Stihl 500i fuel thoughts

[Johnkv]

Hi guys I'm new to the forum and I'm sure it has been discussed many times over. I bought a stihl 500i and I'm thrilled with it. When I was buying the stihl at the store I was told never to use anything other than stihl hp ultra. I've asked numerous other dealers in the country and most of them agree. I'm asking professional users out there is it OK to run the hp super (green colour) in this saw? I've used this oil in my older saw for ages and I think it's great oil plus its got a stabilizer in it so it lasts for ages. I'm not a pro but I cut lots of firewood, and yes there could be months go by where it would doing nothing hence my preference for super. Can you please offer me the best advice on this? Thank you. John. 

[Mike Hill]

I run mine on either alkylate fuel or just regular mix.

 

Can't say I notice any difference in performance. Had the saw about a year.

[Dan Maynard]

HP ultra is higher spec than the super, it also has the stabiliser in so I don't think there's any advantage to super apart from price. Personally I run the ultra, performance and lifetime of the saws is better in theory although it's not easy to get any details behind that from Stihl literature.

 

Given that a litre of oil mixes with 50 of petrol and I've just paid £1.60 a litre for super I don't think the ultra is that much more expensive to run.

[Johnkv]

10 minutes ago, Dan Maynard said:

HP ultra is higher spec than the super, it also has the stabiliser in so I don't think there's any advantage to super apart from price. Personally I run the ultra, performance and lifetime of the saws is better in theory although it's not easy to get any details behind that from Stihl literature.

 

Given that a litre of oil mixes with 50 of petrol and I've just paid £1.60 a litre for super I don't think the ultra is that much more expensive to run.

Hi Dan thanks for replying, I emailed stihl GB about that very thing and they told me the ultra did NOT have the stabilizers in it. I think the American one does its in a silver bottle. I know it doesn't make a big difference if your running stuff day in day out if your using ultra. I have a mix of super made up since last year and it's still perfect using e95 grade petrol. I'm the same as you all I want is the best for the saw. How long would a batch of ultra mixed with fuel last? I was told stale fuel will damage the engine.. I'd imagine if it smells like nail varnish and the oil had jellified or separated from the petrol then yea.. of course it probably wouldn't even start.  

[Stubby]

1 minute ago, Johnkv said:

Hi Dan thanks for replying, I emailed stihl GB about that very thing and they told me the ultra did NOT have the stabilizers in it. I think the American one does its in a silver bottle. I know it doesn't make a big difference if your running stuff day in day out if your using ultra. I have a mix of super made up since last year and it's still perfect using e95 grade petrol. I'm the same as you all I want is the best for the saw. How long would a batch of ultra mixed with fuel last? I was told stale fuel will damage the engine.. I'd imagine if it smells like nail varnish and the oil had jellified or separated from the petrol then yea.. of course it probably wouldn't even start.  

I use ( coz I can ) Red line racing 2T oil mixed at 50:1 with Husqvarna Alkylate fuel .  I think that is the billie bollox .

[Dan Maynard]

39 minutes ago, Johnkv said:

Hi Dan thanks for replying, I emailed stihl GB about that very thing and they told me the ultra did NOT have the stabilizers in it. I think the American one does its in a silver bottle. I know it doesn't make a big difference if your running stuff day in day out if your using ultra. I have a mix of super made up since last year and it's still perfect using e95 grade petrol. I'm the same as you all I want is the best for the saw. How long would a batch of ultra mixed with fuel last? I was told stale fuel will damage the engine.. I'd imagine if it smells like nail varnish and the oil had jellified or separated from the petrol then yea.. of course it probably wouldn't even start.  

I think to be honest most people probably start using something and then don't change because they have no problems. I've been given a load of Echo 2 stroke oil by a neighbour, don't know what to do with it as I don't really want to risk it in my saws.

 

I'm also working on assumptions, some of the Stihl literature is contradictory but the ultra is fully synthetic and stated to be lower ash than the super which is semi synthetic. It doesn't make sense to me that the super would have stabiliser but not the ultra, but like I said I've found it hard to get details.

 

I think I've read somewhere to not mix more than you'll use in a month but I haven't found it to be too critical, some of my bigger saws sit longer than that between uses.

 

I keep all saw tanks full because it reduces the chance of evaporation from the fuel, and any moisture being absorbed (it does say to do this in the Stihl saw manuals). I also buy super petrol because the E10 is more likely to absorb water and separate. So far my saws are all good, so I carry on like that but I can't really tell you which of the things I do are essential.

 

If you are going to be regularly leaving petrol longer and going stale is a worry then maybe you should just start on Motomix, this has ultra oil and shelf life measured in years.

[Joe Newton]

My 2511 runs shite on ultra so I went back to super

[Dan Maynard]

Just now, Joe Newton said:

My 2511 runs shite on ultra so I went back to super

You need my box of Echo oil. 

[Johnkv]

14 minutes ago, Dan Maynard said:

I think to be honest most people probably start using something and then don't change because they have no problems. I've been given a load of Echo 2 stroke oil by a neighbour, don't know what to do with it as I don't really want to risk it in my saws.

 

I'm also working on assumptions, some of the Stihl literature is contradictory but the ultra is fully synthetic and stated to be lower ash than the super which is semi synthetic. It doesn't make sense to me that the super would have stabiliser but not the ultra, but like I said I've found it hard to get details.

 

I think I've read somewhere to not mix more than you'll use in a month but I haven't found it to be too critical, some of my bigger saws sit longer than that between uses.

 

I keep all saw tanks full because it reduces the chance of evaporation from the fuel, and any moisture being absorbed (it does say to do this in the Stihl saw manuals). I also buy super petrol because the E10 is more likely to absorb water and separate. So far my saws are all good, so I carry on like that but I can't really tell you which of the things I do are essential.

 

If you are going to be regularly leaving petrol longer and going stale is a worry then maybe you should just start on Motomix, this has ultra oil and shelf life measured in years.

Thanks Dan I appreciate the reply.. 

[openspaceman]

12 hours ago, Dan Maynard said:

I've been given a load of Echo 2 stroke oil by a neighbour, don't know what to do with it as I don't really want to risk it in my saws.

dilute your chain oil with it bit by bit or add it to a diesel tank bit by bit