evaporating gasoline

[Stihl Alive]

one of my saws wsn't running well. When I dumped the fuel it was extremely dark, like I had mixed it too rich. I got paranoid and poured a sample from my mixed containter and compared the two. sample from the container slightly green and looked damn close to a 50:1. I dumped some of the fuel from my FS-250 and my farm boss and they looked fine too. My dealer said over time the gasoline will evaporate, leaving a richer mix in the tank, but I run this saw at least once a week so I wouldn't think it would happen that quickly. Anyone else have an idea why this would happen? My fuel retainer was not left unlocked or loose. ????????

 

[TDunk]

Over a period of a couple months the gas will evaporate, but in a week or two's time........highly unlikely. I'd prolly say that the saw has been sitting longer than you think or someone messin with ya.

 

[Stihl Alive]

The new style caps SUCK!!!! PERIOD!!

Be glad they are not on the 660, I'm glad they are not on my 046!! Never had to use asqrench or a screwdriver on my caps, there is no need to tighten them up that much!

that quote from another thread got me thinking. This is the only saw where I always have trouble getting the cap to seat correctly and lock. My 290 and 441 click right into place every time. Maybe there is some defect that would cause my tank to be exposed to more air. I I turned it upside down and all around and shook it and no gas came out, so I'm out of ideas.

 

[Norwegian Wood]

Could it be possible that the gas had been standing for a while before you put it on the saw? Or maybe some leftovers of oil in the saw of fuel tank that the gasolin reacted too?

 

[Crofter]

Any chance that a fuel and chain oil "top up" happened to get things in the wrong holes? lol! If the tanks are empty when it happens there is not much doubt about what happened, but a partial fill up could confuse things.

 

[Stihl Alive]

Any chance that a fuel and chain oil "top up" happened to get things in the wrong holes? lol! If the tanks are empty when it happens there is not much doubt about what happened, but a partial fill up could confuse things.

I don't think so, I never have both caps open at the same time, and if there is spill over from the chain oil I wipe it up before refueling. I'm really perplexed by this. When I got to thinking, I think I filled that saw with almost the last of the fuel in my mixed tank. Then I topped off everything else, poured out the last little bit and remixed the tank. Maybe the previous tank had some evaporated gasonline. But the fuel in all my other equipment is fine. I just don't get it.

I'm just going to keep a very close eye on my fuel now, maybe carry a tiny papsi bottle around with me and pour a little in it each time before feuling my equipment.

 

[RedlineIt]

SA,

Keep it mind that there is no intrinsic reason for mix oil to be of any particular colour at all.

Dye is added to 2-stroke oil as a simple visual reminder to the user as to whether a container of gas has been mixed or not.

Over the years I have used mix oil that has been dyed blue, green, red, black and you can't judge the rate or ratio of mix by judging the colour, the amount of dye varies from manufacturer to manufacturer and sometimes from lot to lot.


RedlineIt

 

[jomoco]

There was a very gruesome accident here in San Diego just a few weeks ago on a very hot dry day.

Some poor amateur slob with a dull saw was working it real hard when it ran out of gas.

He went to refuel his red hot saw, and as soon as he started pouring gas into it, it flashed right in his face and burned the poor guy over 60 percent of his body.

He is still alive on a morphine drip in an intensive burn care unit awaiting the first in a long line of skin grafting operations.

Never fuel a red hot saw, and using a dull saw is stupid.

jomoco

 

[RedlineIt]

jomoco,

Can you link to a news report on that?

Refueling a hot saw is a common safety oversight, I'd appreciate your help.


RedlineIt

 

[jomoco]

jomoco,

Can you link to a news report on that?

Refueling a hot saw is a common safety oversight, I'd appreciate your help.


RedlineIt

Dang finding that online was not easy Red!

Here yu go!

http://www.10news.com/news/17433931/detail.html

jomoco

 

[Stihl Alive]

SA,

Keep it mind that there is no intrinsic reason for mix oil to be of any particular colour at all.

Dye is added to 2-stroke oil as a simple visual reminder to the user as to whether a container of gas has been mixed or not.

