Fuel Mix

[Steve999]

+1 , yes many thanks to all. Am I glad I read this thread, I'm getting rid of my old fuel/oil mix. Unaware of the pitfalls I could easily have damaged the engine on my newish Stihl saw.

[Steve999]

Just to add to my previous post, can someone please clarify for me, is it the unleaded fuel that deteriorates or is it the oil - if it's the fuel how does this cause 2 stroke engines to become knackered. I can understand it if it's the oil that's deteriorating, and what/how does Aspen survive better? Many thanks in advance.

[Steve999]

Ok on a roll here, checked a previous thread on the forum and see two things that maybe happening with 'normal' unleaded / oil mix: "fuel going stale" and "oil breaking down". But this Aspen stuff (if you can pick it up conveniently) is pretty expensive stuff, might be better for me to mix normal petrol and oil as I need it. At least the oil won't break down if I'm mixing just before use, and even if the fuel deteriorates it can't damage the 2 stroke engine, can it?

[felixthelogchopper]

Ok on a roll here, checked a previous thread on the forum and see two things that maybe happening with 'normal' unleaded / oil mix: "fuel going stale" and "oil breaking down". But this Aspen stuff (if you can pick it up conveniently) is pretty expensive stuff, might be better for me to mix normal petrol and oil as I need it. At least the oil won't break down if I'm mixing just before use, and even if the fuel deteriorates it can't damage the 2 stroke engine, can it?

 

It's a lot cheaper than a new pot and piston.

[GardenKit]

Thanks to all for comments and help. I have read that moving from standard fuel to Aspen can cause the carb rubbers to be come less flexible and shrink back to original with resulting splitting - is this common place or just may happen or not.

'Pump' petrol contains around 35% solvents and 5% ethanol. These permeate the synthetic rubber of fuel hoses and carb diaphragms and destroy the rubbers built in preservatives which keep it supple.

 

The petrol starts to slowly soften the rubber and will eventually soften it to the point where it falls apart, but in the meantime this softening keeps it supple and workable, despite the destruction of the rubbers own supple agents.

 

Remove the petrol, as in storage, and the rubber shrinks and cracks. We have all seen this with split fuel hoses after storage. This will not rehydrate when refilled with petrol and repairs will be neccessary. Most machines however, will not suffer any adverse effects.

 

Changing to Aspen can have the same effect as drying out, as there are no solvents in Aspen.

In the worst case scenario, there may be trouble with rubber, depending on the time that it has been exposed to petrol, and rubber components may need replacing, but to be fair they would have needed sorting soon anyway.

 

Aspen does not cause the problem, it can merely find the problem caused by petrol.

 

Older machines will be more prone to this than newer ones.

 

New rubber that has not been exposed to petrol will last much, much longer on Aspen than they ever will on petrol, so repaired machines, or new machines will be much more reliable on Aspen.

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[GardenKit]

Ok on a roll here, checked a previous thread on the forum and see two things that maybe happening with 'normal' unleaded / oil mix: "fuel going stale" and "oil breaking down". But this Aspen stuff (if you can pick it up conveniently) is pretty expensive stuff, might be better for me to mix normal petrol and oil as I need it. At least the oil won't break down if I'm mixing just before use, and even if the fuel deteriorates it can't damage the 2 stroke engine, can it?[/QUOTE]

 

Stale fuel has lost some of its potency ( for want of a better word) so each drop does less work. As the same volume is combined with the air mix, the machine effectively runs lean.

 

A 'lean mixture' will cause the engine to run hot and 'lean siezure can occur.

[geoff]

Gardenkit,your concise explanations are great at clarifying what for me is was 'fuzzy' understanding regarding the different properties of petrol and aspen,and their impact on the flexible parts of fuel systems,thanks.

[GardenKit]

Gardenkit,your concise explanations are great at clarifying what for me is was 'fuzzy' understanding regarding the different properties of petrol and aspen,and their impact on the flexible parts of fuel systems,thanks.

Thanks Geoff

 

Aspen is a great product which is not fully understood by many and is surrounded by a few 'myths'.

 

I now know a lot about the product and try to put the record straight and break some of the myths wherever possible.

 

I took a big gamble when I adopted Aspen as the main fuel in my service and repair business a year ago, but it has paid off really well. I have had very few unexpected issues with changing machines over. and none that could not easily be resolved. The customer response has been incredible.

[geoff]

No thanks required,you spelled it out in a simple & thorough way.

I have used aspen in all my small kit including the thirsty 3120 & backpack blower,& will not use pump mix in these machines anymore.

Disregarding the price,aspen makes sense for man & machine,& I for one dont mind paying for that.

[geoff]

Ok on a roll here, checked a previous thread on the forum and see two things that maybe happening with 'normal' unleaded / oil mix: "fuel going stale" and "oil breaking down". But this Aspen stuff (if you can pick it up conveniently) is pretty expensive stuff, might be better for me to mix normal petrol and oil as I need it. At least the oil won't break down if I'm mixing just before use, and even if the fuel deteriorates it can't damage the 2 stroke engine, can it?

 

Heres an example of when aspen is the economical option,my ex wife has a small lawn & uses about a gallon of petrol /year,the mower would never start in the spring,she is not of a mind to run the petrol out last cut in the autumn,(just like many other home users),& it was expensive & a pain to get the mower recomitioned each year.

Total fuel bills on aspen/year for her are under £20,any residual fuel can be left in the machine & fuel can over winter,& she just pics up where she left off,start the mower(with ease) & yippee do away she mows.

Much the same scenario with my big saw which only gets to play maybe 3 times a year,& my honda 4stroke strimmer,my classic saws etc etc.