Fuel octane question?

[NYH1]

What octane fuel do you guys use? My owners manual for my 365 recommends at least 87 octane. It also says- "when working with continuous high revs (e.g. limbing) a higher octane is recommended". I was going to use the 89 octane unleaded fuel mixed 50:1 with Husky XP oil. I can also get 91 or 93 octane unleaded fuel. Is the 89 octane going to be enough or should I use the 91 or 93 octane? Thanks NYH1!

 

[blis]

always use the highest octaine fuel you can (here you can get 95 and 98), it simply runs better on high octaine fuel and the savings aint worth it...

 

[NYH1]

always use the highest octaine fuel you can (here you can get 95 and 98), it simply runs better on high octaine fuel and the savings aint worth it...

Thanks blis! I wasn't sure if to much octane was over kill and not needed or even not good. I can get up to 93 octane. Money is not the issue especially when I'll only be buying a gallon or two at a time. Thanks again!

 

[blis]

Thanks blis! I wasn't sure if to much octane was over kill and not needed or even not good. I can get up to 93 octane. Money is not the issue especially when I'll only be buying a gallon or two at a time. Thanks again!

oh btw, the octane is rated differently over there, but i quess 98 here equalls to 93 over there...

 

[Stihl-in-Ky]

Just bought a 441 magnum and reading the owners manual they said to use the higher octane also. Their reason was that it helps cool the saw.

 

[billyjoejr]

Tip to avoid ethanol

Don't always choose the highest octane available. It could contain ethanol.
Also consider that ethanol increases the octane rating by 2 points.
Here in Washington State, ethanol is not mandatory.
Before ethanol started being used, the three octane ratings for gas were 87, 89 and 91.
Now the stations with ethanol(signs saying their gas is oxygenated) have ratings of 89, 91 and 93.
I only buy 91 grade octane from gas stations with the 87, 89 and 91 octane ratings to avoid getting gas with ethanol.

Not about chainsaws, but link explains octane ratings for cars
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/3604/regular-or-premium.html

Edit to add these two Stihl links:
STIHL recommends a mix of 50:1 high-quality 89 octane or higher unleaded gasoline to STIHL engine oil. This same mix ratio should be used during break-in.
http://www.stihlusa.com/accessories/twocycleoil.html

Modern fuels break down more quickly in hot weather. When this happens you won't get the performance out of your engine that you expect and may even cause damage to your engine. STIHL engines are high performance and require a minimum 89-octane fuel. Use fresh fuel and a low ash, top quality 2-cycle oil rated for air-cooled engines. Do not use oil designed for water-cooled outboards. STIHL High Performance Two-Cycle Engine Oil has a fuel stabilizer in it, which will help prevent the fuel from becoming stale. STIHL also recommends only mixing about a one-month supply. Also remember to give the fuel can a gentle shake or swirl to stir the mix before pouring it into your engine's fuel tank.
http://www.stihlusa.com/broadcast/06-20-05/index.html

 

[blis]

Also consider that ethanol increases the octane rating by 2 points.
Here in Washington State, ethanol is not mandatory.
Before ethanol started being used, the three octane ratings for gas were 87, 89 and 91.
Now the stations with ethanol(signs saying their gas is oxygenated) have ratings of 89, 91 and 93.
I only buy 91 grade octane from gas stations with the 87, 89 and 91 octane ratings to avoid getting gas with ethanol.

Not about chainsaws, but link explains octane ratings for cars
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/3604/regular-or-premium.html

true that, ethanol gas is no no for chainsaws...

 

[precaud]

Also consider that ethanol increases the octane rating by 2 points.
Here in Washington State, ethanol is not mandatory.

Yes, but apparently ethanol isn't chainsaw-friendly, from what I've read on this site. So, I called the local Chevron distributor and ask if they put ethanol in their premium grade fuel. He said, no, it's not in any of them in this state. And if it was, federal laws would require that a notice be displayed on the pump stating there was ethanol in it. Since it's apparently a federal law, yours should too, but it might be wise to ask.

 

[dtnodya]

Yes, but apparently ethanol isn't chainsaw-friendly, from what I've read on this site. So, I called the local Chevron distributor and ask if they put ethanol in their premium grade fuel. He said, no, it's not in any of them in this state. And if it was, federal laws would require that a notice be displayed on the pump stating there was ethanol in it. Since it's apparently a federal law, yours should too, but it might be wise to ask.

Well all I know is that back in the day, I used to love the smell of gasoline. The other day, I changed the fuel filter on my truck and got a shower of gas ... The smell of gas now is 100% different than it used to be. I got a headache, had a damn sneeze attack, felt sick for a while ... If it ain't got ethenol in it then it's got something that isn't 'normal'. I've noticed this when getting gas from at least 30 different gas stations in the past year or so. All different grades ... they all smell funny!

Oh yeah, also .. when I was working on a John Deere 55SV (Echo 550evl) the operator manual says this:

 

[billyjoejr]

Well all I know is that back in the day, I used to love the smell of gasoline. The other day, I changed the fuel filter on my truck and got a shower of gas ... The smell of gas now is 100% different than it used to be. I got a headache, had a damn sneeze attack, felt sick for a while ... If it ain't got ethenol in it then it's got something that isn't 'normal'. I've noticed this when getting gas from at least 30 different gas stations in the past year or so. All different grades ... they all smell funny!