Over the years I have used mix oil that has been dyed blue, green, red, black and you can't judge the rate or ratio of mix by judging the colour, the amount of dye varies from manufacturer to manufacturer and sometimes from lot to lot.


RedlineIt

the thing that's driving me nuts is that black fuel came out of my saw (according to the dealer) but every other unit fueled from the same container contained a green tinted fuel. Shouldn't be a serious issue, unless it happens again. Its just got my mind in a twist.

 

[cntrybo2]

i might be missing something here but if you are running the saw as much as you say whats the problem? The other aspect of this is its the fuel leaving the mix not the oil. For what its worth you will probably just get a little smoke but do no damage to your saw. I just dont see the big issue here man.

 

[Stihl Alive]

i might be missing something here but if you are running the saw as much as you say whats the problem? The other aspect of this is its the fuel leaving the mix not the oil. For what its worth you will probably just get a little smoke but do no damage to your saw. I just dont see the big issue here man.

it ran fine before that day. but that day I could not keep it running. It would take more then the normal two pulls to start, then would cut out when throttled. its running like a champ now. I've just been going on about it because I couldn't figure out how it happened.

 

[masterarbor]

it's the mix gremlins

 

[RedlineIt]

Dang finding that online was not easy Red!

Here yu go!

http://www.10news.com/news/17433931/detail.html

jomoco

Thanks!

It's always helpful to have actual accident reports like this to back up the droning on and on during new employee training. Reinforces the point.


RedlineIt

 

[scottr]

I don't think so, I never have both caps open at the same time, and if there is spill over from the chain oil I wipe it up before refueling. I'm really perplexed by this. When I got to thinking, I think I filled that saw with almost the last of the fuel in my mixed tank. Then I topped off everything else, poured out the last little bit and remixed the tank. Maybe the previous tank had some evaporated gasonline. But the fuel in all my other equipment is fine. I just don't get it.

I'm just going to keep a very close eye on my fuel now, maybe carry a tiny papsi bottle around with me and pour a little in it each time before feuling my equipment.

SA, I don't understand the 'tiny papsi bottle' that you are talking about but could you tell us what kind of gas can you use?

 

[Stihl Alive]

SA, I don't understand the 'tiny papsi bottle' that you are talking about but could you tell us what kind of gas can you use?

typo, I meant Pepsi. the little glass ones. Premium fuel with Stihl brand 2 cycle mix. 2.5 gallons.

on a side note I'm thinking about changing dealers. I've been buying from this guy for 5 years now, but the day I called about my saw he swore Stihl didn't make a mix bottle for a 2.5 gal container.
"they have one gallon and five gallon"

(no, I use the ones for 2.5 gallon)

"they don't make those"

(I'm looking right at it, I bought it from you)

I took it in there and showed it to him. He just ignored me like he never said it. Not to mention on my repair ticket he wrote "bad fuel, chain brake on" as if to say that the reason my chain would not move was because of the brake being on, not because of the bur he charged me $3 to file off the link.

sorry for the rant. don't drink the grape NOS energy drink

 

[Crofter]

Originally Posted by Crofter View Post
Any chance that a fuel and chain oil "top up" happened to get things in the wrong holes? lol! If the tanks are empty when it happens there is not much doubt about what happened, but a partial fill up could confuse things.

I don't think so, I never have both caps open at the same time, and if there is spill over from the chain oil I wipe it up before refueling. I'm really perplexed by this. When I got to thinking, I think I filled that saw with almost the last of the fuel in my mixed tank. Then I topped off everything else, poured out the last little bit and remixed the tank. Maybe the previous tank had some evaporated gasonline. But the fuel in all my other equipment is fine. I just don't get it.

I'm just going to keep a very close eye on my fuel now, maybe carry a tiny papsi bottle around with me and pour a little in it each time before feuling my equipment.

You dont have to have both filler caps off at the same time to put bar oil in the gas tank. I have watched fellow do it absentmindedly and you dont have to be old either but it does up the odds. You said the dealer said the fuel in your carb looked black. You claim the saw did not run well and was hard to start. It is still my guess it is not a matter of fuel evaporation but a fueling mixup!