Chainsaw fuel

[BenA]

Do you a mix it yourself or buy it pre-mixed? I've been using the Stihl pre-mix, but I'm about to go through a bunch of fuel.

 

[SwampCat]

I mix myself. I use several gallons a year. The premix gets a little pricey. If I didnt live on my place with a gallon always mixed up - would probably go with premix. Use about as much in my weed wacker

 

[Stubborn1VT]

I mix my own. I buy Husqvarna 2 stroke oil with stabilizer by the gallon. I experimented with non-ethanol and didn't have good results, so I switched back to high test. I only make a gallon at a time. The less time it sits around, the better.

 

[TonySoprano]

My Father burned up a couple of saws mixing his own. It might have been when gas with ethonol first came out and he didn't know any better , or from trying to mix a small batch of gas and getting his calcultions off, or the mix had been sitting a while . He's been using Tru-Fuel pre mix since and hasn't had any problems. With that said I've seen some videos online that says Tru-Fuel isn't good. I bought a new saw last month and used one can of Tru Fuel , might be a coincidence but the electrode on the spark plug got ate up in no time. A local store sells Aspen pre mix fuel I'm going to try that or Echo Red Armor pre mix if I need to do a small amount of cutting over the spring & summer.

Next winter when I'll be cutting more I'll buy a gallon of Non Ethonol gas and Mix my own. I could be wrong but I've read if you mix your own you shouldn't use it after a month of sitting around. Can anone who mixes their own confirm this ?.

 

[Mortenson]

The guys that own a local small engine store said to just make sure you're buying top level gas. They like Shell even with ethanol blend more than the junk gas without it. So that's what I do. And I'll buy a couple cans of Stihl gas a year just to run thru them. When I mix up gas I also only do 1 gal at a time. Other small engines like generators and snow blowers etc I just shut the gas off and let them run themselves out. Keep the fuel out of the carb. They'll last years

 

[TonySoprano]

My Father burned up a couple of saws mixing his own. It might have been when gas with ethonol first came out and he didn't know any better , or from trying to mix a small batch of gas and getting his calcultions off, or the mix had been sitting a while . He's been using Tru-Fuel pre mix since and hasn't had any problems. With that said I've seen some videos online that says Tru-Fuel isn't good. I bought a new saw last month and used one can of Tru Fuel , might be a coincidence but the electrode on the spark plug got ate up in no time. A local store sells Aspen pre mix fuel I'm going to try that or Echo Red Armor pre mix if I need to do a small amount of cutting over the spring & summer.

Next winter when I'll be cutting more I'll buy a gallon of Non Ethonol gas and Mix my own. I could be wrong but I've read if you mix your own you shouldn't use it after a month of sitting around. Can anone who mixes their own confirm this ?.

Just to be clear he had the same Stihl Chainsaw from 1979 to the early 2000's and always mixed his own gas. I think around 2005 is when it burned up when Ethonol gas became the norm.

 

[Jordan Selsor]

If your the kinda guy that runs a saw once every few months run then use trufuel premix type stuff. If your using your saw regularly mix is fine. Use 93octane and don't mix up more than 1 gal at a time. Todays fuel doesn't last like it used to. If running mix gas you can also and drain your tank and run out if it's gonna be awhile before you use your saw. I use the Walmart synthetic 2cycle oil in all my handheld equipment and it suits me just fine.
I have echo trimmers I wish would die so I can go buy new . My red max backpack blower has 6 seasons on it and still going strong

 

[bigboreblr]

I've owned a MS261 since 2011. Never touched the carb on it ever. I buy non-ethanol gas locally and use the silver stihl oil bottles.

I stopped heating with firewood in 2016. The year later I tried that big box store premix non-ethanol. Only time I ever has porblems with fuel has been that.

I've owned rowboats with little outboards for years. I usually premix 50:1 on those motors with the stihl oil and non-ethanol gas. Then I'd buy a fitting and use it off the outboard tank.

The trick is to use it fresh. Dump out what you don't use, then push the carb bowl to clear out the carb and store it empty, IF not using it for a long period of time.

I think you could use up some ethanol based gasoline with fuel mix. Just use it all up, drain the tan when done with your project, and fill up with non-ethanol and run it to temp.

Last year I bought a milwaukee M18 hatchet. The chainsaw has been used alot less since. Half the time I dont even bring the saw to camp.

The smaller the engine, the smaller the carb jet. Thats why I buy good sized weedwackers or chainsaws. Always have a spare spark plug too.

 

[Catscratch]

Mix my own. 1 gallon can with the little Stihl oil bottles for 1 gallon.


