fearofpavement
Trying them all
Using water to separate the ethanol from gasonline does work but it is NOT distilation.
Anyway, I never drain my saws because I don't have any that I KNOW I won't be using. Sometimes an exended period of time will go by before I use a saw and if it has been a lengthy period, I dump the tank and fill with fresh fuel. By my definition lengthy is several months. I keep my saws inside a shop that maintains a fairly constant temperature. I also use ethanol free fuel. I have cars, trucks and tractors that have sat years with old fuel in them and never had any issues. (knock on wood)
Not to say I haven't seen the effects of fuel evaporating out of a tank or carb and leaving "dried paint" behind. I have been wrenching on stuff for over 40 years and have seen a lot. I think dumping the fuel from unused 2 stroke equipment is a good idea, I just don't do it myself.
Anyway, I never drain my saws because I don't have any that I KNOW I won't be using. Sometimes an exended period of time will go by before I use a saw and if it has been a lengthy period, I dump the tank and fill with fresh fuel. By my definition lengthy is several months. I keep my saws inside a shop that maintains a fairly constant temperature. I also use ethanol free fuel. I have cars, trucks and tractors that have sat years with old fuel in them and never had any issues. (knock on wood)
Not to say I haven't seen the effects of fuel evaporating out of a tank or carb and leaving "dried paint" behind. I have been wrenching on stuff for over 40 years and have seen a lot. I think dumping the fuel from unused 2 stroke equipment is a good idea, I just don't do it myself.