TruFuel Users?

[Gem99ultra]

My small engine repair guy is recommending using TruFuel for my 2 cycle implements. At $6/quart that comes to $24/gallon; pretty high price for string trimmer, chainsaw, etc. fuel I think. Supposedly TruFuel is 92 octane with some sort of gas treatment in it, but I have no idea as to what.

I, and I'm sure there are others, that are sick and tired of clogged carburetors, deteriorating fuel lines, and hard starting tools.

Are any of you actually using TruFuel or a similar product in your 2 cycle implements? If not, what sort of mix are you using?

 

[ericm979]

$24/gallon! I use gas station regular 87 octane, with fuel stabilizer. I put stabilizer in the 5 gallon cans when I get them home. My two stroke chain saws etc don't need higher octane. (some of my two stroke motorcycles need higher octane, I use race gas in them). I've never had a problem with carbs gumming up. The Mantis tiller can be a bit hard to start in the spring but it sits for a year between uses. The vent hose on my Stihl 025 came apart the other day but it's 20 years old. I use high quality Redline synthetic two-stroke oil in all my two-strokes. 50:1 for the chain saws and yard implements.

On the motorcycles and generator I run the carbs dry after every use. That prevents carburetor gumming up- there's no gas to evaporate to gum. But chain saws etc dont' have fuel taps to turn off and it's too much effort to drain the fuel tank each time.

 

[Buxus]

I can offer no definite proof that it's worth it, but I use it in my chainsaws and trimmer and generator. My Stihl dealer recommended it not for the octane, but for the fact that it is ethanol free, and can basically sit forever. He claimed there was no separation of gas and oil, and that it would never run lean through the tools or gum things up. I have dealt with him for years, he has always seemed a straight shooter, and does not sell the stuff. I can't get ethanol free in Delaware or in my area of Maryland.

I don't know if he is correct, but I am not filling my truck with it, so I only go through about 4-5 gallons a year. I pay about $21 a gallon by buying the 6 pack at Lowes. So for about $70 a year extra ($84 compared to about $14 for gas and oil separate) I have less worry and more convenience. Pretty cheap insurance. Best of all, I don't have to deal with the dreaded portable gas containers and their frustrating spouts.

 

[motownbrowne]

You can find it on sale cheaper than that, but yeah, it's good stuff. I like it for the end of the season. I'll run my trying dry, then fill it with Tru fuel and run it for a few minutes. Yeah it's a little pricey, but it doesn't go stale like pump gas, and it doesn't have ethanol. I like to keep a can around in case my regular supply runs out in the middle of a cutting project. Also, it's nice to send along if you should ever (God forbid) lend out a piece of OPE. That way you know your stuff is getting good fuel.

During times of high use for any particular piece of equipment, though, I run ethanol free 89 or 92 octane mixed 40:1 with good synthetic oil and a small dose of stabilizer. I also try not to let gas get more than a month or 6 weeks old. I haven't had any carb problems since adopting this practice.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I use the Husky product, it's an "engineered" fuel, I use it in any two stroke that isn't run very often, the 2 strokes that get run a lot, I use hi-test NO ethanol gas (NO E) with Husky oil in it.

When I mix gas/oil, I only mix enough gas that I can use it up in a few days, a week at most.

I've had no carb or any other problems since I started doing this! I was having plenty of fuel related problems when I was using E10 fuel, even when I ran the carbs dry!

As for hi test or not, the manuals of my chainsaws say to use hi test, and for me, it's no big deal to buy/use hi test, no E fuel.

SR

 

[japody]

I've used non-ethanol hi test for the last several years in all of my 2 & 4 stroke engines for the last few years. Haven't had a gumming issue since.

 

[Deere Dude]

I use non-ethanol 90 octane or better and good oil. I try to keep it fresh as possible but sometimes that goes 3-4 months with no problems. If I started having problems I would probably buy a can of the expensive premixed to sort out the problem.

 

[bcp]

I used it with no problems until non-alcohol fuel became available at some gas stations in the area.

Bruce

 

[Fiziksgeek]

I use pump gas and mix up my own during the season when I know I'll be using my equipment on a regular basis to save money. Before winter, I dump out the pump gas mix, fill to the brim with TrueFuel or Stihl Motomix, etc., run for a few minutes to purge the pump gas out, and store for the winter. Since I started doing this, everything seems to start nice and easy with no smoke in the spring.

 

[Gunny]

I use TruFuel in my chainsaw. I got tired of replacing gas lines and filters, cleaning the carb every year, so I thought it was worth a try. Expensive yes, but I haven't had to do anything at all the the saw in three years now, even though I do try to run it out of gas before putting it up for summer storage. It's convenient for me, several places here within ten miles that sell it. It's nice to know that all I have to do is check the fuel and bar oil, check the gas level and fill if needed, pull the rope and start cutting wood.

Everything else I own is four stroke and for all the single cylinder engines I use high octane then add Stabil to the 5 gallon cans. I haven't had any problems with them either since I started that routine.