I ran my own Grass Cutting/Landscaping/Snow Removal service for 12 years until 2004 in all my small engine equipment I had no issues running reg gas with the required oil mix.
I used all Stihl equipment so I did not have to carry different mixes for obvious reasons.
I started to have trouble with the equipment a couple years before I stopped mowing. This was the same time they started to mix ethanol with the gas.
The small engine dealer I used for purchasing and repairs/maint. suggested I use non-ethanol high octane gas with the same oil ratio needed to run my equipment.
I have followed that advice for twenty years now and I never have issues other than normal maint. and wear and tear.
I did watch the video. At the 5 min mark wearing the cut off and tattered jean shorts she did strike a cheese cake pose as she was getting ready to start the leaf blower and nice touch with the close up of the Cougar emblem. A little subliminal messaging maybe?
She says "There are bad batches." One "bad batch" is all it takes to ruin a 2-cycle engine! If you use quality gas, quality oil, and the correct mix ratio, you'll NEVER get "a bad batch!" I don't have the money to waste on "gourmet" gas!
I like mixing my own and I only use non-ethonal, period. I at times burn through several gal in no time. Then other times it'll set for a few months. Regardless, when a project pops up either big or small my small engines fire right up and run like champs. Corn is fer whiskey and ya can even put it on table. It aint got no place in gasoline. My opinion. Also, I like this gal. Glad you put her on every so often.
My Husqvarna runs great on the different factory fuels I've tried. It starts much easier after sitting for months with the TruFuel so if I don't see myself using it for a month or three, I'll make sure it's sitting with TruFuel. Fires right up. If I've got a decent sized job in front of me, I'll use my own premix mainly because of the cost of the factory mix.
Ever since I started using ONLY ethanol free gas with ONLY synthetic 2 stroke oil, I haven't had a single fuel related issue. That was about six or seven years ago. It's amazing how my carburetor issues went away when I eliminated the ethanol in the gas. The rubber in them used to go bad in two or three years when I was still using the gas that contained ethanol.
The biggest problem with ethanol laced fuel in a 2-stroker is that the alcohol tends to make the lubricating oil stratify and drop out of suspension. This happens overnight. Just give that gas can a really good shake and top off your equipment before use, not after. That’ll stop most of the ethanol problems. (Other than corrosion and premature rot of rubber parts that is).
That's a great tip. It also indicates that it wouldn't hurt to give your saws / other two stroke equipment a vigorous shaking when it's time to start it up in the morning. Shake it like you hate it.
Good info. I stayed away from these canned fuels due to the price but now that I know it will burn up my equipment (can't afford to replace!) then I'll stay even further away.
The only 2 cycle engine I have is my weedeater. I don't use but about 1/2 gallon of fuel a year in it. It's more cost efficient for me to use TruFuel. I use the 40:1 mix instead of 50:1. One thing I learned when I was a factory certified OMC (Johnson/Evinrude outboards) technician is that a little extra oil won't hurt. There is only one gas station in town that sells non-ethanol gas and it's on the other side of town. Mixing my own with non-e gas actually costs more than TruFuel. Before I started using TruFuel I used ethanol gas and a weedeater would last 1 - 2 seasons. The weedeater I have now is a TroyBilt that I bought from Lowe's 4 years ago and have only run it on TruFuel.
When the only thing I had that needed 2 stroke gas was a string trimmer (and I only needed that in the summer) I bought a battery powered trimmer and stopped messing with 2 stroke.
I know the rap against ethanol in gas but I’ve never had trouble using it in 2 cycle outboards and lawn equipment and 4 stroke mowers. I always use a preservative and get it in fairly small quantities. Ed
Stihl premix with 91 octane pure gas is what goes in my premix engines. The Stihl blower and Poulan chain saw can set for months and it will crank with no issues. The big Stihl chain saw will need a new carb if there is any fuel in it for over 6 weeks.
Bought a couple cans a few years back. Hung on to the empties & refill them with my own mix for ease of transporting it on the 4-wheeler when cutting firewood. 2 cans & a qt of bar oil fit nicely into the gear bag on the back rack, saw straps onto the rack & cut wood goes on the trailer for the trip to the truck. No worries about those cans leaking & if I forget one in the trees I’m not out a whole lot.
Agreed, the higher-octane gas with the 10% Ethanol will run just fine in 2 or 4 stroke yard engines as long as you use a fuel stabilizer and run the carburetor dry when you finish the job. But I don't leave it in the equipment fuel tank any longer than I need to. I also won't use it in an outboard motor. I prefer non ethanol fuel but will use what I can get.
I ran my own Grass Cutting/Landscaping/Snow Removal service for 12 years until 2004 in all my small engine equipment I had no issues running reg gas with the required oil mix.