Late summer I fill a 5 gallon can with non-ethaanol. Mix some stabilizer in it. Top off the mower tank for storage. Use what's left to fill my saw can the rest of the winter. Sometimes I have to refill the 5 gallon can before spring.


If my 1 gallon saw can has some left Ata the end of winter I use it for starting fires and start over in the fall.

 

[T-Max]

Mix my own. 1 gallon can with the little Stihl oil bottles for 1 gallon.


Late summer I fill a 5 gallon can with non-ethaanol. Mix some stabilizer in it. Top off the mower tank for storage. Use what's left to fill my saw can the rest of the winter. Sometimes I have to refill the 5 gallon can before spring.


If my 1 gallon saw can has some left Ata the end of winter I use it for starting fires and start over in the fall.

This is us with one exception. We put whatever is left at the end of winter in my truck right before I fill the tank.


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[bigboreblr]

This is us with one exception. We put whatever is left at the end of winter in my truck right before I fill the tank.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I do that with the oldest car in the herd. I keep 5 gallons cans of non-ethanol not mixed yet in the shed. After 6 months of sitting, the old beater nissan gets a half tank of 90 octane.

Probably put a fraction of a gallon of mixed gas in the tank without bothering the cat or oxy sensors.

I keep old gas and mix 20% gas with used motor oil. Good firepit starter at camp. Noticing mobil 1 is tougher to light up. Been giving the turbo ford mobil 1, and other cars castrol synthetic.

 

[Brian662]

Another vote for 93 octane without ethanol and the little Stihl bottles. Use that mixture in my metal bladed trimmer, blower, pole saw, and two chainsaws without any carb issues. Some only get run a few times a year.

 

[Frosted brassica]

If you can’t find ethanol free gas easily, I have had good luck using an additive call Startron. Blue bottle. I add a shot of that to a gallon of gas and a small bottle of 2 cycle oil from stihl or husky.

Good luck and stay safe.

 

[SD51555]

I mix my own when I’m really getting after it in November/December. The rest of the year, I use premix because I don’t use as much. Ethanol free premium when I mix my own.

One thing a guy should also try to find is a branded gas that claims an additive package. All gas comes from the same pipelines. What makes them different is when they put a detergent in them. That’ll help keep your system clean. I’ve had my saw thirteen years and I’m on my third spark plug.

Also, if it’s a single hose pump, I fill my vehicle first to get the cheap fuel out of the hose.


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[Westwind]

Stihl silver bottles. 93 octane from Shell or 92 from Costco. Startron additive. On occasion I run some Sea Foam in addition to Startron but its really rare.

Never have any problem even with gas that sits over the winter. Stihl mix oil has fuel preservative in it too.

Startron is a good product. It has no detergent but it keeps your fuel fresh. I have a mounted tank for my 2 stroke outboard motor and I no longer run my boat enough to keep fuel from sitting from September to May or June. It is carb’ed and will run fine as long as I start it first at home.

Startron is compatable with other additives. I buy the diesel formula on Amazon. It is exactly the same formula as gas formula except it is 2x strength. I run it in everything. (I cut the amount in half for gas engines)

I do not have ANY problems with mix fuel or straight fuel but part of that is because I have a heated shed so there aren't temp swings that cause condensation probs.

This was a good reminder. I’m going to go run my generator right now, it has been at least 2 years. Just bought some 93 Shell and I’ll dose it with Startron first and maybe a touch of Seafoam. Run all the fuel out of it which isn’t perfect but best I can do.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

I've always mixed my own. A good friend that owns an outdoor equipment business told me to use premium gas, Stihl silver bottle oil, and marine grade fuel system cleaner in my saws. Same mix - minus the Stihl oil, but add Sta-Bil - for my mower and snow blower. Those mixes solved all the irregular revving / backing down issues I'd been having. My equipment all runs smoothly now, thanks to his advice. FWIW.

 

[H20fwler]

I only use the Stihl oil and mix it myself, I fill the can with highest octane the station has. I also keep my saw in a heated garage.

 

[Ben.MN/WI]

I use the same little grey Stihl oil bottles that get mixed with a gallon of gas. I use the Kwik-Trip non-oxygenated gas, and it works really well for me.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Follow-up to my post #16 above -
That outdoor equipment business owner also told me that many times when we think we have mechanical / engine issues, it may very well be the fuel we're using. I can say that his fuel suggestions were spot-on.

 

[TreeDaddy]

100% pre mixed

I average 1/2 day work ~ once every month

bill