questions about new Husqvarna saw

[Murray01]

I vote in favour of using ethanol free fuel. If your saw is going to sit idle for a while run it out of fuel. An empty carb will not gum up due to old fuel.

 

[Murray01]

I wish we still had ethanol free in Canada. But I guess that's not my choice to make...
However I don't think the ethanol has caused me problems. (though I have definitely seen it's green evidence in float bowls)
I do believe marine/marked/not taxed fuel with ethanol has caused me problems but I might be crazy, those problems disappeared when I stopped using the marked fuel.
Your strategy of putting the Husq premix before storage is a good idea, but probably overkill if you have ethanol free available. Dumping the fuel out and running the saw out of gas is another good strategy that I use maybe 20% of the time. 80% of the time I do nothing special and don't seem to have any issues. (probably 20 small engines around the yard)

Ethanol in gas is a provincial decision. In SK the Coop refinery does not add ethanol in their premium fuel, I’m guessing BC has mandated ethanol must be added. If you have Coop gas stations in BC it might be worth investigating.

 

[GG Woody]

Ethanol in gas is a provincial decision. In SK the Coop refinery does not add ethanol in their premium fuel, I’m guessing BC has mandated ethanol must be added. If you have Coop gas stations in BC it might be worth investigating.

I have not personally tested all our fuel. I have at times asked gas station attendants about it but have been met with blank stares or worse. The best I can do is go to the internet which says:
"The government of Canada currently requires that gasoline at the pump contains an average of five per cent ethanol. Some provinces require a higher percentage and gasoline may contain up to 10% of ethanol depending on where you are in Canada."
If a local fuel source had ethanol free, I would certainly use it for my small engines.

 

[EbS-P]

Don’t store it with fuel. I just use pump gas. I guess you could convince me to fill up with ethanol free for the last tank of the day.

 

[bigealta]

Don’t store it with fuel. I just use pump gas. I guess you could convince me to fill up with ethanol free for the last tank of the day.

This, if you are cutting lots of wood. Last tank ethanol free. That way if you don't run saw dry you are still good. Very cheap insurance.

 

[Highbeam]

What has worked best for me is to drain the fuel tank and run the engine until it dies. Also drain out the bar oil or it will leak.

Basically, store the saw dry.

All 2 stroke engines at my place run regular 87 with ethanol and stabil mixed at 40:1 with echo red armor.

 

[JRHAWK9]

I'd run that saw at 32 or 40:1 myself. The lower bearings will thank you.

 

[RustyShackleford]

I'd run that saw at 32 or 40:1 myself. The lower bearings will thank you.

Then why does Husky rec 50:1 ?

Looking into this, found this lengthy thread, but not sure what the conclusion is: https://arboristsite.com/threads/which-oil-ratio-is-best-40-1-or-50-1.11149/page-3

 

[all night moe]

Amsoil Dominator @ 40:1.
Red Armor is Echo's brand and a good contender. I prefer Amsoil hands down. They have the highest rating for heat resistance before breaking down / burning up. There's a name for it but for the life of me, I can't think of it. Friend of mine has used it in 2stroke dirt bikes and comments when I run my saws. Says he can smell the Amsoil.

Like JRHawk9 was getting at, a good quality 2cyle oil mixed at 40:1 will keep everything lubricated well.

I run the ethanol free too. Place around here sells it in the high octane gas. One Handle for all 3 octanes. I put 2 gals in the truck first. Clears out the hose of the cheap crap always bound to be there. Yes, it's expensive to pay for 4.5gals of fuel for 2.5gals of mixed. With that said, pro saws are far more expensive, and OEM parts are getting hard to come by for the older models.

 

[JRHAWK9]

Then why does Husky rec 50:1 ?

EPA and emissions.

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[JRHAWK9]

Amsoil Dominator @ 40:1.

That's what I run too, but at 32:1.

 

[salecker]

I run 32:1 in all my 2 cycle engines
Plus a shot of seafoam.
I don't drain anything, and have had zero issues with stuffs sitting for years

 

[John Mc]

I've been running 45 or 50:1 in all of my 2 cycle engines for the past 25 years. I use a quality JASO FD-rated mix oil and ethanol free gas. I buy 5 gallons at a time and treat it with Stabil while filling the can. I mix up 1 gallon of 2 cycle fuel at a time. If I don't use it up within a few weeks, it gets dumped in the 24 gallon tank of my antique truck (which will run on just about anything 80 octane or higher).

The only fuel/lube related issue I've had with any of these engines has been when I lent out my brush clearing saw to someone who straight-gassed it.

