Do you run two stroke carbs dry?

TomIre · Jan 11, 2020

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 · Jan 11, 2020

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 · Jan 11, 2020

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 · Jan 11, 2020

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 · Jan 11, 2020

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 · Jan 12, 2020

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

LD1 · Jan 12, 2020

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 · Jan 12, 2020

TomIre said:
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 · Jan 12, 2020

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.