That's because it was full of lead and reminded us of the lead based paint we used to chew on. :jester: :jawdrop:

 

[dtnodya]

That's because it was full of lead and reminded us of the lead based paint we used to chew on. :jester: :jawdrop:

No ... I'm talking about the "unleaded" days ... used to smell wayyy different.

 

[windthrown]

Sweet lead...

Yah, old gas smelled good because of the lead in it. Lead tastes sweet. That is why kids ate lead paint. And why the Romans used to 'sweeten' wine by putting it into lead containers. Of course, burning tetra-ethyl lead in gas put it into the atmosphere. California banned leaded gas after they ran tests of Los Angeles area CHP officers and found that they had half the leathal dose of lead in their blood by cruising on the highways all day long.

Gas has gone through several changes lately. Removed lead. Oxygenated. Oxygenated usually means the addition of other alchohols like ethanol or methanol and/or ethers like MTBE (now banned). Gas is also commonly seasonally and regionally blended. This is to change the vaporization pressure so thet it burns more easilly in winter months when it is cold and is not as volitile in summer months when it is hot.

I notice that gas in Oregon burns better than gas in California. When I lived in CA I came up to OR a lot and got complaints from gas station attendants (no self-serve in Oregon) about the smell in my tank coming from CA. MTBE was really bad smelling stuff. And talk about insane EPA standards: the CA water board was suing the CA air quality board over the use of MTBE. MTBE made the air cleaner, but ruined the ground and lake water. The Feds finally ended the legal suit by banning MTBE use in gasoline. CA gas buyers paid a fortune to change over to MTBE formulated gas, and paid another fortune to convert away from it.

Also note that oxygenated gas tends to have higher octane (more even burning) but less efficiency. This is because gasoline has more energy than alchohol fuels. I think it is the alchohol that changes the smell of gas the most of late. I cleaned a muffler screen with gas yesterday and the gas (regular unleaded) smelled weird to me. Fresh gas too. So I think that the original poster is right. Gas just does not smell like gas any more.

 

[A100HVA]

always use the highest octaine fuel you can (here you can get 95 and 98), it simply runs better on high octaine fuel and the savings aint worth it...

after seeing all the problems my customers were having (along with myself) i started use'in v-p red racing gasoline 105 octane. i use it exclusivley in all my stuff (saws,woodsplitter,brush chipper,atv w/log loader) and sell each new saw filled up with it. all of my fuel related problems have ended
the customers who use the "cheap stuff" are still havin' problems and refuse to use highest octane available cause it's " all the same":deadhorse:

 

[windthrown]

Well all I know is that back in the day, I used to love the smell of gasoline. The other day, I changed the fuel filter on my truck and got a shower of gas ... The smell of gas now is 100% different than it used to be. I got a headache, had a damn sneeze attack, felt sick for a while ... If it ain't got ethenol in it then it's got something that isn't 'normal'. I've noticed this when getting gas from at least 30 different gas stations in the past year or so. All different grades ... they all smell funny!

Oh yeah, also .. when I was working on a John Deere 55SV (Echo 550evl) the operator manual says (graphic snipped)

Funny. My Echo chainsaw manual says to use mid-grade 89 octane or better (same as Stihl). I buy premium gas for my saws, as the octane tends to drop when it sits in the shop in the gallon plastic jugs.

 

[precaud]

I notice that gas in Oregon burns better than gas in California.

I noticed the same when I drove my truck from NM to CA to deliver my son to school a couple years ago. Gas mileage was 10% worse in CA and the engine idled quite rough. Not what I would expect going from 7000 ft. to sea level. I did enjoy the low end torque down there, though... you wouldn't believe how much of that disappears up here. Same has gotta be true for saws. That would be an interesting topic for another thread.

 

[JoeCanuck]

Octane

My Stihl calls for 89 and the Husky calls for 91. The 353 is an Etech though. These are both Canadian models. I use 91 for everything and will be checking a lot more carefully this summer re: ethanol after reading stuff here.


Joe

 

[stihlaficionado]

High Test

minimum 92 octane, NO ETHENOL

 

[shake5]

Can race fuel be used in a stock saw with no harmful effects? say like 103 octane ?

 

[psquared]

Last week the CT Stihl dealer I bought my saw from said use only high test because the mid-grade (89 ) is a of mix of 87 and high test, which means it has alcohol in it. He claimed the high test does not, therefor is the best choice.

 

[thomas72]

You can still get leaded fuel, but you are going to pay about $4.00 a gallon and it is about 101-103 octane. I never ran it in a chain saw but may try one day. Also about lead poisoning. With all of the fuss about it I have never heard one case dealing with lead poisoning. I new people who use to chew lead and had never bother them. I am not saying it will not hurt you, but I do not know anyone around here that it is affected. Know mercury is another thing, just holding it can cause poisoning, but you have to be in contact for a long time. Just about any heavy metal is harmful to a certain degree, even tungsten is radio active.