cold start pops and sputters and almost stalls

[JDFarmBoy]

I've noticed since we bought ours that it runs rough when it first starts up, surges, actually died a couple times that I remember. Haven't thought too much about, it's seems to iron out in a couple seconds. Buddy of mine mentioned the same experience with his rig. After reading it here, the last couple of days I turn the key on for a few moments before firing it up for the first time that day. The normally rough starts have completely went away and it idles as expected.

 

[fletcher61]

My new 1500 Northstar runs terrible when cold starting. I let it idle for awhile, then try to start going in comfort mode and it pops, backfires shudders and almost stalls. Is this normal? I have many fuel injected machines, including Polaris 4 wheelers that don't have this problem. Or am I being picky? After the engine warms up to operating temperture the problem goes away.

Mine did that too until it had to go back to the dealer for recalls. They installed all the software updates and its much better

 

[Auctioneer]

I used high Octane no ethanol fuel in my XP 1000. If I hauled it on a trailer in cold temperatures, it was hard to impossible to start. When I switched to 87 octane the problem went away. I do not understand it I just know it works. I had the same issue with my 1500xd but 87 octane solved the problem.

 

[KC RANGER XD 1500]

I run 91 non ethanol in all my toys and small engines and have never had a problem with anything I have ever put it in. You can try to run ethanol to see if it works but it's never been a solution for me.........rather the problem.

Yes I agree no corn in my gas

 

[Clubin]

Is the check engine light coming on? If it’s not don’t worry about it, any misfire a o2 sensor will pick up a miss fire.

 

[Johnnie]

I use 87 octane no ethanol and my old 24 model was bad about bogging down and even backfire sometimes. It always started ok but I would let it idle until engine temp was above 100. My 25 model doesn’t do that but we are in warmer weather now. I do turn the key on and wait a few seconds before starting. That seemed to help my 24 model start easier.

 

[Ernie]

Starts and runs okay now. I guess I'll have to wait until winter again to see if it still does it again.

 

[Ernie]

Is the check engine light coming on? If it’s not don’t worry about it, any misfire a o2 sensor will pick up a miss fire.

No check engine light or any message.

 

[Ernie]

I use 87 octane no ethanol and my old 24 model was bad about bogging down and even backfire sometimes. It always started ok but I would let it idle until engine temp was above 100. My 25 model doesn’t do that but we are in warmer weather now. I do turn the key on and wait a few seconds before starting. That seemed to help my 24 model start easier.

Mine is a 24 model.

 

[Clubin]

No check engine light or any message.

I will say what may appear to be a rough idle. Must be ok. If there was anything off the check engine light will come on. It’s super sensitive, .

 

[Johnnie]

My 24 backfired and stalled especially in cold weather. Always started but didn’t like it until you warmed up over 120 engine temp. No ethanol 87 octane. My 25 is not as bad but I really haven’t had it in cold weather but it still hesitated even with 60 degree weather. Same fuel…..no ethanol 87 octane. I live a long way from town so I order 500 gallons gasoline and 500 gallons of diesel when needed. I have mowers, weed eaters, blowers, chainsaws and Polaris 4 wheeler and ford pickups that run flawlessly since I started using no ethanol in my gas 10 years ago. Before with ethanol it was a constant battle trying to keep 2 strokes from gumming up. No ethanol in my part if the country is .20 too .25 cents higher but in my case well worth it. So this is very puzzling to me on the 1500. I have a 1000 that runs much better with no ethanol. It’s also one more aggravating thing about the 1500. But man do I still like it. Just hope Polaris steps up and does the right thing for what the machine cost so some issues will be resolved.

 

[Big Red]

My 24 backfired and stalled especially in cold weather. Always started but didn’t like it until you warmed up over 120 engine temp. No ethanol 87 octane. My 25 is not as bad but I really haven’t had it in cold weather but it still hesitated even with 60 degree weather. Same fuel…..no ethanol 87 octane. I live a long way from town so I order 500 gallons gasoline and 500 gallons of diesel when needed. I have mowers, weed eaters, blowers, chainsaws and Polaris 4 wheeler and ford pickups that run flawlessly since I started using no ethanol in my gas 10 years ago. Before with ethanol it was a constant battle trying to keep 2 strokes from gumming up. No ethanol in my part if the country is .20 too .25 cents higher but in my case well worth it. So this is very puzzling to me on the 1500. I have a 1000 that runs much better with no ethanol. It’s also one more aggravating thing about the 1500. But man do I still like it. Just hope Polaris steps up and does the right thing for what the machine cost so some issues will be resolved.

We have talked quite a bit here about gas, myself and several others run 91 no ethanal with no issues. Many here run 87 no ethanal with no issues. Maybe even more people here run 87-89 ethanal with 0 issues and some claim it runs better with ethanal. So my point is I don't the 1500 is prone to run poorly on any gas type. Maybe your machine has another issue? Since you get your gas delivered could it be that your gas is old or has some moisture in the storage tank? Not saying that's the case just trying to understand why you have the problem that most of us do not.

 

[Johnnie]

You make good points. I have thought about the same things but I test my fuel for ethanol and water on every load. I have a filter on my tank I change out regularly and drain the bottom fuel valve a lot just for water. There is never any water in it. 500 gallons last around 4-5 months. I listed all my other equipment plus some more pickups that never have a problem and some of them are parked outside in the winter under a shed. After about 30 seconds of idle my 24 ran fine. The 25 is not as bad. I may go up to 89 octane and try that. Thanks for you input Big Red

 

[Big Red]

You're quite welcome..... but I'm not sure I was much help. I hope it gets better rather than worse.

 

[Sandvalleyllc]

What type of fuel are you running? If you’re running non-ethanol fuel, try switching to normal pump gas with ethanol. I know it sounds weird, but I was running non-ethanol 92 octane. Switched to 89 octane ethanol pump gas and problem went away. My dealer suggested it, and he wasn’t wrong. In the summer time I wasn’t having an issue. Only in the fall/winter where the temps were in the 20’s overnight.

That's really surprising, my dealer said never run any fuel containing ethenoll in it and preferably the premium gas without ethanol.
That actually sounds like you got some bad gas.

 

[Clubin]

That's really surprising, my dealer said never run any fuel containing ethenoll in it and preferably the premium gas without ethanol.
That actually sounds like you got some bad gas.

Your dealer isn’t in Canada. No getting away from ethanol here.

 

[Mr.C]

That's really surprising, my dealer said never run any fuel containing ethenoll in it and preferably the premium gas without ethanol.
That actually sounds like you got some bad gas.

Now that it’s summer time here. I switched back to non ethanol as a test. So far, no problems. I’m curious to see what happens this winter.

 

[oneal]

That's really surprising, my dealer said never run any fuel containing ethenoll in it and preferably the premium gas without ethanol.
That actually sounds like you got some bad gas.

Ours is over 200 hours, no pops or backfires, always used ethanol. Same goes for 40hp blower and various other air cooled engines. Honda Pioneer approaching 6000 miles with nothing but oil changes. Most Ethanol issues were related to compatibility of materials used in the fuel systems and have been corrected. Early stuff gummed up in my two strokes so I still stay away in them but not sure if the gumming was the diaphrams degradation, but that' was 40ish years ago.
Save your money!