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Chainsaw question
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2025 9:32 am
by clovishound
I have a little Stihl MS180 chainsaw. I use it around the house and for another suburban property I have to maintain. I use it sporadically. I may run a couple tanks through it a season. I have been using it more often this year, as I let things get out of hand on the other property. Sometimes I don't need it for 6-8 months.
I don't have easy access to enthanol free fuel, although I can get it if necessary. I got tired of trying to keep a small can of mixed fuel on hand, and worried about it going bad. I also don't like running 2 strokes dry for storage for a couple reasons. Last year I switched to canned premix fuel. I bought a can of Walmart's brand as a test and it lasted the better part of a season and the saw ran well on it. I got a can of Tru-Fuel recently, and my saw doesn't seem to like it, mainly hard starting issues. I've thought about getting some Ethanol Shield (highly recommended by Chickanic) and premixing a half gallon and storing it in the nice little metal quart cans I now have. The other option would be to switch to a better brand of premix.
What do ya'll use and recommend.
Re: Chainsaw question
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2025 9:59 am
by GeoBoy
I don’t concern myself with non ethanol gasoline, I just add 1/2 ounce of Stabil Marine fuel stabilizer to any two gallons of gasoline I use for my outdoor equipment.
Re: Chainsaw question
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2025 10:09 am
by Sir Henry
I switched to a battery powered one and it works great for small jobs. Even my logger neighbor has one. Granted he also has a half dozen large gas ones too. I’ve switched to battery on everything except my leaf blower. I use premixed Stihl gas for it and a gallon will last me two years and not go bad. I don’t run it dry but do my gas powered lawn mower. I don’t run the diesel mower dry.
Re: Chainsaw question
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2025 10:33 am
by North Country Gal
We switched to battery powered, too. I use a Ryobi 18" chainsaw and an 8" pole chainsaw for all my trail maintenance duties and that's a lot of work, given it's all forest, up here. I don't have the strength to start gas powered, anymore. The battery stuff always starts and battery is much quieter.
Re: Chainsaw question
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2025 11:36 am
by daytime dave
I have a Stihl chainsaw and a DeWalt battery saw. We have non-ethanol at most gas stations and that's all I use in the boat, garden tractors and other small engines. It can sit forever and start first time. The DeWalt is a 12" blade and handles the bulk of what I need a chainsaw for. It's more than paid for itself by now.
Re: Chainsaw question
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2025 11:50 am
by BrokenolMarine
Miss Tina buys the Premixed stuff in the cans at ACE, non-ethanol after having to have the small portable genny, chainsaw and weedeater rebuilt. The small engine guy told her that the ethanol eats the gaskets and other rubber components in the engines, including gas lines. Hard to start? He showed her the fuel line in the portable generator... The inside of the line had turned gummy. When it would start, the vacuum created by the demand for fuel would pull the weakened fuel line flat, pinching off the fuel flow and shutting off the genny.
The non-ethanol gas premix is a bit more expensive, but clean burning and the weedeater, blower, and the rest start every time. We tried the battery stuff, but for us on the farm, just not enough power.
Re: Chainsaw question
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2025 12:51 pm
by clovishound
My chain saw is only about 4 years old with few hours. Barring theft, or unexpected major breakdown, it should be the last chainsaw I ever buy. At the time I bought the saw, I looked at the battery models. They weren't very powerful and were rather expensive. It might make sense if I were in the market right now, but I will stick with what I have for now. Plus replacement batteries are pricey and I doubt even the newer types last more than 6 to 8 years.
I've been watching a bunch of videos by Chickanic on Youtube lately. She works on this stuff every day. She's not a big fan of the premix canned fuel. Although she thinks it's a good idea to fill a tank with it prior to storage, then run it long enough to get the canned fuel through the system before long term storage. She thinks that two strokes should be stored wet. It helps keep the diaphragms in carb and fuel lines from drying out and getting hard. I respect her opinion, but I like to get other views and experience.
Re: Chainsaw question
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2025 1:30 pm
by Ernie
Non-ethanol gas is all I keep on hand. I use it for the saw, lawn mower/snow blower, and generators. It is also what I use in the 69 pick up so I keep plenty with stabilizer.
