my customers?
Yes. Cases of SEF94 quarts are classified as Consumer ORM-D and may be shipped with no HAZMAT charges. SEF94 in 5-gallon pails and larger containers is classified as UN3295, Flammable Liquid, Class 3.

Material Safety Data Sheet