chainsaw gas

[JHT67]

Hey guys, my chainsaw has a little gas left in from last fall. My question is, since it's mixed gas/oil should I still drain out the old gas. This may seem like a stupid question, but it's the only thing I've ever owned that uses mixed gas/oil.

[big_al_71]

Dump, clean and rinse then add fresh mixed gas!!! is exactly what I would do.

[cdowns]

for sure dump it

you really should dump it out at the end of the season and run whats in the carb out b4 storing for the winter that 2cycle mixture can sure gum up the carb alot faster than regular gas

[JHT67]

Well, it looks like I'm going to have to do some homework cause the thing is practically brand new. My wife bought it for me last May and all I did was play around with it, and I sure as heck don't want to mess it up. Do ya'll think the carb might need cleaned too, and what would I clean and rinse it with.

[northerngmc]

What kind of oil did you use?

I buy the Husqvarna oil with fuel stabalizer in it and have good luck.

I agree with above though, dump the gas at the end of the season.

[Stocker]

Even though I know better , I have never drained gas from my chain saws between seasons, and it's never caused me a problem in more than 30 years. Dunno if it matters, but I have only used good quality gas (Chevron or 76) and oil (Stihl or Husky).

YMMV... if you are at all concerned, it won't hurt anything to drain it and start with fresh stuff. If it runs good, there should be no reason to clean it.

I did have a carb diaphram rot away in an old Stihl a few years back, but that was not attributed to old gas.

[JHT67]

Well the dealer gassed it up for my wife when she bought it, and I didn't even use all that gas. It's an Echo 45cc chainsaw. When she bought it the salesman said I could bring it in and they'd go over it with me. I should've done it, I think I might do that tomorrow.

[Jerry Jones]

Originally Posted by Stocker

Even though I know better , I have never drained gas from my chain saws between seasons, and it's never caused me a problem in more than 30 years. Dunno if it matters, but I have only used good quality gas (Chevron or 76) and oil (Stihl or Husky).

YMMV... if you are at all concerned, it won't hurt anything to drain it and start with fresh stuff. If it runs good, there should be no reason to clean it.

I did have a carb diaphram rot away in an old Stihl a few years back, but that was not attributed to old gas.

Agreed!

[Hottrucks]

^ yep me too...and If I have any question about gas I pour it into the truck and dillute it there

[Jerry Jones]

^ good point!

[Sinister]

I never drain mine either, but do use the oil with the fuel stabilizer.

[NateK4340]

All my 2 cycle stuff is Echo. Echo has their own 2 cycle oil at home depot that I think has a fuel stabilizer in it. I usually drain and run whats in the carb out before storing but dont always remember to. I would drain the old gas, put some fresh gas in and spray some carb cleaner in the intake before you fire it up.

[hounddogs!]

I drain everything, 4-cycle or 2, then run until it dies. The 1987 Honda mower started on the first pull this weekend, as did the Stihl trimmer.

[usmcchevy]

If you do need a carb cleaning, whatever you do. DO NOT try some carb cleaner in the gas tank. I recently had a string trimmer that wasn't running quite right (dirty carb) well tried a splash of carb cleaner..... completely dissolved the carb diaphragm

[rwgregory]

The best thing you can do is drain the tank and run the carb dry if it is going to sit for more than a month. I am a small engine mechanic and people who don't dump old gas keep me employed,(thank God there are a lot of them out there). To clean a small carburator use either mineral spirits or Berrymans B-12. If your carb is a gummed up mess it should be disassembled and cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner in a bath of warm water with a little dish washing liquid mixed in.

[JHT67]

How do I clean with the Berrymans?

[rwgregory]

To clean the carb with Berrymans, remove the carb from the machine and squirt it down good to remove any built up dirt, saw dust etc. from the external surfaces. Hose it off with compressed air and lay out a shop towel on your bench to have a clean work area. Disassemble the carb as best as you can and try not to damage any gaskets, diaphrams, O-rings etc. Squirt Berrymans into all holes,orifaces, jets, and anything else that looks like it could hold dirt or crud. Blow compressed air into all of those areas to clear out any blockages and to dry out the B-12. Reassemble the carb, mount it back onto the machine, fire it off and adjust the fuel/air screws as necessary.

[Sub-versive]

Any gas with ethanol really should be drained. It has been proven that the E10 gas (mandated by the state) sucks up moisture and when left sitting for more than 2 weeks can have water in your fuel. This crud gas has screwed up a lot of engines. Whenever possible use a premium gas without ethanol.
I knew it wasn't great when my mileage dropped in my truck, but I really didn't know the extent of the problems ehtanol laced fuel caused until an episode of Oregon Field Guide.

http://www.opb.org/programs/ofg/segments/view/1738

[Hoods69BadBowTie]

Originally Posted by northerngmc

What kind of oil did you use?

I buy the Husqvarna oil with fuel stabalizer in it and have good luck.

I agree with above though, dump the gas at the end of the season.

Yea I have done the same or got the Stihl oil and mixed gas and fuel stabilzer into it and had no problems. I usually dump it all out and run it dry to get all the gas out of the carb!