Talked to Husqvarna factory service tech today

[vapnut257]

I was suppose to be getting a estimate on the cost of fixing my 359 (piston and cylinder) but instead was passed on to this Husqvarna Factory service technician. He reiterated to me the problems being experienced by all manufacturers of two and four cycle engines caused by the ethanol fuels forced on us by politicians. He says the problem is worse in the southwest and north where the mix is as high as 12 percent. (here it's 10 percent). He recommends only mixing enough fuel for the job at hand and dumping the rest. He says leaving the unused ethanol tainted fuel in the tank for even short periods of time is like running water in the tank. He says this is driving manufactures crazy and the problem is getting worse. He also stated that putting fuel preservatives in the fuel does no good either. I guess it's nice to know what probably messed up my saw, but there is little solace in knowing that I am still stuck with the $275 repair bill. I am seeing more and more post here of scored pistons, I wonder how many can be attributed to what this Factory Service Technician says is the cause and more importantly, what is going to be done about it? And how many are being passed off as "user error" as was in my case?

 

[THALL10326]

I was suppose to be getting a estimate on the cost of fixing my 359 (piston and cylinder) but instead was passed on to this Husqvarna Factory service technician. He reiterated to me the problems being experienced by all manufacturers of two and four cycle engines caused by the ethanol fuels forced on us by politicians. He says the problem is worse in the southwest and north where the mix is as high as 12 percent. (here it's 10 percent). He recommends only mixing enough fuel for the job at hand and dumping the rest. He says leaving the unused ethanol tainted fuel in the tank for even short periods of time is like running water in the tank. He says this is driving manufactures crazy and the problem is getting worse. He also stated that putting fuel preservatives in the fuel does no good either. I guess it's nice to know what probably messed up my saw, but there is little solace in knowing that I am still stuck with the $275 repair bill. I am seeing more and more post here of scored pistons, I wonder how many can be attributed to what this Factory Service Technician says is the cause and more importantly, what is going to be done about it? And how many are being passed off as "user error" as was in my case?

I'd say the man was being pretty honest with you on all those points. The guys I deal with at Stihl make no bones about it, these new fuels are a headache. Seems to be some issues with the glue used by alot of carb makers that are coming undone on welch plugs because of these new fuels eating away at it...

 

[dieseldodge]

chainsaw tech

I just got a saw from my wifes cusine to fix thought the carb was pluggrd turns out he smoked the piston. I feel bad I told him to switch to
mobil racing 2T second 2.5 gallon mix and now he thinks its the oil that caused the problem. guess that I will tell him its the fuel ethonol problem.
jason

 

[Woodie]

Bullspit.

Here's the deal, and it's the only deal:

Saws are made to run on gasoline. "Gasoline," by feredal definition in this country, may contain up to 10% ethanol. (States may require additional labeling: most do.)

If a mfgr is selling a saw in a state, they are warranting that saw for fitness of purpose. And yes, that means using the gasoline available in that state.

If a manufacturer's saw is unfit for the pupose for which it is sold, it's not a hard claim to make in court. If you could get a law student admitted to the bar, he'd win that for you.

Bottom line: auto manufacturers have made cars run on ethanol for twenty years now. If Husky and Stihl don't want to put up the funds to make their saws do so, then perhaps our court system will be more persuasive?

This stinks of class action.

 

[Lakeside53]

Stihl says clearly and writting that up to 10% ethanol (89 octane or above)is O.K., and since Jan 1st 2006, that's how their saws have been tuned at the factory. Also, 60 days max on storage of gas, in or out of the saw.

 

[manual]

Bullspit.

Here's the deal, and it's the only deal:

Saws are made to run on gasoline. "Gasoline," by feredal definition in this country, may contain up to 10% ethanol. (States may require additional labeling: most do.)

If a mfgr is selling a saw in a state, they are warranting that saw for fitness of purpose. And yes, that means using the gasoline available in that state.

If a manufacturer's saw is unfit for the pupose for which it is sold, it's not a hard claim to make in court. If you could get a law student admitted to the bar, he'd win that for you.

Bottom line: auto manufacturers have made cars run on ethanol for twenty years now. If Husky and Stihl don't want to put up the funds to make their saws do so, then perhaps our court system will be more persuasive?

This stinks of class action.

Spoken like a true MIchigander.

 

[SawTroll]

Use Alkylate fuel, and forget that problem.......

 

[Lakeside53]

Or 100LL aviation gas over here.. But it's not practical for most users.

 

[Sprig]

Shame about the ethanol bullchips, 'they' (who ever they is) haven't foisted that on us quite yet but I see it coming. From what I have learned the whole mess is a bunch of horse feathers anyway as it takes more energy to produce the alcohol (and if you factor in all the machinery etc. to manufacture it....hm) and that pretty much blows the mythical savings out of the water (yup, yup, its the cliche hour lol). On top of this there have been concerns voiced by some that this switch to 'bio-fuels' will start costing the world in general in regards to food production, a moot point I am sure (lord knows we waste enough in NA).
That manufactures of small engines haven't addressed this yet I find amazing though I guess some have according to Lake. In states where ethanol fuels are manditory I am quite surprized that greater efforts haven't been made to lobby for having just plain ol' regular gas available to those who run older machines etc., say at selected places or something.........GAH! Just smells of a money grab in some sort of convoluted way, with little logic applied. I have little doubt that Big Gas has its grubby fingers right in there.
My worthless blatherin' rant fer da morning.

opcorn: opcorn:

 

[Jim Mesthene]

Brazil runs almost entirely on ethanol. Somebody can make it work.
I don't think they're buying petroleum to grow food to burn it though. The way we're doing it here is idiotic; designed only to give your money to agri-business.

