Gas for the chainsaws

[JRP]

I understand the ethanol in today's gas is not good for chainsaws. Stihl sells some premix, ethanol free but it is $32 per gallon. There are some stations that sell ethanol free gas, but non near here. Yesterday I stopped at the airport and filled up my red 5 gal can with aircraft gas. The machine is credit card operated and open 24 hrs! The airport attendant even showed me how to use the system - full service. He said he sells a lot for mowers, boats, ATVs, etc. The fuel is top quality, the best, and costs $4.70 per gallon and very long shelf life. I thought t this would interest others. BTW the saw runs great

 

[lostcreekranch]

My understanding is that the mid-grade and premium grades are lower % ethanol or even ethanol free? You would need to check with individual suppliers.

 

[JoeL4330]

Avgas--methanol free--has longer shelf life than a methanol blend, but does not really have that long a storage life ...it's just the same as pre-methanol regular ...to which many of us felt the need to add a fuel "stabilizer". $4.70 per gal sounds good compared with $24.00 per gal for the pre-mix (your quoted price appears to be for six (6) quarts) ...but for some of us infrequent users, the pre-mix works out well ...no cost for "stabil", very long shelf life and convenient carry container, etc. If you use 5 gal in just a few months your advice is as good as the airport is nearby. In my case, I'd end up burning more than half in my car (if I had a gasser) in order to "rotate" the stock.

I always keep an unopened can or two of premix on the shelf ...handy for serious storm damage, just when the power is out and the gas stations don't pump. [I am, as some say, "a belt-and-suspenders" kinda guy]

 

[Diamondpilot]

I understand the ethanol in today's gas is not good for chainsaws. Stihl sells some premix, ethanol free but it is $32 per gallon. There are some stations that sell ethanol free gas, but non near here. Yesterday I stopped at the airport and filled up my red 5 gal can with aircraft gas. The machine is credit card operated and open 24 hrs! The airport attendant even showed me how to use the system - full service. He said he sells a lot for mowers, boats, ATVs, etc. The fuel is top quality, the best, and costs $4.70 per gallon and very long shelf life. I thought t this would interest others. BTW the saw runs great

Been doing it for 10 plus years in all my 2 cycle equipment.

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

My understanding is that the mid-grade and premium grades are lower % ethanol or even ethanol free? You would need to check with individual suppliers.

Depends. In Indiana by law all gas sold must contain 10% ethanol minimum. Diesel must be 2% bio.

Chris

 

[murphy1244]

Depends. In Indiana by law all gas sold must contain 10% ethanol minimum. Diesel must be 2% bio.

Chris

That;s cause of them growing that Corn.

 

[davel8257]

We've got a station with a label on the 91 octane as "ethanol free" -- $3.93/gal (vs. $3.27 for 87 octane). I've been using 87 for multiple years, but got tired of having to take saws in for carb repair. So far this season, things have been running better.

 

[GManBart]

I understand the ethanol in today's gas is not good for chainsaws. Stihl sells some premix, ethanol free but it is $32 per gallon. There are some stations that sell ethanol free gas, but non near here. Yesterday I stopped at the airport and filled up my red 5 gal can with aircraft gas. The machine is credit card operated and open 24 hrs! The airport attendant even showed me how to use the system - full service. He said he sells a lot for mowers, boats, ATVs, etc. The fuel is top quality, the best, and costs $4.70 per gallon and very long shelf life. I thought t this would interest others. BTW the saw runs great

That's great, but in many cases, the airport will require you to provide them with the N-number of the aircraft you're buying the fuel for. Yes, I know that sounds crazy, but it's true. My father has an airplane, and when he was still building it, he wanted to buy some fuel for engine runs at the shop (trucked it to the airport for final assembly), and they required a valid N-number for their logbook. The same thing happened here when my neighbor wanted to buy fuel for his airplane (he has two planes and three runways next door).

Ethanol-free gas stations in the U.S. and Canada can help folks find stations that sell ethanol-free gas.

 

[GManBart]

Avgas--methanol free--has longer shelf life than a methanol blend, but does not really have that long a storage life ...it's just the same as pre-methanol regular ...to which many of us felt the need to add a fuel "stabilizer".

The one readily available Avgas now is 100LL, which is far different from "regular" at the pump, regardless of ethanol. The old 80/87 has been virtually eliminated, and even the standard 100/130 is hard to come by (the numbers are lean and rich octane ratings).

 

[crazyal]

I just run super, sometimes it's ethanol free other times it's not. At the end of the season I'll use the premixed fuel in a can. Lowes sells the Husky brand. It's good for 3 years. I run the saw dry when almost done cutting for the season and then burn a 1/4 of a tank of the premium stuff. I keep the rest of the can and a second full can(quart) for emergencies.