Stihl scratchin' my head

[jinman]

All small engines now come with a warning not use ethanol fuels. It will degrade most rubberized parts. But who reads the instructions?

I think in my area of North Texas, I'd be hard pressed to find any gas station without 10% ethanol. I do know that in Oklahoma, I've seen several stations selling "no ethanol" fuel. I'm quite sure I would never drive to Oklahoma to buy chainsaw fuel, no matter what the instructions said. Having said that, I suspect you are correct and the ethanol fuel is largely responsible for the failure. Perhaps Stihl will change the composition of seals and bladders in their carb kits to help us "ethanol challenged" state residents. I sure hope so because I don't want to have to rebuild the carb every year or two.

 

[Western]

I think in my area of North Texas, I'd be hard pressed to find any gas station without 10% ethanol. I do know that in Oklahoma, I've seen several stations selling "no ethanol" fuel. I'm quite sure I would never drive to Oklahoma to buy chainsaw fuel, no matter what the instructions said. Having said that, I suspect you are correct and the ethanol fuel is largely responsible for the failure. Perhaps Stihl will change the composition of seals and bladders in their carb kits to help us "ethanol challenged" state residents. I sure hope so because I don't want to have to rebuild the carb every year or two.

Jinman, I haven't seen ANY where around here with pure gas either, I wish they would let us get the real stuff, then we could add however much corn each guy wanted in his equipment!!

 

[NH-Rob]

Around here they are telling us to use stabil fuel treatment for marine. It is blue as opposed to the regular red stuff. It contains something to counter act the ethanol.
Rob

 

[kenmac]

And, don't use any more gas with ethanol. It is not good stuff.

That's all you can get around here

 

[Redbug]

There's a lot of older outboard engines out there that are not compatible with ethanol, also. I have a bottle of the Marine Stabil. But, I'm not sure how well it will work...

 

[sailorman]

I had a similar problem with same symptoms on my Stihl. The culpret was a very dirty air filter element that visually appeared clean causing the engine to run rich wtih no power, and flood out. Cleaned filter with warm soapy water and blew dry. Cranked right up with no further problem.

 

[RobertN]

I keep a soft bristle paint brush in my chainsaw box. I clean off the air filter with every gas fill up. Also brush away anything around the the gas and oil caps before filling.

I had a similar problem with same symptoms on my Stihl. The culpret was a very dirty air filter element that visually appeared clean causing the engine to run rich wtih no power, and flood out. Cleaned filter with warm soapy water and blew dry. Cranked right up with no further problem.

 

[radioman]

with the way we are only getting ethanol- its time for the chainsaw carbs to be redesigned for it. the way we are going with 10 percent ethanol, I wouldn't be surprised if it went higher then 10%

 

[beenthere]

I keep a soft bristle paint brush in my chainsaw box. I clean off the air filter with every gas fill up. Also brush away anything around the the gas and oil caps before filling.

On some air filters, don't want to use a bristle brush on them (not sure that is what you implied here, but just in case the wrong message comes across). Just tap the dust/chips off the filter.

Brush for around the caps is a good idea.

 

[20 20]

Around here for years now, all we've been able to buy is 10% ethanol gas. I have allways mixed in Marvel Mystery Oil, and never had any problems with my stihl chainsaws. I even leave the gas in them for months at a time, never had anything wrong. I'm not saying this is the correct practice just saying what I've done, without troubles. I also mix the oil a bit rich so maybe{??} between the richer mix of oil and the MMO it keeps things from breaking down? I've had my newer saws for 6+years now.