A Little Shake before Fueling

[RES]

I usually give my fuel can a few shakes before fueling my saws. My chemist friend saws that I am wasting my time. He claims that once the 2-cycle oil is in solution, it never separates. Is there anyone else out there that shakes the can a few times before refueling?

 

[buzz sawyer]

My Stihl manual recommends this. I've heard some oils can separate somewhat during long storage. Anyway, what can it hurt?

 

[Mike G]

I do this all the time........

 

[West Texas]

I suspect its just second nature; we being chainsaw guys and not chemist

 

[TwoTurboVolvos]

I do this all the time........

I second that! Never Hurts to do so...
Ron

 

[sawinredneck]

Again, old school, it's always been second nature!!!
Andy

 

[BlueRidgeMark]

Do a cost vs. benefit analysis. If he's right, and you go ahead and shake the can, what does it cost? A few seconds, and maybe not even that if you shake it while you are carrying it. Big deal.


If he's wrong and you don't shake it, what does it cost? Maybe a seized motor?


No brainer. Shake it, baby, shake!


(Where's Jerry Lee Lewis when you need him?)

 

[Jonsered Rep]

Shaking over here boss

Ive always been a shaker

 

[lovetheoutdoors]

I shake my brains out LOL:hmm3grin2orange:

 

[ShoerFast]

I dont think of it.

Years ago, we mixed 30# waight engine oil with gas in a clear gallon vinager jug,,,,,, it was always settling darker at the bottom.

But when we could get real 2-cycl oil, that jug stayed mixed.

 

[carvinmark]

Always shake mine out of habit

 

[KMB]

Do a cost vs. benefit analysis. If he's right, and you go ahead and shake the can, what does it cost? A few seconds, and maybe not even that if you shake it while you are carrying it. Big deal.


If he's wrong and you don't shake it, what does it cost? Maybe a seized motor?


No brainer. Shake it, baby, shake!


(Where's Jerry Lee Lewis when you need him?)

Nuf said

Kevin

 

[rmihalek]

With all this crap that's being put into gasoline these days (ethanol, MTBE, methanol, etc.) I shake the mix just to be sure that the premix oil hasn't interacted in some wierd way with the "oxygenates" and caused some kind of separation.

I like the idea of mixing up some fuel in a clear glass jug to see what happens. May have to try that today.

 

[Gypo Logger]

I never really payed much contention nor even read the constructions about whether to shake or not.
However, now that I think about, it probably gets shaken enough in the box of the truck on the way to the woods, but if I leave it in the bush I usually shake it before I use it.:help:
John

 

[Cut4fun]

My mix just sits in the barn between uses and I have always did the shake shake shake your can routine.

 

[Sprig]

I concur with the general consensus but I try not to shake it up if the gas is anything like it is here, crappy (moisture), or if I suspect debris has gotten into the can. I have several glass jars of gas mix sitting on a shelf, drek I dumped out of various machine's tanks, water/stuff layer below, mix above. They've been there for a couple of months, no seperation of any sort (I use it for cleaning) other than the water settling out. Hm, time to experiment?

 

[Mr.]

I always shake the race fuel.

Unless your buddy has a chemical breakdown of everything in the fuel, you put there and the fuel manufacturer. How can you state with any certainty that there are not elements that are mearly "suspended."

Anyone got change for a $5.

Fred

 

[hillbillycycles]

Well, I'm a chemical engineer and I always shake the can before I refuel. As a matter of fact, I was shaking the can before filling my string trimmer over the weekend and wondering if it really did anything for me. I suspect it's a habit I got back in my old two stroke dirt bike days and before they had good oils that stayed mixed like today.

As was said before, all you are doing is getting a little exercise so it's not hurting anything. I usually clean out my cans at least once or twice a year to get all the crap that collects in them out.

 

[sawn_penn]

With all this crap that's being put into gasoline these days (ethanol, MTBE, methanol, etc.) I shake the mix just to be sure that the premix oil hasn't interacted in some wierd way with the "oxygenates" and caused some kind of separation.

I've seen specific advice that recent fuel formulations containing alcohol absorb water vapour from the atmosphere, and that this causes fuel/oil separation.

Definitely shake.

 

[aggiewoodbutchr]

Hello.

My name is Aggie, and I'm a shaker.