Idle Stihl chain saw-a problem?

[gary7]

I bought a Stihl about a year ago thinking I would use it then. It has sat in my garage since then, but still never used. Is there a problem having a chain saw sitting around without use? If I keep the fuel out of it, do I need to do anything else with it to keep it in running order when I do need it? Any other thoughts I should be thinking about? Thanks.

 

[Steve Worcester]

With no fuel in it, no issues I know if.
With fuel, I would say drain the fuel, but I personally would just shake the saw to mix it and run it anyway. But I am sure the Stihl guy would tell you to drain the fuel.

The bar oil shouldn't be affected by age (within reason).

 

[Charlie Harley]

No problems that I can see, especially if it sat without fuel.

Part of my winter layup for small engines, including chain saws, is to drain the fuel. They start right up come spring time.

 

[Vernon Oberle]

sthil 290

I have a 290 that had set up for a few months and wouldn't start. I poured out the gas, put in new, primed it and it started right off.

 

[Paul Engle]

If you use the factory oil additive to mix with, it has fuel preservative in it and is best to keep tank full and the bar lube tank full. For one it helps keep condensation out of the tank , keeps all lines from drying up, and carb from clogging , run it once a month for a few seconds let it cool off out side and bring indoors or where ever you store it. the fuel preservative good for a while, in doubt ask you saw shop what they recomend unless someone here works at one....

 

[Richard Baker]

Agree with Chips. Suggest use of fuel stabilizer (Sta-Bil or equivalent) in all small engine fuel all year long. The standard "dose" supposedly keeps the fuel good for a year, and a double dose for two years. I like to add it to the gas immediately when I bring it home, so I don't have to wonder later if I added it or not. Some of the gas is mixed with oil for two-stroke engines, and some not, for four-strokes.

 

[waltben]

To Sta-Bil or not to

I used it for about five years until convinced by a Stihl dealer to only use premium fuel for all my 2 cycle thingies three + years back. Haven't used it since and haven't had any problems, although nothing's sat for over about 18 months. Everything starts up right away whenever I need it - three chain saws, a weed whacker, a blower and a small cultivator. Even with all that, I'm only using about two gallons of fuel a year, so the extra money isn't much.

 

[Bob Hadley]

Ok this may not be a world record, but... My cousin has an old Stihl 075 – a venerable monster of a saw (110cc). After seeing harsh duty with a 48-inch bar on an Alaskan Mill it sat around in his shop for about 15 years without being run.

When I borrowed it I figured it would need a complete working over so I took it to the Stihl dealer figuring it would require a rope, rings, filters, the works. He took one look at it and asked if I even tried to start it. Nope.

Well, he put in some fresh gas and gave it a couple pulls. The thing fired up and it ran like a champ.

It probably shouldn't have. But it did.

BH

 

[GeorgeH]

If you've never had fuel in the engine you don't have a fuel fouling problem. However, if the engine has had fuel in it, you may have developed some solids in the fuel lines. Stihl 2 cycle engines do typically use high octane fuel - Stihl usually recommends a fuel of 89 octane or higher. It shouldn't be an issue in this day and age but you must, of course, never use anything but unleaded motor vehicle fuel in your small engines. I generally dump out the fuel tank and refill it with fresh (pumped today) fuel mixed according to specs. Then I make sure the kill switch is off, choke is fully closed, throttle fully open, and give it a start. When it starts, I open the choke. If that doesn't start it I try a squirt of starting fluid in the carb. (always, of course, making sure the air cleaner is secured back in its proper position before cranking the engine) and then I have another go at it.
Here's a web site that may answer some of your questions:
http://retail.petro-canada.ca/en/seasonalarticles/1720.aspx
The only thing I disagree with them on is the suggestion for emptying the fuel tank at the end of a season. They forgot to mention that, after emptying the fuel tank, it's a good idea to start the engine to rid the fuel system of residual fuel.

 

[MichaelMouse]

Two problems. First is varnish, second volatility.

"Varnish" is taken care of by the stabilizer, or in most all modern fuels, by the detergent additives in the gasoline designed to keep your injectors clean. Little flapper valves can stick and Venturi diameters change with accumulation of "varnish."

Other is volatility, where - alcohol "dryers" don't read this - the more volatile components in your gasoline blend evaporate more rapidly, and change the blend toward the heavier components. Makes it tough to get a start with old fuel sometimes. The ether trick is the most common, and you can usually save the old gas by mixing it with new to get it to useable vaporization rates. Injectors don't seem to mind it so much as carburetors, so your car is a good place.

In short, drain and purge the carb for storage, or use an anti-varnish ingredient. If you do the latter, evaporation will eventually drain the carb for you, with potential for leaving behind "varnish." Empty carb is why long-stored saws take three-four pulls or a prime, if so equipped.

I just purged and oiled the piston in my snow blower Wednesday prior to moving him to the shed to occupy the space made by removing the mower.

 

[waltben]

So where does it go?

I've never emptied any fuel tanks for the simple reason that the fuel has to go somewhere - not in a storm drain or on the ground. If you've the time, a person could empty it into a container (that can be sealed) and then take it to a recycling place (mine's over ten miles away). If something must have all the fuel removed, start it and let it run itself empty (not to be done regularly as the last few seconds are lean running as posted earlier). Varnish hasn't been a problem I've experienced since unleaded fuel.

I've a 10 hp snow blower that is only used a couple times a year (Virginia DOES get show sometimes and I've a paved 180' driveway). I've never had any problems with it or my standby 5 kw generator leaving fuel in them until needed. One thing I do with them is to not leave more than a pint or two and then run them every spring and fall. Since I've also got a big lawn mower, I can keep fresh fuel around in containers for when I need it.

We're on well water, and the last thing I need is a tiny bit of fuel to leach into our supply. Anyone anywhere should also be very concerned about fuel contanimation even in citys.

 

[Bob Hadley]

Storing your saw? Empty old chain saw gas into our car. A pint of 50:1 gas/oil won't hurt anything.