Paul Bunions
ArboristSite Member
Two of my three chainsaws (and my generator) had problems after some down time, and running the generator dry before storage didn't help, so I am learning everything I can about keeping engines clean in the era of nanny state, vote-buying ethanol gas.
I thought I had the problem fixed when I found ethanol-free Sunoco and an additive which, unlike Sta-bil, works. Now I've found a Youtube guy who claims saws will gum up even with ethanol-free gas. He says olefins gum up carbs, and benzene ruins diaphragms.
Here is what he recommends: buy Gucci gas (premixed, like Trufuel). When you're ready to put your saw away, dump the gas station fuel, fill the saw completely with Gucci gas, run for 5 minutes, and put the saw away.
Here is my question: how could having half a gallon of Gucci gas IN THE TANK, where it can't possibly get to the carb, do my saw any good?
I'm considering buying a six-dollar can of Trufuel and running one ounce through each engine before storage. Seems to me that ought to work as well as half a gallon. I don't have once-yearly "winterizing" here, so it could cost a lot to put saws away over and over, full of $20/gallon fuel.
He has some good advice in his videos. He says to use wire-gauge drill bits to clear carb jets.
I've decided I should go ahead and buy Chinese carbs every time I buy new yard tools. The quality is the same, they're dirt cheap, and sometimes they're easier to work on because they don't have Big Brother devices on them to keep me out of them.
I thought I had the problem fixed when I found ethanol-free Sunoco and an additive which, unlike Sta-bil, works. Now I've found a Youtube guy who claims saws will gum up even with ethanol-free gas. He says olefins gum up carbs, and benzene ruins diaphragms.
Here is what he recommends: buy Gucci gas (premixed, like Trufuel). When you're ready to put your saw away, dump the gas station fuel, fill the saw completely with Gucci gas, run for 5 minutes, and put the saw away.
Here is my question: how could having half a gallon of Gucci gas IN THE TANK, where it can't possibly get to the carb, do my saw any good?
I'm considering buying a six-dollar can of Trufuel and running one ounce through each engine before storage. Seems to me that ought to work as well as half a gallon. I don't have once-yearly "winterizing" here, so it could cost a lot to put saws away over and over, full of $20/gallon fuel.
He has some good advice in his videos. He says to use wire-gauge drill bits to clear carb jets.
I've decided I should go ahead and buy Chinese carbs every time I buy new yard tools. The quality is the same, they're dirt cheap, and sometimes they're easier to work on because they don't have Big Brother devices on them to keep me out of them.