You can buy dirty gas straight from your gas station. A car can handle the dirt but a mower can not. Age has nothing to do with it. In my area we have 2 service station that sale the worst gas. Kum & Go and Caseys. I know the family that owns the refinery around here and Kum & Go amd Caseys buy the gas that is almost 2 months old so they can get a better price. I only buy gas from conoco stations around here. It is the cleanest and newest gas in my area. Not all areas are the same so research for yourself to find the best gas in your area.
Yes you are correct about gas going bad and stations selling bad quality gas because as we all know gas does has a short shelf life. But still I strongly believe that is not the problem in my case. You see I know all about bad gas, etc. and what it can do to just about any type of gasoline engine and such. Like you, I also only purchase gas from either of the following places: Exxon, Mobil One, Shell, Costco, Texaco, etc. only from places like that never from a corner store place, mom & pop, Quick Stop, etc. because from places like that your only buying bad gas.
So I know for a fact that it is not the quality of gas that I am using that is causing the problem. Also, I use the recommended gas fuel additive by Kohler as read straight from the owners/user manual on specifically what type to use as, again, recommended. This is to help the good quality gas that is left in the fuel tank to last longer until the next usage (when more good quality fuel is added).
So again, yes I agree, it could be that bad gas could be the problem but not in my case.
Thanks for your reply.