I just picked up a new Stihl weedeater and chainsaw and am trying to figure out what gas to run.. the only non ethanol I can find locally is 87 octane... is that acceptable or use regular high octane with stabil? I’m running 93’ octane in the sons dirtbike with stabil

The sprint mart at 69/Mitt Lary in Northport sells Ethanol free and I thought it was higher octane, but can't swear to it. I'll check next time I fill up.

Stihl advises to use 89 or HIGHER in all their machines. But if I had the choice to use 87 non ethanol and 91 ethanol I would choose the nonethanol every time.

I am currently using 87 non ethanol. I can never find 89.

all I use is 87 non ethanol

in my saws I use True Fuel only

This website lists the octane though I'm sure at least some aren't accurate.
https://www.pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=AL

I use Tru Fuel. It’s relatively expensive but no more than I use cost isn’t a big deal. My saws start and run good on it.

Unless you’re doing commercial stuff, I’d just use the premixed 95 octane stuff. I don’t trust that those ethanol free tanks are actually ethanol free.

I’d make a point to run the non ethanol.

To add to what was just said, the cans of premix fuel does best in my opinion. If it’s just home use I’d go with that. Commercial use you’d run up your running cost a good bit and would buy the ethanol free.

Why not buy the lower octane non ethonol and add a shot or two of octane booster? I'd do this before I ran ethonol through it.

I just finished off a bottle I had.. I don’t use the saw as much as the weed eater.. but by the time I cut all mine and have to go do the parents yard(woods) and sometimes another yard I need a cheaper fuel alternative... I just wasn’t sure if the lower octane would cause less power..

Can you buy the premixed fuel in a container bigger than 32oz to save $$?

I have thought about that too. I think there’s an easy way to test but never have.

Pretty sure they sell a 128 oz if not gallon. It’s expensive per gallon, but for homeowners it’s not a big deal.

I’ve been using ethanol free 87 in the same saws and weedeater for 5 yrs now. I don’t add anything to the gas and I don’t drain or run them dry when stored for extended periods of time. No issues thus far and they crank within 3 pulls every time.

Thanks for all the info... just want to take care of the equipment.. I’ve always had cheaper(crappy) items and finally got something decent and gotta make it last👍

I run the 87 non ethanol in everything I have saws, weed eaters, boat, generator..... My Stihl saws run fine.

What i do....

128 oz *is* a gallon.

That's how I buy it, from a local lawn equipment store. 94 octane pre-mix (VP brand) for about $16/gallon. Only use is in weedeater, blower, and chainsaw...so a gallon will last all summer.

I use Tru Fuel and never had any issues.

I wish a gallon would last a “summer”. Not when you have to cut grass 57 times between February 1 to December 1st. Of course, 200 inches of rain the past two years doesn’t help.

Tru fuel or a similar product is worth the cost to me. I use it in my weed eater and chainsaw. I’ll Run. Can of it thru my generator every so often instead of using gas. The oil in the fuel keeps the carburetor in the generator lubricated an keeps it from humming up the jets.

X2

X3

I use 87octane ethanol gas in my saws but they never sit still for any amount of time and I go through 4-5 gallons of mixed gas a week. Ive never had any problems. That being said, I do believe your problems occur when your saw sits around for long periods of time. I have a couple saws in my truck that are spares and only get ran a couple times a year when I need them. These saws crank and run every time, no problem. I attribute this to the gas sloshing around in them every day so it dont separate. More important than what type gas you use is the oil you use to mix your gas. The oil is the life of your saw. You should use 10% more oil than recommended. This will extend the life of your internal motor parts. Also do not run a saw dull. Chainsaws are built to be ran under a load. If your saw is dull it is not loading the motor up the way it is designed to be ran, it also causes more heat which is bad for the motor. If your saw sits around for months at a time, ethanol gas will separate and destroy your carb. This is the most common problem with homeowner chainsaws, gummed up carburators. "It ran great last time, this time I picked it up and it wont crank". It is the corn gas, but sitting around really done it.

Tear down a carb off of a piece of small equipment and see what it looks like inside after you have let some non-ethanol gas sit in it for a little while. Looks like a coat of varnish all over everything. I used to use that crap.

I had a very well known and jam up small engine mechanic to tell me to use plain old ethanol gas and add Stabil Marine to the can everytime I got gas in it. Started doing that and I've never had a problem since.

If you run the non-ethanol out of your equipment and don't let it set up you'll be okay. But let it sit up a little while and you will have a gummed up mess.

I know a few small engine mechanics myself, and they've always told me to never use ethanol in small engines. And only time I've had a "gummed" up mess was from letting ethanol gas sit up in my small engines (and a 4 wheeler) But to each his own 😉

Check your warranty it may require the “canned” fuel. I know husky requires a certain fuel in order for warranty to be valid. I run Echo branded stuff and I use tru fuel only. Everything runs better on it.

Same.

Some small engine mechanics stay in business by giving bad advice.

Can't hide money. lol

I don't know why anyone would intentionally add ethanol gas to a small engine that's only occasionally used. I don't use it anywhere but my daily driver.

Ethanol free in all my small stuff, lawnmowers, chainsaws, outboard, etc...AND my old Landcruiser.

Tru Fuel X 2 just too easy