Do you run two stroke carbs dry?

[TomIre]

I use ethanol free and StaBil in all my small engines. I try to run the carburetor dry when I can particularly on engines that are infrequently used - generators, outboards, etc.
How do you handle this and what's your thinking behind what you do?

 

[4570Man]

I run ethanol free gas and do nothing else and I’ve never had a problem. Personally I think running them dry causes more problems then leaving e free gas in them.

 

[ericm979]

I run them dry if I'm going to be leaving the unit sit for a while. I used to run the carbs on off road motorcycles dry after every use. I've done it for motorcycles and power equipment for 30 years and never had anything damaged from doing it. I have had tiny jets in carbs gum up from sitting with gas in them when I didn't run them dry. Even back before ethanol. However the usual problem from leaving gas in the carb is hard starting.

Don't rev it hard to run it dry faster. Revving hard when it goes lean could be a problem. Larger saws can take a while to run dry.

 

[MossRoad]

Weed eater sits all winter with whatever is left in the fuel tank in the fall and starts fine in spring. Never drain the carb.

Chainsaws are usually run dry, but that's just because I use them primarily for firewood. So 3, 4, 5 tanks of fuel for the day, and I usually quit the last time it runs out of fuel. But they have sat for months at a time with fuel in the carb and no ill effects. In the past, I have occasionally drained them back into a fuel can with a large funnel and run them dry. But I rarely do that. I haven't found it to be necessary.

My in-laws have a 2 stroke snow blower that I will drain and run dry for them each spring. We can go 10 months without snow, so I don't want it sitting in their garage all summer with fuel in it. Also, I don't want my 90+ year old father in law with dementia trying to start it up to mow the lawn. Love the man like my own father, but he's done some squirrely stuff in the last few years, so why tempt fate?

I've never had fuel related issues with any of my equipment and I've been running 87 octane 10% ethanol since the mid 80s.

That goes for 4 stroke stuff, too. Maybe I just use things often enough that it doesn't cause issues. I do put stabil in my generator. I run it about 2-3 times a year with a load on it for about 1/2 an hour. Then I just top off the tank again. It's 24 years old and still works fine.

 

[Roadworthy]

I buy only non ethanol gas for my small engine equipment. I run everything dry at the end of the season - two stroke and four stroke.

 

[ChuckT]

I don't run my weed eater dry but I do pour the fuel back into a metal flask.

 

[LD1]

I think I have had more issues with stuff that has ran dry than with stuff left full.

Left full.....and been awhile....yep gas turns to varnish. But rarely needs more than a drain and clean.

Ran dry...seals and diaphragms tend to dry-rot and become a rebuild involving replacement parts rather than just a cleaning

 

[RalphVa]

I use ethanol free and StaBil in all my small engines. I try to run the carburetor dry when I can particularly on engines that are infrequently used - generators, outboards, etc.
How do you handle this and what's your thinking behind what you do?

When I had an old Stihl chain saw, I always ran it dry. Otherwise, I'd be sorry next time. For the newer ones with the pump stroke carbs to prime then, I didn't have to do this.

Ralph

 

[DJ54]

I have an olf Pro Mac 700 chain saw that hadn't been used for 2 years. There was maybe 1/4 tank of fuel left in it. I started using the Stabil 360 2 years ago, which this saw had some in. Started on the 3rd crank, which is normal for it.

I add it to the gas for all of my equipment, from the 2-wheel David Bradley garden tractors, with 50's era Briggs, and Continental engines 80's era Wheel Horses, 50's & 60's era IH and Ford tractor. None have failed to start, due to fuel issues, and some set for months on end, only being used to make hay, etc.

I also buy used lawn equipment, to use, and/or flip for pocket change. Most ads read they need carb cleaned. 99% of the time, a quick carb clean, and installing a new fuel pump diaphragm, and they purr like a kitten. Ethanol in gas stiffens up the diaphragm, and doesn't allow it to pump fuel.

 

[RickB]

No but I run my 4 strokes dry.

 

[Toyboy]

I rarely run one of my saws or weed whacker dry. What I do in the fall when something will be put away for the winter, is dump the gas and oil (if chainsaw) back into the containers and store them dry. I use paint filters in a funnel when I dump them to eliminate any contaminants.
Never have a problem in the spring .

 

[Thomas]

If don't use 2 stroke about 30 days I run the crab dry.

 

[Trillium Farm]

The place where I get my small engines suggested to me years ago to always run them dry and run stabil like you do always. Never had any problem since I've followed this procedure,whether 2 or 4 stroke

 

[Gary Fowler]

Any thing I can run dry before long term (over 30 days) storage, I run dry. I put Stabil 360 in all the fuel at the end of season if it might be possible to have some left over in the tank and then when I set up my 2 cycle stuff, I drain the gas and run the carbs dry.
For my lawnmower where it is impossible to drain the gas or just too much trouble, then they get run down low (1/4 tank or less) then get a double shot of Stabil mixed in the gas for storage. The gas already has a normal dose so the added dosing is just insurance.
I have never had any issues while doing this.

 

[AWSubie]

Any thing I can run dry before long term (over 30 days) storage, I run dry. I put Stabil 360 in all the fuel at the end of season if it might be possible to have some left over in the tank and then when I set up my 2 cycle stuff, I drain the gas and run the carbs dry.
For my lawnmower where it is impossible to drain the gas or just too much trouble, then they get run down low (1/4 tank or less) then get a double shot of Stabil mixed in the gas for storage. The gas already has a normal dose so the added dosing is just insurance.
I have never had any issues while doing this.

Run dry

 

[whistlepig]

I have tried this upside down and sideways for many years.

I have tried but no longer use Stabil. To me its a placebo.

I don't run my 4 strokes dry.

I do run my 2 strokes dry, use ethanol free gas, and will not use any ethanol free gas that's older than 30 days.

It's the 2 cycles (chainsaws) that give me fits if I don't baby the gas. I have a Stihl 4 mix weed eater that I treat like a 4 stroke and it has never given me any problems.

 

[buck12]

I don’t run weed eater or chainsaw dry and have yet to have a problem. I run ethanol free gas and use Stihl mix. My weed eater is normally stored from October to March or April and always starts on the gas still in the tank. My chainsaw rarely goes more than a few weeks without at least some use.

 

[RandyT]

Most two stroke oil mixes already contain a fuel stabilizer. It is fun pulling apart carbs and then saying to the customer I see you have been using Stabil. Tends to leave a funny residue

I have always questioned a product that supposed to stabilize fuel for two years that has a two year expiration after opening.

 

[whistlepig]

I have chainsaws now that start easily, idle, and won't stall. I gave away all my bad chainsaws to relatives and started over. Maybe the chainsaw was bad when I bought it. Or maybe I made the chainsaw bad by my fuel management. Either or, it's so very nice to have chainsaws that don't have to be pull started every ten seconds due to stalling. Whatever I am doing now is working and I am certainly not going back.

 

[MoArk Willy]

When I switched to premium fuel (no ethanol) every bit of problem with lawn equipment went away.
After replacing hoses on just about everything I made the change. Tiller, weed eater and mower hoses rotted away from the ethanol.
I find that running everything dry just isn't needed.