To empty the fuel or leave it full...?

[UK Guy]

I've always left my saws full to the brim with fresh premium fuel mix with stihl ultra mix over the winter months when not used.

 

I have read that stihl recommend to run the saw dry before storing but surely that would cause whatever's left to dry!

 

I've had a ms170 for 8 years with no issues but I've also purchased a ms261c (which has been a great saw) and just wondering what is best - empty or Full.

 

What do you guys and girls do?

[richy_B]

If my power tools are going away for more than 4 weeks I run them dry. Just what I was taught.

[Stubby]

Use Aspen and forget about all that for ever .

[IVECOKID]

If you are using a good quality 2 stroke oil ie Stihl green which has a Fuel stabilizer in then don't panic , I have a Stihl blower set-up for sucking leaves in the winter and it lays idle every year and cranks up first Time.

Now its different with 4 stroke lawnmowers having no fuel stabilizer so I run them out .

 

 

Ste

 

Ps . That's my experience and I run dozens of 2 strokes' without a issue and only ever use one shots .

Edited October 11, 2015 by IVECOKID

[njm]

If you are using a good quality 2 stroke oil ie Stihl green which has a Fuel stabilizer in then don't panic , I have a Stihl blower set-up for sucking leaves in the winter and it lays idle every year and cranks up first Time.

Now its different with 4 stroke lawnmowers having no fuel stabilizer so I run them out .

 

 

Ste

 

Ps . That's my experience and I run dozens of 2 strokes' without a issue and only ever use one shots .

 

As above with 2 strokes or switch to Aspen 2 , I run all my 4 strokes on Aspen now but had good results with B&S Fuel fit in small engines and my bikes .

[Mick Dempsey]

I run mine dry, works for me.

[stihlmadasever]

Ive done both,left fuel in for couple of months and ran some dry-mostly saws if im being honest.I leave the strimmers and blowers with fuel but run the saws dry.I really dont know why but my point is ive never had any issues restarting equipment,

possibley if left longer it might be a problem.

[Haironyourchest]

If you worried about it just empty the petrol tank, half fill with aspen (orange bottle - with added 2-stroke oil) and idle the machine for a few minutes, let the aspen saturate the works and clean out any petrol mix left in the carb, lines and filter. Then leave the machine to overwinter full of aspen, next season start it, run for a bit, then pour the aspen out back into the can and use petrol mix as per usual. Should be able to make a gallon of Aspen last forever that way.

[Sandworks]

If you worried about it just empty the petrol tank, half fill with aspen (orange bottle - with added 2-stroke oil) and idle the machine for a few minutes, let the aspen saturate the works and clean out any petrol mix left in the carb, lines and filter. Then leave the machine to overwinter full of aspen, next season start it, run for a bit, then pour the aspen out back into the can and use petrol mix as per usual. Should be able to make a gallon of Aspen last forever that way.

 

 

That's what I'm doing atm. The 880, and 5 200's get laid up with aspen, stuff in regular use just run it dry.....

[Stubby]

That's what I'm doing atm. The 880, and 5 200's get laid up with aspen, stuff in regular use just run it dry.....

 

The potential problem with that is .....The coating put on the rubber components ( carb diaphragm , impulse line etc etc ) to keep them supple is attacked and eventually removed by the pump fuel . The pump fuel its self then keeps the rubber supple for a few years . Aspen does not remove the coating but if it already been removed by the pump fuel it may then start to give problems Pershing and caking . . If you use Aspen from the get go not a problem. I changed all th rubber components in my saws when I switched over to Aspen .