premixed gasoline

showcrop

Well-known Member
Today it was time to burn my existing brush pile and to cut up downed trees and dropped limbs and add them to the fire. My saw is a small Husky, approx. 15 years old. I use it only two-three times a year, and sometimes I run it out of gas but sometimes it sits for months before the next use. Today it started better than ever before on the two year old pre-mixed gas that I put in, and it ran well and restarted well after every time of being off for a half hour to an hour. I love premixed gas!
 
I love pump gas, it's relatively cheap! But we have 91 octane non-ox readily available most everywhere in MN, we are lucky, not so
here in AZ, it's hard to find and expensive, but I don't have any 2-stroke equipment here, so it doesn't matter. I probably mix
about 5 gallons a summer for my 2-strokes in MN, they all run fine, 2 are over 50 years old.
 
I agree! I got tired of changing the diaphragms and primer
bulbs every year. If I have a lot of work I mix up a
couple gallons and finish up with some premix. At 70 years
old my major chainsaw projects are hopefully over anyway.
I usually only use a gallon or so a year in the weed eater
so it is not a major expense.
 
KWIK-TRIP gas stations have 91 octane RECREATIONAL gas, 100% gas, no ethanol, blended to be used in stuff that doesn't get run frequently. It's what I use in all my 2-stroke stuff mixed with Stihl synthetic 50:1 oil, my chain saw, string trimmers, leaf blower, and my lawn mowers, mostly my 27 hp zero turn and my FARMALL SUPER H I push snow with all winter. I've even used it in my pickup in winter, no ethanol it won't absorb moisture and freeze gas lines.
Kwik-Trip stations are in Wisconsin, northern ILL, eastern Iowa, I've got about 6 stations within 10 miles of me. They advertise their gas has the strongest detergent package of any gasoline. I've been using it for close to 20 years.
 
3 years ago Lowes had it buy one get one free. I use so litle of it I still have some in one can, and another full can. Might have been more expensive, but I
didnt have to mix it, and its much easier for me to use the can and not overfill and get gas everywhere.
 
I have started using REC gas for two-cycle mix. That and actual Husqvarna oil. If I have some that gets old I use it in my gas 4020. I have never checked but the canned mix maybe cheaper than the REC gas mix. Back when dad and granddad where logging they used 5 to 10 gal per day. When I was too young to work in the woods I used to help them in the morning, I would dump the oil into the gas. They used one quart of Homalite oil in four gallons of gas.
 
I think there is more to it than just "non-ethanol" gasoline in a can. It would not surprise me to find out that it's more akin to "white gas" or Coleman fuel.

My main reason for using it is for the oil. It's much more likely to be mixed to the proper ratio than anything I can do. At least I can honestly say that I did not straight-gas the saw, for as much good as that does at the saw shop.
 
i have used the premix for several years. have had no carb problems since switching. i add a little extra oil to bring the ratio to 32:1 . where
most my equipment runs.
 
Some gas stations sell ethanol free gas.

I'm not a gas expert.
I was told premium gas is ethanol free.
I owned a 1985 goldwing with fuel injection.
The owner's manual said to use ethanol free gas, premium.
My sister uses premium gas in her 2 cycle boat.
Add a cup of 2 cycle oil to 5 gallons.
Each spring, I run each tank empty before adding new gas.
My sister's boat is 25-30 years old. Runs like new.

Pre 1977 I owned a ski boat with 75 hp Evinrude.
I had to use premium gas to develop enough hp to pull a skier.
I just told you everything I know about gas.
I'm sure someone will tell me I'm wrong.
 
Good discussion here. Yes, premix fuel is the way to go, especially for the chain saws, line
trimmers, that get intermittent use. They sit. If ya going to uses them every day, and earn a living
with them, not so. I like the idea one guy had, use your own mix, then finish up an store with the
premix. Yes, they are pricey, but the convenience, the long term storage, the less deterioration on
fuel line, gaskets, is a good reward in the end. Plus the can is handy to use, rather than a jug!

Bottled water is pricey too if you think about itits the convenience.

And you dont have to do the oil-gas mix. Thats guess work.
 
Around here (SE MI) 93 octane premium is NOT ethanol free. If you want ethanol free, you have to get recreational fuel. It cost about $1 a gallon more than reg. I probably go through about 200 gallons a year but have eliminated 99% of my carb. issues by going to it. For things like snowmobiles and wave runners, we run reg. gas during the season, then drain the tanks and add a couple of gallons of rec. fuel and run before storage. For my old cars, tractors, boat and small engines, I just run nothing but rec. fuel. What works for me, and still cheaper than diesel the last couple of years. I do like other people that use ethanol fuel though. Over the last several years, I've picked up 3 5000 watt generators, 3 2 stage snow blowers, half a dozen self propelled mowers and a shredder/chipper. All they needed was a good carb. cleaning. I make enough of the junk picked equipment to pay for the better gas.
 
I'm thinking there is fuel stabilizer in the mix. I buy Stihl oil for my Stihl saw and it has a stabilizer in it,saw starts whenever and I
have never had carb problems. Your pre mix may well have a stabilizing agent in it
 
Premium gas is only ethanol free where it is not against the law to sell it, AND it is indicated on the pump. In some locations it is labeled as "recreational" instead of premium.

This post was edited by BarnyardEngineering on 03/21/2023 at 09:21 am.
 
Yes I think it does. Some say shelf life of several years.
I have used Sta-bil in past. Local lawnmower shop recommended StarTron stabilizer. Says lasts longer.
 
Next year I'll take a pic of the Shell premium gas pump.
I thought it said ethanol free.
If it does have ethanol, my sister's mixed gas has a shelf life of 11 months, which is remarkable in Florida where the 2 gas tanks are sitting in a boat next to a lake.
 
You must not be old enough to remember back in the days before ethanol was added to our gas, we used to have gas lines freeze. The solution was to add Heet gas line anti-freeze, and alcohol! Now since we have ethanol in our gas we don't have any problems with gas lines freezing, the ethanol, (a type of alcohol) prevents that. The last time I used any Heet was in 1980!
 

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