There have been tremendous improvements in lubes over the decades. The days when most of these engines actually need 32:1 are long behind us. Just use a good quality oil and fresh gas. I'd bet more engines are damaged from straight gassing, air leaks in the fuel system, or stale fuel than from running 50:1 oil mix.

Another issue I've seen on a couple of occasions: many years ago, I looked in the bottom of a friend's jug of mixed fuel. It appeared that at least some of the oil had settled to the bottom of the jug. I asked how old them mix was. He wasn't sure. I did not use it in my equipment. I suggested to him that if he insisted on using it, he at least give it a vigorous shake to mix the oil back in. I'm not sure how common this is, but it makes me wonder how many lubrication issues are from someone pouring in fuel that has separated so what they are pouring out is short on oil. I've never noticed this separation in my own fuel mix, but I did get into the habit of always shaking the can before pouring the fuel.

 

[RustyShackleford]

I've never noticed this separation in my own fuel mix, but I did get into the habit of always shaking the can before pouring the fuel.

I always do that. Seems like a no-brainer.

 

[bigealta]

Ok you've got me going from 45:1 to 40 :1.

 

[JRHAWK9]

You also need to keep in mind strato saws see less fuel mixture simply by design; that means less oil.

 

[RustyShackleford]

You also need to keep in mind strato saws see less fuel mixture simply by design; that means less oil.

What's a strato saw ?

 

[ABMax24]

I run 32:1 in all my 2 cycle engines
Plus a shot of seafoam.
I don't drain anything, and have had zero issues with stuffs sitting for years

I've come to the conclusion that our Canadian gasoline is different. I've never experienced ethanol or phase separation.

Maybe because it's so much drier up her? Don't have the humidity for the ethanol to pickup moisture?

 

[JRHAWK9]

What's a strato saw ?

It's a design which injects fresh air into the cylinder to help with emissions. In that process it causes the saw to run leaner and use less fuel. Less fuel used means less oil getting to the bearings, etc.

 

[all night moe]

That's what I run too, but at 32:1.

I'd be tempted to run the 32:1 blend but, I don't think the smaller 2-stroke engines would like that much oil. I speaking of weed eaters and grass trimmers. I've checked the screen in the muffler of my FS90 and it stays clear with the 40:1. I don't want to be making different ratios..... 1 can and go.

 

[JRHAWK9]

I'd be tempted to run the 32:1 blend but, I don't think the smaller 2-stroke engines would like that much oil. I speaking of weed eaters and grass trimmers. I've checked the screen in the muffler of my FS90 and it stays clear with the 40:1. I don't want to be making different ratios..... 1 can and go.

As long as you use a clean burning oil, it's not an issue. I run 32:1 in all my 2 stroke stuff.

 

[all night moe]

As long as you use a clean burning oil, it's not an issue. I run 32:1 in all my 2 stroke stuff.

Good to know. Pretty much Amsoil or no oil for me.... I'll probably up my game in the coming season. Thanks for your recommendation.
In a pinch, with no Amsoil to be found, I'd grab red armor. Have had no issues with Amsoil supply so far. Had to settle for Interceptor over the Dominator once, but that's it.

 

[salecker]

I've been running 45 or 50:1 in all of my 2 cycle engines for the past 25 years. I use a quality JASO FD-rated mix oil and ethanol free gas. I buy 5 gallons at a time and treat it with Stabil while filling the can. I mix up 1 gallon of 2 cycle fuel at a time. If I don't use it up within a few weeks, it gets dumped in the 24 gallon tank of my antique truck (which will run on just about anything 80 octane or higher).

The only fuel/lube related issue I've had with any of these engines has been when I lent out my brush clearing saw to someone who straight-gassed it.

There have been tremendous improvements in lubes over the decades. The days when most of these engines actually need 32:1 are long behind us. Just use a good quality oil and fresh gas. I'd bet more engines are damaged from straight gassing, air leaks in the fuel system, or stale fuel than from running 50:1 oil mix.

Another issue I've seen on a couple of occasions: many years ago, I looked in the bottom of a friend's jug of mixed fuel. It appeared that at least some of the oil had settled to the bottom of the jug. I asked how old them mix was. He wasn't sure. I did not use it in my equipment. I suggested to him that if he insisted on using it, he at least give it a vigorous shake to mix the oil back in. I'm not sure how common this is, but it makes me wonder how many lubrication issues are from someone pouring in fuel that has separated so what they are pouring out is short on oil. I've never noticed this separation in my own fuel mix, but I did get into the habit of always shaking the can before pouring the fuel.

Oil is cheap, the guys who port saws all recommend 32:1
As they are smarter than i am i will go with the 32:1