I process a whole log truck load every year for firewood. I do it in early summer and it takes a couple of weeks. In the past, I have always dumped the fuel tank and then run the saw until it died from lack of fuel and never have had any issues the next year. I watch videos of small engine mechanics fixing stuff and keep hearing that you should top off the fuel tank and store it full of fuel. You want the carb and fuel lines filled with premix to keep them from drying out and cracking during periods of non use. I use only E10 87 octane mixed with stabil and red armor at 40:1. Please don't recommend non-ethanol or some sort of canned fuel. This is my fuel. Given that, what is the recommendation from you experienced saw folks? My saws are a dolmar 6400 with I believe an OEM zama carb and a clone Husky 372xp with a hylic carb, clone of a walbro. I don't want to have to rebuild carbs or replace fuel lines. I like that the saws start up, work hard, and then get put away with a loose but sharp chain and an empty oil tank.
If it works for you why change? Assuming you been doing it this way for years? i personally believe it changes based on temps humidity etc where you live so my routine with 5 months below freezing wouldn’t work for you… Nonetheless, my Dads small engine mechanic that I hung out with; basically told me in summer when it won’t start. Dump fuel add new plug and air filter fixes 90% of them… He had me do this and to save him time why he rebuilt carbs and replaced fuel lines…. Real mechanic stuff.. For what it’s worth before he retired he said mechanic in bottle 10 x better than most others sea foam etc burn clean and get rid of water
Years back when I was a one saw owner it would sit for extended periods. I never ran it dry or topped the fuel tank off. It always started with four pulls. This was a Stihl 028. I still do the same more or less today with several saws I use. Im sure there's a couple I'm going to regret doing such. Maybe compromise and run the saws for a bit once every couple months? I know you said no canned fuel. but maybe just when in extended storage? I've never used it so not talking from experience. Just a thought? Like you I'm not a fan of working on saws other than basic stuff and would like to get my moneys worth out of the "innards" of my saws.
High octane for best results in storage. It's carbon chains last twice as long due to additives as does 87. I trust it to remain fresh for 6 months. 87, 3 months. I don't really have this issue because I'm forced to use saws regularly throughout the year. I do use a combination of mixed gas and store bought fuel. I have store bought fuel in my pole saw. It hasn't run in nearly two years. Not concerned at all about whether it will start if I grab it. If it is peace of mind you are shopping for, the store fuel is your answer.
The only thing I would change in your current approach is add the appropriate dose of regular Red Stabil. Project Farm tested its corrosion inhibitor properties and hands down it won over everything on the market. I have a bunch of saws, somewhat of a disease, I follow your same recipe, except I run the regular Red Stabil in my 2 stroke gas. Every year I splash new fuel in, fire them up, let them run, blip the throttle a few times. Shut off, dump fuel, re-start and let idle til they die.
Yes, every bit of gas in all my cans get a full dose of red stabil when I bring them home from the gas station. Supposedly, 2 stroke oil also contains preservatives.
I use RA as well. I don't drain any saws, but they're stored in my basement, so no temp swings causing potential humid air going in and out of the tanks. I got out my dad's old 88 Husky 50 the other day, it fired right up. I know I haven't started it in well over a year. I've not had one issue related to bad fuel since starting to burn wood. I just use pump 87(10%eth) w/ RA @ 40/1.
And it’s done, dry tanks, dry lines and dry carbs. Well at least as dry as I can get them without taking things apart.
I buy canned Stihl fuel usually a gallon as it's all I use in my pole saw and disaster saw that get run very little. I slow down cutting quite a bit through the summer so as things wind down in the spring I refill them with the canned premix. I know it's not cheap but my saws are ready to go if a storm rolls in and the fuel is pretty cheap compared to getting it worked on. This has worked well for me.
If you don't want to listen to advice, why did you make this thread? BTW, what you are doing is not what my friend who owned a saw shop for 35 years advised.
I followed the exact advice of this thread which was to empty and dry everything. Did you read the responses? I checked back and you contributed nothing except for this post. What do you recommend?
During firewood season, I burn 2 gallons a week but mix 1 gallon at a time of Premium NO Ethanol. The saws do not require Premium fuel but that is the only way you get non ethanol fuel around here. I went through 3/4 of a case of Red Armor in the big bottles @ 40:1.. It was OK, smoked more on start up. Back to Woodland Pro synthetic. I've used a LOT of this. At the saw shop 1/2 of everything that came in had fuel related problems. All hand held equiptment had the fuel discarded before attempting to run. They used nothing but canned fuel but are only putting enough in to run it. Chuck the owner of 34 years recomended dumping your mixed gas at the end of the season, adding 6oz or more of canned mixed fuel. Fire up and let it warm up for 2-3 min. and have nothing but the new fuel in the system. Put away it is done. The canned fuel for storage or used infrequently should run the canned fuel. It's the cheapest insurance you can buy.
