They sell both 2-stroke and 4-stroke ethanol free engineered fuel at Home Depot and the like, I think the 4-stroke is gray. But it’s expensive af - currently $24 for 110oz which is like $36 per gallon
Where are you buying these valves? I've had a lot of shit go bad because of ethanol, but I don't think I've ever seen a fuel shut-off valve go.
The problem isn't seeing fuel for 9 months, it's when the machine sits too long with untreated E10 soaking up water, and then the water and alcohol form a gel that gaks up the works and exasperates the other long term storage problem, varnishing.
I recommend going to a landscape supply shop, or mower repair shop that stocks parts and get a better valve made of metal. You will also benefit from adding a fuel filter to catch crap before it gets to the valve and carb. It is a very easy mod
I drain all of the yard equipment at the end of the season, and then run the fuel line and carb completely dry. But between mowing and late-season leaf mulching, it still sees fuel 9 months of the year.
I think @Bomber's crappy valve theory is probably correct.
That's weird. I wonder why the valve swells. We do two things when winterizing our lawn svs equipment. First, we add fuel stabilizer made specifically for ethanol gas, then we run the machine for a few minutes, just to make sure the stabilized fuel has reached the carb. Then we shut off the fuel valve and let the carb and bowl run dry.