Re: Chainsaw question
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2025 2:33 pm
by Mags
clovishound wrote: ↑Sat Sep 06, 2025 9:32 am
I have a little Stihl MS180 chainsaw....
What do ya'll use and recommend.
I also have a MS180 as well as a longer bladed Husqvarna. I also have a Milwaukee battery operated 6in.
I mix 2 gal at a time with 2 stroke oil. It last's until I use it up. 2-3 years. I've never had any problems with at the pump gas and I don't use stabilizer. I don't have any start problems with an older mix. I do shake it up before putting it in a saw. My only complaint, even with the Milwaukee, is with the chain oiler. They seep even when not in use. So I store them on a rimmed cookie sheet.
Re: Chainsaw question
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2025 3:35 pm
by 220
What Percentage ethanol? I use what we call E10 here in Aus in all mine, it can contain up to 10% ethanol.
At those levels it can be treated just like regular gas, mine never go into long term storage but some might end up going 6 months without being used. Sometimes they might sit empty other times with a partial tank, I mix all my own fuel and rarely would it sit for more than 1 month, I just top up the tanks with fresh gas and away they go.
Have a couple of ms170/180's and an electric, the electric have come a long way in the past few years the one I have is on par with the 170, not quite as good as the 180 but for little jobs that would be less than a tank of gas just much more convenient.
Re: Chainsaw question
Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2025 9:06 am
by HenryFan
Ethanol free (91 or 93 octane?) pump gas is readily available in my area. I guess it is because so many boat owners buy it because of nearby lakes.
In any event, I use only ethanol free gas in small engines and in my outboard motor and I add a squirt of Stabil marine to the cans. Also, when I return from a fishing trip to Florida, I dump any remaining fuel into a five gallon can and use it in my lawn mowers. That way, I start the next trip with new ethanol free fuel. I never have trouble with water separating out of the fuel or fuel going stale.
That said, as far as my two-stroke engines, I buy cans of Husqvarna pre-mix ethanol free because of convenience. It's just easier than mixing oil & fuel.
I don't think adding ethanol to gasoline is a good idea, in my uneducated opinion.
Also, I keep a small Dewalt electric chain saw in the bed of the Kawasaki Mule because it is so much more handy than my bigger Husqvarna gas engine saw.
Re: Chainsaw question
Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2025 9:56 am
by Sir Henry
HenryFan wrote: ↑Sun Sep 07, 2025 9:06 am
Ethanol free (91 or 93 octane?) pump gas is readily available in my area. I guess it is because so many boat owners buy it because of nearby lakes.
In any event, I use only ethanol free gas in small engines and in my outboard motor and I add a squirt of Stabil marine to the cans. Also, when I return from a fishing trip to Florida, I dump any remaining fuel into a five gallon can and use it in my lawn mowers. That way, I start the next trip with new ethanol free fuel. I never have trouble with water separating out of the fuel or fuel going stale.
That said, as far as my two-stroke engines, I buy cans of Husqvarna pre-mix ethanol free because of convenience. It's just easier than mixing oil & fuel.
I don't think adding ethanol to gasoline is a good idea, in my uneducated opinion.
Also, I keep a small Dewalt electric chain saw in the bed of the Kawasaki Mule because it is so much more handy than my bigger Husqvarna gas engine saw.
E10 was really a bad idea when it first came out because most cars weren’t designed for it. About 99% of engines made before 2003 will have seals go bad. Engines made after 2010 car burn up to E15 without damage. My Flex-Fuel Transit can burn E85 although they have problems with the gas if sits for more than a few days. Fleet use is where E85 gets used the most. I only burn E10 in mine because I get better mileage. Ethanol has fewer BTUs and the mileage is reduced 20%. Of course it’s 25% cheaper so the fleet gets an advantage.
Science has resolved the corrosive problems but using food as fuel is more of a political and economical issue that I won’t comment on.
Re: Chainsaw question
Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2025 1:55 pm
by HenryFan
Sir Henry wrote: ↑Sun Sep 07, 2025 9:56 am
using food as fuel is more of a political and economical issue that I won’t comment on.
I concur.