 

[Woodie]

Brazil runs almost entirely on ethanol. Somebody can make it work.
I don't think they're buying petroleum to grow food to burn it though. The way we're doing it here is idiotic; designed only to give your money to agri-business.

Brazil's ethanol comes from sugar cane, which is far far far more efficient in producing ethanol than corn. We don't have the resources to grow as much sugar cane as they do, however. Parts of the coastal south are the only places in the US that grow any amounts of it at all as far as I know, and it takes a fairly large environmental toll to grow it even in those areas.

I agree fully with you, though...the current scheme here in the US was designed solely to keep midwestern congressmen in office, and pump subsidies into agribusiness. It is a joke, and it isn't funny.

 

[computeruser]

I agree fully with you, though...the current scheme here in the US was designed solely to keep midwestern congressmen in office, and pump subsidies into agribusiness. It is a joke, and it isn't funny.

Nope, not even close to funny. Right off the bat we need more refining capacity and down the road, as much as it worries me from an environmental standpoint, we need more domestic drilling.

 

[romeo]

Whew. I guess I'll be OK with my crappy fuel. I always run out of gas before I'm finished cutting so my saws get stored empty pretty regular.

 

[bama]

Ethanol is not the answer. It is a stopgap. More drilling is a temporary solution. The oil will run out. I am hoping that there is still some good old US ingenuity somewhere that will figure a way to get power cheaply out of Hydrogen.

I hate paying this much for petroleum products, but maybe that will "inspire" someone to create what we need. Meanwhile, my old motorhome will just sit beside the garage. That old Ford 460 don't run on hydrogen, yet.

 

[blis]

Ethanol is not the answer. It is a stopgap. More drilling is a temporary solution. The oil will run out. I am hoping that there is still some good old US ingenuity somewhere that will figure a way to get power cheaply out of Hydrogen.

I hate paying this much for petroleum products, but maybe that will "inspire" someone to create what we need. Meanwhile, my old motorhome will just sit beside the garage. That old Ford 460 don't run on hydrogen, yet.

Good beginning for americans would be to ditch the old 4-8 liters diesel/petrol engines and make some EFFICIENT engines that dont need 10l/100km or more fuel... That alone would make great difference... Oh, you also need to raise the fuel prices over there, theyre just ridiculously low and it encourages spending it... Here we pay like 1.3e FOR LITER of gas...

 

[NYH1]

I was suppose to be getting a estimate on the cost of fixing my 359 (piston and cylinder) but instead was passed on to this Husqvarna Factory service technician. He reiterated to me the problems being experienced by all manufacturers of two and four cycle engines caused by the ethanol fuels forced on us by politicians. He says the problem is worse in the southwest and north where the mix is as high as 12 percent. (here it's 10 percent). He recommends only mixing enough fuel for the job at hand and dumping the rest. He says leaving the unused ethanol tainted fuel in the tank for even short periods of time is like running water in the tank. He says this is driving manufactures crazy and the problem is getting worse. He also stated that putting fuel preservatives in the fuel does no good either. I guess it's nice to know what probably messed up my saw, but there is little solace in knowing that I am still stuck with the $275 repair bill. I am seeing more and more post here of scored pistons, I wonder how many can be attributed to what this Factory Service Technician says is the cause and more importantly, what is going to be done about it? And how many are being passed off as "user error" as was in my case?

I called Husky North America a few months ago and asked the same question. The tech I talked to told me running 89 octane fuel with up to 10% ethanol was fine as long as I used the fuel within a month or so. I run Sunoco 93 octane fuel (which Sunoco says contains up to 10% ethanol) and Husky's XP mix.

 

[bama]

Good beginning for americans would be to ditch the old 4-8 liters diesel/petrol engines and make some EFFICIENT engines that dont need 10l/100km or more fuel... That alone would make great difference... Oh, you also need to raise the fuel prices over there, theyre just ridiculously low and it encourages spending it... Here we pay like 1.3e FOR LITER of gas...

I know you guys pay a LOT more for fuel over there, so I can see your point. What is hard for me is paying a lot for the fuel and seeing the big oil refineries making out like bandits. It seems that everyone is making more money except us lousy slobs that use the stuff. Reminds me of a drug dealer....Gets you hooked on a cheaper price, then takes you to town once you can't stop. Maybe there is a Gasoline Users Anon. group that meets somewhere around here?

Our auto makers have to do a better job at designing efficient vehicles or they will go out of business! I have always been a Chevy man, myself, but our auto makers are going to get creamed if they don't do something soon. I don't want to buy foreign, but might eventually have to if things don't change. That being said, you are not going to get 75 MPG from a Surburban! We have to be realistic.

 

[bama]

I called Husky North America a few months ago and asked the same question. The tech I talked to told me running 89 octane fuel with up to 10% ethanol was fine as long as I used the fuel within a month or so. I run Sunoco 93 octane fuel (which Sunoco says contains up to 10% ethanol) and Husky's XP mix.

Nothing by 15% blend up here. I just buy a little and use it up. I have been doing it for years and not had trouble(knock on ash cookie) yet. Doesn't mean I like doing it, but not much choice.

 

[SawTroll]

Or 100LL aviation gas over here.. But it's not practical for most users.

:jawdrop: (Well, I know - just had to say it, for the benefit the European members)....

 

[joatmon]

Good beginning for americans would be to ditch the old 4-8 liters diesel/petrol engines and make some EFFICIENT engines that dont need 10l/100km or more fuel... That alone would make great difference... Oh, you also need to raise the fuel prices over there, theyre just ridiculously low and it encourages spending it... Here we pay like 1.3e FOR LITER of gas...

I think everyone in Finland should walk one day a week. That will save enough petrol to fuel my Suburban for the week. opcorn: