Premium fuel with ethanol or regular non-ethanol?

[Mark71GTX]

I was always told to only use premium fuel in two strokes, so I always have. I started using regular non-ethanol fuel this past year when the local country store started selling it. I was happy to get it as I had just had to rebuild several carburetors due to the ethanol turning my soft parts into mush. I was visiting my dad and he asked what I was running in my saw, so I told him - regular non-ethanol 50:1. He told me I needed to use premium non ethanol, which I have none of locally. What is the take of the board on this issue? Note - I have not encountered any trouble since I made the switch. Curious about long term though.

 

[Chainsaw Jim]

Premium non ethanol.
I don't believe regular non ethanol fuel is available in states that sell ethanol fuel. In Oregon you'll only find clear premium, no clear regular.

 

[CoreyB]

Oh boy you did it now. I think everyone will say no ethanol is most important. As far as premium a few will say it has extra detergents that are not needed. And add octane boost to your fuel. Pre mix is just so darn expensive.
My vote is non ethanol regular add octane if you think you need it.

 

[Mark71GTX]

The pump says 87 on it. Do you think they just didn't bother changing the sticker or something?

 

[stihlaficionado]

89 octane no ethanol

 

[Warped5]

www.pure-gas.org

 

[Mark71GTX]

Two places in my town, both sell 87 octane... They do have 93 in Lillington though!

 

[sunfish]

87 E-free is fine and what I'd burn.

 

[dsell]

I see anyone can upload a station to puregas. I question the integrity of that data. The pump listed at Moundridge UNBRANDED 91 Mid-Kansas Co Op is unattended. Even if it was attended, how would the clerk know what level of ethanol they buy? I bought 2 gallons of this crap for $6 and it smells like varnish. Kansas doesn't have to mark the pump unless it's over 10%.
Kansas law copied from the Kansas department of agriculture
Statutes & Regulations
Weights & Measures
99-25-10. Retail dispenser labeling. Each retail dispenser of fuel ethanol shall be labeled with the capital letter “E” followed by the percentage of denatured ethanol, by volume, and ending with the word “ethanol” if the percentage of fuel ethanol, by volume, exceeds 10 percent.

 

[bwalker]

Stihl says to use 89 octane or higher IIRC. I use premium ethanol free in everything two cycle.

 

[bwalker]

I see anyone can upload a station to puregas. I question the integrity of that data. The pump listed at Moundridge UNBRANDED 91 Mid-Kansas Co Op is unattended. Even if it was attended, how would the clerk know what level of ethanol they buy? I bought 2 gallons of this crap for $6 and it smells like varnish. Kansas doesn't have to mark the pump unless it's over 10%.
Kansas law copied from the Kansas department of agriculture
Statutes & Regulations
Weights & Measures
99-25-10. Retail dispenser labeling. Each retail dispenser of fuel ethanol shall be labeled with the capital letter “E” followed by the percentage of denatured ethanol, by volume, and ending with the word “ethanol” if the percentage of fuel ethanol, by volume, exceeds 10 percent.

Its very easy to measure ethanol content of gasoline at home. Combine a measured amount of fuel and a measured amount of water in a graduated jar or measuring device. Agitate the sample, then measure the level of gasoline floating on top of the water. Ethanol will drop out and mix with the water. So basicly you just measure the decrease and go from there with the math to figure percent.

 

[HuskStihl]

Just understand that if you make a long trip to get efree premium, you are doing it for yourself and not u'r saw. Lots of guys here run regular gas on saws with advanced timing and high compression with no issues. I run e10 89, but I'd use efree87 if'n it were available

 

[bwalker]

Just understand that if you make a long trip to get efree premium, you are doing it for yourself and not u'r saw. Lots of guys here run regular gas on saws with advanced timing and high compression with no issues. I run e10 89, but I'd use efree87 if'n it were available

A little more octane is cheap insurance given the high piston temps modern saws run.

