I stopped by Tractor Supply yesterday for some chicken feed and happened to walk by the chainsaw section. The shelves that usually are stocked with VP and other premixed fuels were barren! I think I spotted only 2 or 3 gallons of bar oil too. It’s not a huge deal for me, as I have several gallons of bar oil on hand as well as a little VP in a can (I always run that in my leaf blower and weed whacker since they don’t get run year-round). I wanted to check Home Depot for TrueFuel yesterday but was short on time. Anyone else notice a canned fuel shortage?
I don't know? I don't pay $30/gallon for mixed fuel! I burn way too much and I just buy gas and mix with my own oil.
I hear you… I’ve had the same ratio rite for mixing fuel for 25 years now. With the newer pump gas though, I still prefer to run the canned fuel in things that sit for more than 5-6 months per year. A gallon of premix will last me a couple years on average.
I'm with clemsonfor, way cheaper to mix my own. That said, see if your TSC can order it for you. NYH1.
Well, I don't know about a shortage, since my Napa always has to order my Tru Fuel, but I know it jumped from 85 bucks to 109 for 5 gallons. I can't seem to get regular pump gas to last a year, even with stabilizers. So I run canned stuff, and have never had gas related issues. That said, I think if I have a bunch of sawing to do and know I'm going to go through a few gallons in a short period, I'm gona start mixing my own. 22 bucks a gallon, is getting a touch steep.
Maybe just an indicator of everyone cleaning leaves out of their yard and putting away the yard tools for the winter. My tsc never has more than a gal, or 2 of cl bar oil if any. Plenty of the $22 Husky bar oil.
Same exact prices here ! Last can was 85 and just picked up another for 110 = ouch! Still cheaper than paying the oil man or gas company. I am not made of money but a few bucks extra for fuel to protect the investment of a 1000 saw to me is cheap insurance.
Good to know it wasn't just their price. I'm in a town of 250 people and we have a very nice Napa store for around here, but sometimes their prices are inflated, just due to convenience. I'm not made of money either, but I have enough saws in rotation, that it's nice to know when I go to use any one of them, that there won't be a gas issue. I struggle to get pump gas to last 8 months and that's with stabilizers. Some of my saws may sit over a year before they're used and when I need to use it, I need to use it, not spend time fixing it. It's just not worth it to me, to chance it on crappy gas.
I even tried to buy it by the barrel to see if it would save anything, since I usually buy 25 gallons at a time and it only would've saved 50 bucks, for the same amount overall.
I'm in the same boat with one seasonal tool. My Honda ice auger always gets Trufuel canned gas. I don't even use a gallon a season so I splurge. Is ethanol free gas becoming more readily available in your area? I never had it at gas stations near me, but all the new Wawa convenience stores have an ethanol free pump. My days of using Sta-bil / Star tron are numbered!
In my area most new stations have efree. I googled e free gas to find one with 93 efree. Closest gas station has 89 efree.
We're lucky, E-free (90 octane) fuel is readily available here. It usually cost as much or more then premium (93 octane) though. NYH1.
I use 91 e-free. Always pump a couple gallons in the econo-truck before filling cans just to flush the lines. Not sure i've ever had a fuel issue even when equipment sits for extended periods.
I was at TSC a couple days ago and about S a brick when I saw their B&C oil at $16.99/G!! NOT NICE. But, I did not purchase any. I'm into and might use up my 5th gallon this year. I have had zero issues storing gas over winter. I run the equipment a few times a winter. 'cept the weed wacker. that gets emptied and e free premix run through it. I am also going through fuel from a friend, purchased in 2019. Of the 50G he had, only a couple smelled 'off'. with a little seafoam added, I've dumped that in the truck with half a tank of fresh fuel still in. Most of it has not 'turned' or gone 'off'. If I can find E0, some of that might come home, get seafoam, and 2 cycle oil added. It would be nice to have a couple gallons set aside for next year.
I noticed HD had plenty of can gas in stock and the Echo bar oil went up $1 since last month. I just sent my request to Santa for bar oil.
Its non ethanol and 40:1 mix of Shaeffers 9046 or Amsoil Saber for me. Run it in the saws and weed-eaters year around. TSC bar oil when I can find it.