Re: Chainsaw question
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2025 10:08 am
by Hatchdog
I’ve had/have two MS 170’s. First one ran great for years with lots of hard use. Finally lost compression so I replaced it with the at that time current model. It was a POS from the get go and now won’t hardly run. My last purchased gas saw is a Husky and it’s great. I did buy an electric and it’s been great for light work.
I’m thinking I’m pretty much done with Stilh products.
Re: Chainsaw question
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2025 11:26 am
by The Wiz
On the subject of chainsaws:
"Do you have a backup plan?" - Commodore Wolf
"No, but I have lots of guns and knives and a machete. I'm still looking for a chainsaw."- Shewolf (daughter)
From the series "Black Tide Rising" by John Ringo and others
Re: Chainsaw question
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2025 11:42 am
by Mags
Hatchdog wrote: ↑Mon Sep 08, 2025 10:08 am
I’ve had/have two MS 170’s. First one ran great for years with lots of hard use. Finally lost compression so I replaced it with the at that time current model. It was a POS from the get go and now won’t hardly run. My last purchased gas saw is a Husky and it’s great. I did buy an electric and it’s been great for light work.
I’m thinking I’m pretty much done with Stilh products.
My Stilh works great. Better than the 2 Huskys I have. My larger Husky is very temperamental when it comes to starting. It has a compression release that needs to be used when starting. Between that, getting the choke released quickly and reving the saw a little just right, it dies and won't start
The smaller Husky I have I consider dead. Very few hours on it and the clutch smokes horribly. Taking the cover off, it looks like the brake ring even when released is rubbing the clutch. The whole cover and or motor mount in the case appears to be misaligned. Doesn't look like there is any adjustment to fix that.
Re: Chainsaw question
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2025 12:29 pm
by GFK
clovishound wrote: ↑Sat Sep 06, 2025 9:32 am
I have a little Stihl MS180 chainsaw. I use it around the house and for another suburban property I have to maintain. I use it sporadically. I may run a couple tanks through it a season. I have been using it more often this year, as I let things get out of hand on the other property. Sometimes I don't need it for 6-8 months.
I don't have easy access to enthanol free fuel, although I can get it if necessary. I got tired of trying to keep a small can of mixed fuel on hand, and worried about it going bad. I also don't like running 2 strokes dry for storage for a couple reasons. Last year I switched to canned premix fuel. I bought a can of Walmart's brand as a test and it lasted the better part of a season and the saw ran well on it. I got a can of Tru-Fuel recently, and my saw doesn't seem to like it, mainly hard starting issues. I've thought about getting some Ethanol Shield (highly recommended by Chickanic) and premixing a half gallon and storing it in the nice little metal quart cans I now have. The other option would be to switch to a better brand of premix.
What do ya'll use and recommend.
Is the fuel a 40:1 or 50:1 or both mixture. I used a 40:1/50:1 mixture with my Poulan. And, it can be hard to start at times. A 40:1 mixture seems t o work better.
Re: Chainsaw question
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2025 1:26 pm
by clovishound
It's 50:1. That's what my saw calls for.
Re: Chainsaw question
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2025 3:20 pm
by 220
clovishound wrote: ↑Mon Sep 08, 2025 1:26 pm
It's 50:1. That's what my saw calls for.
If you read the Stihl fine print they recommend 50:1 but only if using their proprietary branded 2 stroke oil. Any 2 stroke oil other than their own they recommend 25:1, I am sure there are other brands of 2 stroke oil the meet or exceed the properties of Stihls own but even with them Stihl recommend 25:1.
Safe to say you wont damage a saw at 25:1 it may perform a little less than optimum but totally safe.
Re: Chainsaw question
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2025 3:47 pm
by clovishound
After the first tank of TruFuel to see how it ran, I went ahead and added some extra 2 stroke oil to the rest of the can.
Having said that, the current manual says "If not using MotoMix, use only STIHL two-stroke engine oil or equivalent high-
quality two-stroke engine oils that are designed for use in air cooled two-cycle engines." There is no recommendation for 25:1 ratios. I believe the 25:1 recommendation is from older Stihl manuals when 2 stroke oils were not up to the standards they are today.