 

[1Alpha1]

I'm currently using canned fuel. We don't have E-Free gas in my area. Prior to using the canned stuff, I just used the pump stuff, 87/89 octane with ethanol in it. Was using it for years and years, and not a single problem or issue.

I never leave my OPE stored with fuel in it. After use, the tank gets emptied and I start the machine back up and run it til it dies. Stihl Inc. says to do the same thing. I believe that's why I've never had any problems.

 

[Flip D]

I have over 30 pieces of OPE on the farm(not including chainsaws) and use 93 octane E10 in everything. The first year after the switch, all the 20 yr old fuel lines disintegrated, but once those were replaced, I haven't had any trouble out of my engines. Most of the time my stuff gets pulled out a few days before it's needed and last seasons E10 dumped out and the oil changed. It gets used hard and put away wet year after year. I try to overhaul a few things every winter but normally it's 5-6 years in between overhauls.

E10 is 3 minutes away versus 40 min round trip for E free where I'm at, so it's a no brainer to run Ethanol.

 

[dsell]

I've been running the 87 octane corn fuel for years. However, I've recently seen fuel lines shrinking in my equipment and friends. I'm concerned that the ethanol content is getting higher at the pump. So, I finally got a couple gallons of the 91 octane that is suppose to be corn free for my saws. I normally drain them, run tell dead, then leave the caps off and air dry a week. Now, I've read on the fuel line threads that might not be the best plan. I didn't see any difference in performance from 87 to 91 octane on 3 saws.

 

[Full Chisel]

I run the highest octane I can get at a station, ethanol or not. I just make sure to fire the saws up occasionally to run fuel through them and oil the bar. No issues so far.

 

[NWCoaster]

92 octane with ethanol with a fuel stabilizer ( That being the most important )...... and I always leave fuel in the equipment when done..... have never had a problem in any of my power equipment doing it this way in over 20 years ( Not a single carb rebuild or effed up fuel line). I think it is better than allowing your fuel system to dry out every time you are done with the saw.... seems like as air gets in and there are contaminants left behind you can get oxidation/dry crud. As long as you keep your starage containers airtight, ethanol will not be a problem.

 

[USMC615]

I've ran plenty of 89 and 91 ethanol gas and never any problems, but the last couple of years I've made about an 8 mile trek to a Pure gas station that sells 91 ethanol-free. Only gas station that has it here, and there's literally 100 gas stations in Warner Robins, Ga. I always add Star-tron stabilizer to either the ethanol or non-ethanol gas. And I'll add a couple of capfuls of Sea Foam as well to the equation regardless of gallon can size of pre-mix or straight gas for mowers. No failures to date, knock on wood. I shake and mix the straight gas cans as well as pre-mix cans thoroughly before it gets dumped into any tank. And I leave my equipment with fuel in them throughout most of the year, as most probably do. No sense in draining anything when it's gonna get used again within another week to 10 days. If it needs a little splash to freshen it up or top it off, that's what it gets. I will drain the mowers and weedeaters when ol man winter sets in and ain't nothing growin.

 

[Rockjock]

92 octane with ethanol with a fuel stabilizer ( That being the most important )...... and I always leave fuel in the equipment when done..... have never had a problem in any of my power equipment doing it this way in over 20 years ( Not a single carb rebuild or effed up fuel line). I think it is better than allowing your fuel system to dry out every time you are done with the saw.... seems like as air gets in and there are contaminants left behind you can get oxidation/dry crud. As long as you keep your starage containers airtight, ethanol will not be a problem.

The sea of lawnmowers, trimmers, zero turns, generators, tillers, chainsaws, and now snowblowers at my dealership that are in for ethanol related issues says otherwise. Talking to the mechanics in the back they all agree, drain and run dry. We have countless people coming in insisting they used a fuel stabilizer and yet the OPE will not start. Funny how the fuel stabilizer snake oil companies offer no warranty . I have seen too many carbs with " jelly " in them from the ethanol and they are in an airtight environment no? I have to ask why people tempt fate. Just drain the gas, run dry and be done with it. Penny wise pound foolish