Anybody heard of these guys for fuel?

[Grouchy old man]

Got an email from these guys a few months back pushing their fuel to landscapers and tree services. With the cost of gas today, even without the highway fuel taxes, shipping and storing their fuel has got to be even more expensive than local for anybody that uses any amount regularly. Probably why they don't give prices and have no dealers because none of the links work. I don't think they have many customers except for maybe emergency services.

 

[roostersgt]

Never heard of them, but I now use TruFuel 50:1 and 40:1 in my saws. Trying to avoid the ethanol induced fuel system rebuilds that have ocurred regularly in my Mac. I pay about $4 per quart for TruFuel and the stuff you mentioned appears to be packaged very similarly. I did notice that they are advertising the use 94+ octane, whereas TruFuel is only 93+ octane. Really makes the saws pop, even when cold.

 

[LB30]

I seen something similar to that today at O'riellys, it was like 4 bucks for 32 oz., I think i will stick to mixing my own

 

[roostersgt]

Yeah, it's pricey stuff they're no doubt very proud of. I figure I'll mix my own for the bigger jobs and run this expensive stuff through them before putting them away for storage at end of cutting season. Might save me some grief a few months down the road. Who knows?

 

[TREE_KILLER]

Not a fan of the ready to use mix fuel.I am not 100% but I seized a new 441(>20 hr.) using 32 oz 93 octain ready to use mixed fuel. I was on the 2nd tank of it. The piston, rings and cylender walls looked as thou I put strait gas in it. I forget the name of the product but it was a red color. I don't even use red mix now!

Yeah, it's pricey stuff they're no doubt very proud of. I figure I'll mix my own for the bigger jobs and run this expensive stuff through them before putting them away for storage at end of cutting season.

When does cutting season end in Sac?? I live 50 minutes up the hill from you. I got my start there.Now when I get snowed out here I head out to the "City of Trees" to my winter time regulars.

 

[roostersgt]

We bought a cabin last year and it's only source of heat is a wood stove. Oue "cutting" season for this years wood ended last week, when we got our 6th cord of wood split. That should hold us through fall and winter. I scavenge downed wood on Craigslist for my wood and have taken down a few green trees for firends and relatives. Most of my wood is already dead and ready to burn.

My experience with fuel has not been good. My trusty Mac for the past 25 years or so has needed to have it's fuel lines and carb rebuilt dang near every year due to fuel related problems, even though I always run it dry before storing. Hopefully, I'll be avoiding that with this new fuel / synthetic oil blend.

Pretty familiar with your area. I have friends at Lake of the Pines and surrounding area.

 

[Grouchy old man]

Not a fan of the ready to use mix fuel.I am not 100% but I seized a new 441(>20 hr.) using 32 oz 93 octain ready to use mixed fuel. I was on the 2nd tank of it. The piston, rings and cylender walls looked as thou I put strait gas in it. I forget the name of the product but it was a red color. I don't even use red mix now!

Yeah, it kinda bothers me that this stuff is 93-94 octane when the saw manufacturers say not to use anything higher than 84, maybe that's the reason?

I'm not worrying about it though, I called SEF today looking for prices and dealers. They have none in my area (NY) but for a 5 gallon can they want $95, that's like $19/gallon! Pricy for sure!

With the possibility of them increasing the ethanol content beyond the already 10% why can't somebody just set up a pump like some places do for kerosene and sell ethanol free regular to small engine users and others who need to use it? Hell, make it more than pump prices if they have to (but not $19/gal!) and if want to keep people from using it in their cars maybe even use a diesel size nozzle so it won't fit.

 

[LB30]

It makes to much sense to them to add an ethanol free pump, there is more money in it for everyone else if they force you to buy new saws or some fancy additive to contradict the ethanol content of the gasoline!!!!!

 

[Grouchy old man]

Looks like Stihl has their own version- MotoMix. Also they say if you mix, fuel should be 89 octane minimum so I guess 93 is OK.

 

[LB30]

That is the bad part of being in the corn belt. A lot of the 89 octane has 10% ethanol:bang:

 

[rmihalek]

VP Racing

SEF is from VP Racing. It's their pre-mix blend of their Small Engine Formula (SEF) fuel along with pre-mix oil. I would recommend buying a 5 gallon jug of the straight gasoline ( $50 for 5 gallons) and then mixing it up at 32:1 for yourself.

 

[pdqdl]

Even in "alcohol required" states, it's not that hard to find alcohol free gas. Unless I am mistaken, it is always legal to sell premium without alcohol, it's just that most stations don't bother.

Call the regional distributor for the gas stations, and ask them who is buying alcohol free gasoline. I did, and found the only gas station in KCMO that has alcohol-free premium.

I buy it 50 gallons at a time in a common barrel, then add a gallon of premium 2-cycle oil.

 

[Rookie1]

As already stated Stihl has their own brand called Motomix. I talked to my dealer about it and plan on getting it for the Fire Dept. I work for. Their saws sit around for long periods of time and this stuff will work out even if it is expensive.

 

[LB30]

Even in "alcohol required" states, it's not that hard to find alcohol free gas. Unless I am mistaken, it is always legal to sell premium without alcohol, it's just that most stations don't bother.

Call the regional distributor for the gas stations, and ask them who is buying alcohol free gasoline. I did, and found the only gas station in KCMO that has alcohol-free premium.

I buy it 50 gallons at a time in a common barrel, then add a gallon of premium 2-cycle oil.

Who in KC sells it??

Rookie, in your line of work you HAVE to go with the best no matter what, it is not like you have time to fiddle fart around with a saw in a time of dire need!!!

 

[pdqdl]

Velaro at 95th & Lydia. South KC.

It's been a while since I checked, but I think it is easy to find in Kansas.

 

[LB30]

I will have to check and see while i am out there tomorrow....thanks for the info

 

[Rookie1]

Who in KC sells it??

Rookie, in your line of work you HAVE to go with the best no matter what, it is not like you have time to fiddle fart around with a saw in a time of dire need!!!

You are right.To clarify,Im the city mechanic not a fireman,not that thats a bad thing.:msp_rolleyes: The problem we are having is ethanol sitting around and going bad so Motomix looks like a good answer to the problem. Only other thing is all the 4 stroke engines that Dont get used all that often. I was thinking about putting Motomix in them too but we may just empty gas tanks once a year . PITA but thats how it goes.

 

[Racerboy832]

Make sure you check the fuel for ethanol even if it's listed as ethanol free. You can buy a cheap $5 tester on ebay. I've had friends bring me fuel and it always has ethanol even thou they swear it doesn't.

 

[Grouchy old man]

You can buy a cheap $5 tester on ebay.

Just use a mayonaise jar. Mark the outside with a piece of masking tape about an inch and a half from the bottom. Pour in some water just to the top of tape. Now pour in maybe four inches of gasoline, leave room at the top and put the cap on. Shake it up and let it stand for about 10 minutes. If the water level goes up it's the ethanol combining with the water. While this is not calibrated like some testers that will give you the actual percentage, it's a cheap and dirty way to see if there is ethanol in the fuel.