Don't use starter fluid?

[Old2stroke]

We tell people to never use starter fluid to get their saw going because it is not a lubricant, will remove protective oil films and could lead to engine damage but is there actually any evidence to support this or is it mainly intuition and mythology? 4-stroke engines with pressure oiling still rely on residual oil film to protect moving parts until the engine is running, yet MANY of them in things like wood splitters, generators, and any engine that is so cold it will barely turn over, are routinely started with a spray can and don't appear to suffer from it. Many people that I advise not to use the stuff (know nothing homeowners) claim they have been using it for years and I have yet to see any damage that could be blamed on it.

 

[Patrick62]

I don't think I have used starting fluid (ether) on a gasoline engine in 20? 30? years?
If the fuel and enrichment system (choke, etc) are up to "snuff" it usually doesn't take much to get them to start up.
if it is that blasted COLD out, I am not cutting, so the saws don't really count.
Splitter usually hangs out in the shop, starts easily.
Other small engines, generators, etc, I can usually get them to start.

cars and trucks? Same deal. I drive junk, carbureted stuff. One time, the jeepster refused to start at -18, but the brown dodge with a 440 would start. Go figure...

35 years ago, we got off work, it was really really cold. like -25 or something. The Pontiac gave me one try. Next was to find Ronnie, with jumper cables off his old Ford.

back to original question. Ether in a 2 cycle chainsaw... Nope, no point in it. Gasoline vaporizes easily enough, If it won't bang on mix, there are other problems somewhere that a shot of ether isn't going to help with

 

[grizz55chev]

Like most things, moderation is the key. Continued use would indicate a problem elsewhere that needs attention. YMMV.

 

[bwalker]

We tell people to never use starter fluid to get their saw going because it is not a lubricant, will remove protective oil films and could lead to engine damage but is there actually any evidence to support this or is it mainly intuition and mythology? 4-stroke engines with pressure oiling still rely on residual oil film to protect moving parts until the engine is running, yet MANY of them in things like wood splitters, generators, and any engine that is so cold it will barely turn over, are routinely started with a spray can and don't appear to suffer from it. Many people that I advise not to use the stuff (know nothing homeowners) claim they have been using it for years and I have yet to see any damage that could be blamed on it.

In a two cycle you really don't need starter fluid.
Four cycles and diesels in very cold weather are a different story.

 

[buzz sawyer]

I don't think I have used starting fluid (ether) on a gasoline engine in 20? 30? years?
If the fuel and enrichment system (choke, etc) are up to "snuff" it usually doesn't take much to get them to start up.
if it is that blasted COLD out, I am not cutting, so the saws don't really count.
Splitter usually hangs out in the shop, starts easily.
Other small engines, generators, etc, I can usually get them to start.

cars and trucks? Same deal. I drive junk, carbureted stuff. One time, the jeepster refused to start at -18, but the brown dodge with a 440 would start. Go figure...

35 years ago, we got off work, it was really really cold. like -25 or something. The Pontiac gave me one try. Next was to find Ronnie, with jumper cables off his old Ford.

back to original question. Ether in a 2 cycle chainsaw... Nope, no point in it. Gasoline vaporizes easily enough, If it won't bang on mix, there are other problems somewhere that a shot of ether isn't going to help with

Same here. If it won't start on fuel/mix, you have another problem. I think, at one time, gas companies had Winter and Summer fuel blends. Do they still do that? If so, maybe someone is trying to use summer gas in the winter - and vice-versa - causing excessive fuel boiling in the Summer?

 

[bwalker]

Same here. If it won't start on fuel/mix, you have another problem. I think, at one time, gas companies had Winter and Summer fuel blends. Do they still do that? If so, maybe someone is trying to use summer gas in the winter - and vice-versa - causing excessive fuel boiling in the Summer?

They still have seasonal blends.
Typicly when machine sits the fuel in the carb looses volatility and starting becomes harder. Which is why a fresh tank of fuel and a purge bulb are a good thing.

 

[Old2stroke]

Do we have a reading problem here? I know you should not need starter fluid to start anything and I don't use it but I know people who DO use it and when I tell them not to use it, I would like to give them a good reason. The post was an attempt to find out if anyone has actual evidence that the stuff can lead to engine damage.
What the hell does YMMV mean?

 

[ZeroJunk]

Maybe when these guy's parents or grad parents who understand ether from the 50's and 60's finally die off there will be some sanity return and they will understand that if you had a month to damage a saw with starter fluid you could not do it.

 

[bwalker]

I'm not saying it can't be done because there are some real determined idiots out there, but I think a little shot of starting fluid isn't going to hurt anything.
At start up the engine is awash in liquid fuel, so the washing oil film away argument isn't relevant in my mind.