ReplyDeleteI used all Stihl equipment so I did not have to carry different mixes for obvious reasons.
I started to have trouble with the equipment a couple years before I stopped mowing. This was the same time they started to mix ethanol with the gas.
The small engine dealer I used for purchasing and repairs/maint. suggested I use non-ethanol high octane gas with the same oil ratio needed to run my equipment.
I have followed that advice for twenty years now and I never have issues other than normal maint. and wear and tear.
I did watch the video. At the 5 min mark wearing the cut off and tattered jean shorts she did strike a cheese cake pose as she was getting ready to start the leaf blower and nice touch with the close up of the Cougar emblem. A little subliminal messaging maybe?
Hiker Mike
She says "There are bad batches." One "bad batch" is all it takes to ruin a 2-cycle engine! If you use quality gas, quality oil, and the correct mix ratio, you'll NEVER get "a bad batch!" I don't have the money to waste on "gourmet" gas!
ReplyDeleteI like mixing my own and I only use non-ethonal, period. I at times burn through several gal in no time. Then other times it'll set for a few months. Regardless, when a project pops up either big or small my small engines fire right up and run like champs. Corn is fer whiskey and ya can even put it on table. It aint got no place in gasoline. My opinion. Also, I like this gal. Glad you put her on every so often.
ReplyDeleteMy Husqvarna runs great on the different factory fuels I've tried. It starts much easier after sitting for months with the TruFuel so if I don't see myself using it for a month or three, I'll make sure it's sitting with TruFuel. Fires right up.
DeleteIf I've got a decent sized job in front of me, I'll use my own premix mainly because of the cost of the factory mix.
Ever since I started using ONLY ethanol free gas with ONLY synthetic 2 stroke oil, I haven't had a single fuel related issue. That was about six or seven years ago. It's amazing how my carburetor issues went away when I eliminated the ethanol in the gas. The rubber in them used to go bad in two or three years when I was still using the gas that contained ethanol.
ReplyDeleteThe biggest problem with ethanol laced fuel in a 2-stroker is that the alcohol tends to make the lubricating oil stratify and drop out of suspension. This happens overnight. Just give that gas can a really good shake and top off your equipment before use, not after. That’ll stop most of the ethanol problems. (Other than corrosion and premature rot of rubber parts that is).
ReplyDeleteThat's a great tip. It also indicates that it wouldn't hurt to give your saws / other two stroke equipment a vigorous shaking when it's time to start it up in the morning.
DeleteShake it like you hate it.
Good info. I stayed away from these canned fuels due to the price but now that I know it will burn up my equipment (can't afford to replace!) then I'll stay even further away.
ReplyDelete- arc
The only 2 cycle engine I have is my weedeater. I don't use but about 1/2 gallon of fuel a year in it. It's more cost efficient for me to use TruFuel. I use the 40:1 mix instead of 50:1. One thing I learned when I was a factory certified OMC (Johnson/Evinrude outboards) technician is that a little extra oil won't hurt.
ReplyDeleteThere is only one gas station in town that sells non-ethanol gas and it's on the other side of town. Mixing my own with non-e gas actually costs more than TruFuel. Before I started using TruFuel I used ethanol gas and a weedeater would last 1 - 2 seasons. The weedeater I have now is a TroyBilt that I bought from Lowe's 4 years ago and have only run it on TruFuel.
When the only thing I had that needed 2 stroke gas was a string trimmer (and I only needed that in the summer) I bought a battery powered trimmer and stopped messing with 2 stroke.
DeleteSame here. I also bought an extra battery to go along with it, but I didn't need to. I have never run the battery all the way down on a single job.
DeleteI know the rap against ethanol in gas but I’ve never had trouble using it in 2 cycle outboards and lawn equipment and 4 stroke mowers. I always use a preservative and get it in fairly small quantities.
ReplyDeleteEd
Stihl premix with 91 octane pure gas is what goes in my premix engines. The Stihl blower and Poulan chain saw can set for months and it will crank with no issues. The big Stihl chain saw will need a new carb if there is any fuel in it for over 6 weeks.
ReplyDeleteBought a couple cans a few years back. Hung on to the empties & refill them with my own mix for ease of transporting it on the 4-wheeler when cutting firewood. 2 cans & a qt of bar oil fit nicely into the gear bag on the back rack, saw straps onto the rack & cut wood goes on the trailer for the trip to the truck. No worries about those cans leaking & if I forget one in the trees I’m not out a whole lot.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, the higher-octane gas with the 10% Ethanol will run just fine in 2 or 4 stroke yard engines as long as you use a fuel stabilizer and run the carburetor dry when you finish the job. But I don't leave it in the equipment fuel tank any longer than I need to. I also won't use it in an outboard motor. I prefer non ethanol fuel but will use what I can get.
ReplyDelete