Premium or regular for quad / chainsaw

[Soundguy]

If I remember right the minimum octane requirement for my Stihl would mean premium gas here. On the flip side I don't keep premium fuel for the atv so I use the freshest regular fuel I've got to mix 1 litre of mix for the saw. If there is a cup or two of mix left after sawing it gets dumped in the atv's tank so I have to make up fresh for the saw.

More horror stories of problems from old mix that anything else.

I hear ya. I've had way more issues with 'old' fuel, than what type it was, as long as it met the minimum reqs of the equipment.

I know our stihl at work is a haus..has a compression release and all..

soundguy

 

[Scooby074]

if that's what you parsed out of my previous messages, then -you- didn't read them very closely, or didn't understand what was typed, and thus, -you- are wrong

I din't say there was -no- benefit for a higher octane ( dubbed premium ) fuel.

I actually specifically called out what the 'benefits' of higher octane fuel was. As for the money aspect. i don't recal using the word 'waste' either.. nor did i imply waste. I implied that using a fuel of higher octane than specified gave you no further benefits with respect to ping/spark knock, et al, on low compression, low rpm engines.

there are however other facets to look at as well. operating temp is one, and cold-hard starting is another. Since some people think if more is better, then much more is much better, look at the places selling the 100+ octane 'racing' fuels.. anyone ever care to read the warning on them about causing hard cold starts in engines not designed for excessively high octane fuel? To take that on extension a lil bit.. look at the 'emergency fuel' you can buy.. it's a flamable, but not explosive fuel addative, usualy sold in 1g jugs.. 'spare tnak' is one brand, that if you run out of gas or are about to run out of gas, you can pull over immediatly, put it in and go.. and again.. it cautions you about running it while it is warm, vs trying to start it when cold / putting more fuel in immediately..

soundguy

My reading comprehension is fine.

Your condescending "i know some people feel the need to justify higher priced stuff it's the human way" comment implies that im equating "higher price" with "higher quality"......looking solely at price to make the decision, and your wrong.

Like slowzuki above, most of my equipment including my car requires premium (minimum 89), for octane. Which means i stock premium for all my equipment as opposed to several jugs of varying octane.

As an aside, ive noticed that premium in OTHER, lower compression engines that dont require the higher octane (like my honda mower, that needs a meagre 86 octane) preform and store better with the higher grade fuel.

Argue all you want that there is no difference other than octane additives... but in practice, the difference is real at least with the fuel available here.

 

[Soundguy]

My reading comprehension is fine.

um.. maybee not?

Your condescending "i know some people feel the need to justify higher priced stuff it's the human way" comment implies that im equating "higher price" with "higher quality"......looking solely at price to make the decision, and your wrong.

I believe you are incorrect. I'm not implying that you are equating higher price with higher quality. I'm not implying anything.. On the other hand.. I did overtly state something.. IE.. the justification comment. Justification is 'just' that. look up the specific definition of justification. there are no positive or negtive connotations.. it's merely a premis for which to do something. it can be correct or incorrect, or as deals with opinion.. neither correct nor incorrect. Wheter a resoning is tangible or intangible really makes no difference to the topic here.. IE.. fuel octane level... with higher levels dubbed 'premium' with or without extra addatives.

Argue all you want that there is no difference other than octane additives... but in practice, the difference is real at least with the fuel available here.

the difference between fuel that is 87 octane and 93 octane is some octane points. as for anything elese in the mix.. that's for the fuel blenders to decide. I know in certain areas you can get fuel with no ethanol in the higher octane levels, and you can also get leaded gas in higher octane levels whether it be avgas, racing fuel or for marine use.

I bet some 'cats' love that high lead fuel..

ps.. I'm not arguing.. I'm merely commenting, and quite enjoying the exchange I might add. popcorn and a comfy chair might make it better.. but it's good nonetheless..

soundguy

 

[Guesseral]

Wow I can't believe this post and all of the things everyone worries about. I guess I am just lucky, all of my small engines get 87 oct gas never any more, all of my 2 cycle engine get 87 oct and walmart 2 cycle oil and I never have any problems. The only thing I ever put higher oct fuel in is my 150 HP high performance 4 stroke snowombile engine and that is only for the first tank of the year because of the left over fuel from the year before. Like I said I must be one luck SOB. I can't even remember ever reading the manual to see what oct fuel to use, well ok once because I wanted to see the ratio for the two stroke oil.

 

[LD1]

I dont run premium either unless the engine mfg calls for it.

That said, for small engines, it premium gets you away from dreaded ethanol, that is money well spent IMO.

But in my area, marathon is still ethanol free for all of their grades. So that is where I go. No need for the premium price when it is not necessary, of no benefit, and actually lessens performance.

 

[Soundguy]

I dont run premium either unless the engine mfg calls for it.

That said, for small engines, it premium gets you away from dreaded ethanol, that is money well spent IMO.

But in my area, marathon is still ethanol free for all of their grades. So that is where I go. No need for the premium price when it is not necessary, of no benefit, and actually lessens performance.

we NOW have 1 station, 2 cities up, that sells 1 grade of non ethanol fuel.. it's 90 octane.. only station i know of inour county.. just heard about it today..

soundguy

 

[sw03]

Wow I can't believe this post and all of the things everyone worries about. I guess I am just lucky, all of my small engines get 87 oct gas never any more, all of my 2 cycle engine get 87 oct and walmart 2 cycle oil and I never have any problems. The only thing I ever put higher oct fuel in is my 150 HP high performance 4 stroke snowombile engine and that is only for the first tank of the year because of the left over fuel from the year before. Like I said I must be one luck SOB. I can't even remember ever reading the manual to see what oct fuel to use, well ok once because I wanted to see the ratio for the two stroke oil.

I agree. I run 87 in 2 stihl 290 Muff mod saws, 3 ED630 BP blowers and 2 echo 2100 trimmers & (1) Billy Goat 9hp blower....the horror!!!!

Save your money since 87 works just fine...

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

I also only run 87 in my small stuff and haven't had any problems.