homelite 150 auto fuel mix

[keknw8]

the 150 i've been working on i've been using the Trufuel 40:1 mix lately found in big box stores.

i'm wanting to try mixing my own. however in this city there are no listed gas stations that sell non-ethenol fuel.

can one mix 40:1 regular gas + oil and use in this chainsaw ok? is there an additive that ppl use to counter the ethanol or is the ethanol even much of an issue?

for the 2-cycle oil,  is "Lucas Synthetic 2-Cycle Snowmobile" or "Lucas High Performance Semi-Synthetic 2-Cycle" a good enough oil to use in the mix?

tia

[blythkd]

Any good quality 2 stroke oil will be fine at 40:1 ratio. Many guys on this forum run synthetic up to 80:1 and beyond.

You can spring for the full synthetic or just a synthetic blend which is about the minimum quality you find anymore. Your 150 won't be fussy about 2 stroke oil or mix ratio, it's a very durable saw.

Best to stay away from ethanol if at all possible. Are you sure none or your stations have ethanol free gas? Typically the high grade, like 90 or 91 octane, are ethanol free even if the pump doesn't advertise it as such. Some stations push ethanol free as an advertising strategy since they know many of us are looking for it. Some places don't advertise it but it's still there.

There are stabilizers meant to help with ethanol but they mostly just extend the shelf life, they don't do away with the ethanol or counteract it. The best practice if you must run ethanol fuel is to run your saw dry of fuel every time you're done with it.

[charles]

I don't know where you live , but in my area , all the marinas have non-ethanol fuels available and sometimes a small airport will have

non-ethanol fuel also . As far as 2 stroke oils , use the best full synthetic oil that is designed for air cooled 2 stroke engines , not

oil designed for water cooled 2 strokes

Charles

[onlyhomelites]

The limiting factor with the regular ethanol pump gas is how long you can keep it fresh. Ideally no longer 90-120 days and I'd personally still use a treatment like Stabil. Any saw it runs in, I'd run dry for storage longer than 30 days. I'm lucky and I have a station with a non-ethanol pump 1/2 mile from my house!

[bobby167]

As what all of the previous posters have said is very true. If you are going to use your 2 stroke equipment, saws / trimmers / or whatever it is, your better off using the ones in the can. You can get them 40:1 & 50:1. This is what I have been doing for years. Very little or no problems. If you use a gallon or more per week or so mixing should be no problem. Whatever you decide to do , remember what it will cost in time & money to fix equipment, if the fuel goes bad. Suggestion, if you mix your own, shake you fuel mix up before you use it. This way you are sure it well mixed.

[keknw8]

Jan 21, 2022 9:03:04 GMT -5 blythkd said:

Any good quality 2 stroke oil will be fine at 40:1 ratio. Many guys on this forum run synthetic up to 80:1 and beyond.

You can spring for the full synthetic or just a synthetic blend which is about the minimum quality you find anymore. Your 150 won't be fussy about 2 stroke oil or mix ratio, it's a very durable saw.

Best to stay away from ethanol if at all possible. Are you sure none or your stations have ethanol free gas? Typically the high grade, like 90 or 91 octane, are ethanol free even if the pump doesn't advertise it as such. Some stations push ethanol free as an advertising strategy since they know many of us are looking for it. Some places don't advertise it but it's still there.

There are stabilizers meant to help with ethanol but they mostly just extend the shelf life, they don't do away with the ethanol or counteract it. The best practice if you must run ethanol fuel is to run your saw dry of fuel every time you're done with it.

all i did was a search for ethanol-free stations here in this area and nothing popped up. i'll go to the Texaco station and check the high grade. i usually get regular for my vehicle and never paid no mind to the other two types at the pump. ;-)  i guess its actually there now that you mention it.

edit: supposedly a rebel oil station in the area that has racing fuel, non-ethanol. i'll check it out.

[keknw8]

Jan 21, 2022 9:08:58 GMT -5 charles said:

I don't know where you live , but in my area , all the marinas have non-ethanol fuels available and sometimes a small airport will have

non-ethanol fuel also . As far as 2 stroke oils , use the best full synthetic oil that is designed for air cooled 2 stroke engines , not

oil designed for water cooled 2 strokes

Charles

in the desert basically.

thx for the air cooled designation

edit:  will  "Maxima 22916 Formula K2 2-Stroke Synthetic Racing Premix Oil - 16 oz. Bottle" work ok?

[keknw8]

Jan 21, 2022 9:58:13 GMT -5 onlyhomelites said:

The limiting factor with the regular ethanol pump gas is how long you can keep it fresh. Ideally no longer 90-120 days and I'd personally still use a treatment like Stabil. Any saw it runs in, I'd run dry for storage longer than 30 days. I'm lucky and I have a station with a non-ethanol pump 1/2 mile from my house!

so i could run reg-ethanol oil mix in this saw safely? if i had too for short periods, like fixing it and tuning it up.  

i have stabil here b/c i use it in my generator so i could add it.

[tangobravo]

Can run ethanol laced fuel safely-just won't store safely. Ethanol doesn't play well with metal and rubber parts. Don't let ethanol fuels sit for any lengthy time to avoid damaging effects. You can buy small containers of premixed, non-ethanol fuel if necessary. Personally, I'd never run any ethanol fuels in my small engines.

[keknw8]

Jan 21, 2022 13:42:13 GMT -5 tangobravo said:

Can run ethanol laced fuel safely-just won't store safely. Ethanol doesn't play well with metal and rubber parts. Don't let ethanol fuels sit for any lengthy time to avoid damaging effects. You can buy small containers of premixed, non-ethanol fuel if necessary. Personally, I'd never run any ethanol fuels in my small engines.

understood. good to know.

[jeremy]

I know Menards sells premixed fuels at different ratios 40:1, 50:1....