Return to the home page...

Go Back   Moyer Marine Atomic 4 Community - Home of the Afourians > Discussion Topics > General Interest

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1   IP: 137.200.32.54
Old 06-26-2019, 08:54 AM
joe_db's Avatar
joe_db joe_db is online now
Afourian MVP
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 4,474
Thanks: 49
Thanked 1,026 Times in 721 Posts
DIY Chainsaw fuel

I was advised to NEVER use ethanol fuel in my chainsaw if I wanted it to work more than once. So far I have had good luck with the $8/quart "chainsaw fuel", but last night I had a tree go down and I was out of the $32/gal fuel. I decided to DIY some fuel, so I grabbed a quart of 100 octane avgas, added the correct amount of 2 stroke oil, and bit of SeaFoam. So far so good, the saw ran fine.
Does anyone see any problem with continuing to use this mix? I would really rather pay $5/gal than $32/gal. I keep a jug full because the lawn mower warranty is void if I use ethanol gas in it. I also enjoy the lack of stink perfume in avgas.
*it isn't the gasoline that stinks so much, but some stinky crap added to car gas to make it less appealing to glue sniffing kids
Reply With Quote
  #2   IP: 70.186.216.53
Old 06-26-2019, 11:39 AM
Tim's Avatar
Tim Tim is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Gloucester, VA
Posts: 173
Thanks: 45
Thanked 51 Times in 35 Posts
I have a Stihl and an Echo chain saw and a Husquavarna leaf blower. I use regular non ethanol fuel from the local gas station and have not had any problems. The Stihl dealer did recommend the $8/quart premix fuel but couldn't really tell me why. Stihl, Husquavarna and Echo sell 2 stroke oil so they know the equipment will be run on gas station fuel. Why would they sell the oil if the premixed fuel is the only thing that works? I think the $8/quart price is the answer.
__________________
Pearson 10M
Gloucester, Va
Reply With Quote
  #3   IP: 52.55.121.20
Old 06-26-2019, 12:11 PM
tenders tenders is offline
Afourian MVP
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Harlem YC, City Island, NY
Posts: 1,439
Thanks: 46
Thanked 259 Times in 170 Posts
Nothing wrong with avgas if you can get it easily. Certainly no ethanol!

Dealers recommend premix because the oil/fuel ratio is very important, 2-stroke engines are becoming a rarity these days, and a huge fraction of the population is VERY bad at remembering and/or measuring.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to tenders For This Useful Post:
sastanley (06-27-2019)
  #4   IP: 67.176.201.200
Old 06-26-2019, 03:22 PM
Sam Sam is online now
Afourian MVP
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 322
Thanks: 490
Thanked 140 Times in 109 Posts
Here in Chicago I have 9 snowblowers at various nearby locations. Some are two stroke and some 4 stroke. [the 4 strokes are older US made Sears Craftsmans either Briggs or Tecumseh engines that seem to work forever]. Last year one of our local warehouse stores had on deep sale straight gas/stabilized/pre mix @ less than $3/qt. The issue is that it was good for both 40:1 and 50:1 and stated that it would not void any mfg warranty etc and listed all the top brands. I bought some since it made life easier and used it in both older 40:1 and newer 50:1 machines. Everything started and ran fine, admittedly we did not have that mush snow and still have a half dozen new cans left. My engineering background says be cautious. Is it possible that one mix [maybe with a secret elixir] can work long term?
Reply With Quote
  #5   IP: 32.211.28.40
Old 06-26-2019, 11:39 PM
Al Schober's Avatar
Al Schober Al Schober is offline
Afourian MVP
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Uncasville, CT
Posts: 2,002
Thanks: 16
Thanked 578 Times in 405 Posts
Just some random thoughts from an old fart that's been running gas engines a long time:
a) any fuel left in a carb for long is not good (hot weather evaporates volatiles). Leaving it in a tank is not much better (it doesn't mess up the carb but is still goes bad). Drain the tank and use it elsewhere. When you fill a tank for the garage, put a tag on it with the date.
b) ethanol fuel is nasty stuff. Avoid it if you can tolerate the price/inconvenience. It absorbs water and dissolves things you don't want dissolved. If you do use it, keep your tank clear of the stuff that settles out.
c) 2 stroke stuff has improved a LOT over the years. Carbs have gotten better (I have an Echo trimmer that gives no problems - good carb?). Son bought a new KTM 250 dirt bike - 2 stroke but oil injection with regular gas. He tells me it seems to be running about 100:1.
Reply With Quote
  #6   IP: 74.107.30.144
Old 06-27-2019, 10:42 PM
sastanley's Avatar
sastanley sastanley is offline
Afourian MVP
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Solomons, MD
Posts: 7,016
Thanks: 1,134
Thanked 600 Times in 442 Posts
I have several opinions on this, but the bottom line is I do not run ethanol laced fuel in any of my small motors. The lawn mower being the only exception since I run it every week, but in the fall I switch back over to E0, as the frequency of usage slows.

I include the A-4, since it also counts as a small motor. I have an ethanol free gasoline source about 15 miles away at $3.50/gallon presently, so I go get $175 of fuel from him with my 7 jerry cans and that mostly covers my annual consumption.

edit- One problem with chainsaws is the plastic fuel lines...ethanol eats that $h!t up and it crumbles. Don't ask me how I know when Hurricane Irene blew threw town several years ago with 7 trees down in the front yard.
__________________
-Shawn
"Holiday" - '89 Alura 35 #109
"Twice Around" - '77 C-30, #511 with original A-4 & MMI manifold - SOLD! (no longer a two boat owner!!)
http://www.moyermarine.com/forums/signaturepics/sigpic3231_6.gif

Last edited by sastanley; 06-27-2019 at 10:51 PM.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Polishing Filter GregH Fuel System 27 05-05-2018 11:43 PM
Engine runs for a couple minutes, stops hard, no fuel flow pdecker Troubleshooting 30 05-28-2015 01:17 PM
Fuel Shutdown Issue gdasw Fuel System 17 06-20-2013 08:53 AM
Fuel-Related Engine Shutdowns Don Moyer Fuel System 32 02-18-2011 04:36 PM
Facet fuel pump notes rigspelt Fuel System 3 01-03-2009 01:31 PM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:11 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.


Universal® is a registered trademark of Westerbeke Corporation

Copyright © 2004-2024 Moyer Marine Inc.

All Rights Reserved