Fuel and saws

[Topcat]

Had a problem with saws not starting after re fuelling. Been to local stihl dealer,he's had another 10 machines in the last cpl of days with same problem. He's also had a letter of Honda about same problem and warranty. It would seem that cheap petrol has some chemical that ain't to good for two stokes. says to stick with BP/shell etc not the big boyes to save 3p a ltr.

 

Just wondered if any one else was having probs or if it was just local.

 

Best way to deal with said saws,is to take plug out,pull like crazy and then stick some WD40 in plug hole and then try and start. between me and a mate we have 7 saws inc Stihl 088 (ouch) in with him.Our fuel came from a supermarket.

[nuggsy]

ive heard about this also, but have also heard not to use the higher octane fuel like optimax or bp ultimate as it burns far to hot ?

[Topcat]

Don't use the premium ones like ulitima,just the bog standard but make sure it's from a good co ,like BP,shell etc

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

Interesting. I studied fuel performance at University back in the 90s and like it or lump it Esso was best overall. At the time I only analysed the big names inc Esso, Texaco, BP, Shell and should have looked at Supermarket fuels aswell. "It's all from the same refinery" you might be told but whilst that's true, there are lots of grades coming from a refinery! Remember the supermarket fuel thing a while back in the news with silicon contamination in unleaded? A vehicle electronics boffin told me that the trouble with my old 205 GTi spark plugs and other engine probs had been exacerbated by supermarket fuels. Unfortunately I live right next to a Tesco and tend to use it's diesel and Super-Unleaded (97 RON) simply because it's cheap and my sheer consumption of the stuff equates to a lot of clubcard points! Higher RON fuel is better IMO since RON is simply a measure of gasolines resistance to knock, the latter being quite destructive. I've only ever used higher octane fuel in my saws and never ever had an issue...

[Ian C]

I use tesco fuel in my truck, van and car with no problem also use there petrol in my saws again never had a problem.

[Topcat]

It would be interesting to get some input from stihl as to what or what not to use.

[Mesterh]

Never had a problem myself and we usually just use the closest station.

 

Did it do any damage to the saws?

[Stephen Blair]

Never had a problem myself and we usually just use the closest station.

 

Did it do any damage to the saws?

 

no probs here, just always used the closest.

hope you get the problem and saws fixed.

[firewoodman]

i did have a problem one one winter when the 2stoke oil had been subjected to temperatures below freezing, this made the fuel waxy and gave poor performance. i binned the oil, bought newoil and everything was fine.

[CutnRun]

Read this some while ago:

 

 

http://www.forestryjournal.co.uk/archivejuly-b.htm

 

the article was continued in august and one reader suggested 'Alcohol'.

it would seem fuel manufactureres are adding a percentage of biofuel into the blend and biofuel petrol substitute is basically alcohol, which burns hot and fast - hence melted pistons.?