Originally Posted by PantherFan88
The premix ethanol free fuel is a
wonderful product and really is not all too cost ineffective if you don't use more than a couple cans a year owning a small amount of 2-cycle equipment. E0 canned gas is good for two years after it's been opened, in the can or in the unit. Ethanol is the main cause of practically all of the fuel/carb issues you'll ever have in your OPE.
Pump gas also has a lot of olefins. They cause a lot of gum/varnish and over time, make the little cube carbs unclean-able.
Unfortunately even with using only fresh E10 gas, it still is very hard on the fuel system, The E and other chemicals in pump gas are caustic over time to the fuel lines and stiffen the metering diaphragm in the carb. Pretty much replacing the metering and fuel pump diaphragms are practically maintenance items for 2-stroke OPE using E10. But with the 2620, you can easily replace the entire "fuel system" (lines are a one piece part with the little grommet and lines on the tank) and the carb is very easily accessible.
The 2-cycle oils "with fuel stabilizer" don't really do much of any stabilizing. Shake the can of mixed pump gas and oil vigorously before each use. Alcohol gas and oil have a tendency to separate. I've seen a few guys come into my dealership with scored pistons from having effectively straight gas running in their equip from this separation phenomenon. At the very least, keep fresh E10 in the unit, and for storage, run it dry of E10 and fill it up to the top with E0 premix and run it for a few. If you only burn a few gallons a year in your occasional use tools it will save you money. If you burn a lot more it may be helpful to just use it as a storage fuel instead of stabilizer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wvps2gF0Sdo div>
Thank you.
Originally Posted by bubbatime
Dude your math is incredibly off. These cans are NOT too expensive. The cans are FANTUBULOUS!! Your small lot, you are going to use one or two cans a year. Thats ten dollars a year. Tell me how ten dollars a year, for a premium fuel, that is good for 5 years in the can, that is good for two years once poured, that has no ethanol, that has fuel stabilizer already in it, is too expensive???
You need to look at the big picture, which you are missing by a mile.
$3.40 - gallon of non ethanol fuel, if you can buy it
$4.50 - Echo red armor oil 2.6 ounces
$1.10 for a splash of fuel stabilizer
$8.00 for one gallon of gas that you make yourself. And it goes bad in 60 days, and really bad in 120 days, and terribly bad by 365 days. Ideally, you should refresh at least every 90 days... $8 times 4 times a year, is $32 per year to have fresh fuel. OR, you could just do the smart thing, and buy a $5 can every 6 to 9 months when you run out.
Lets not even count the cost of a $50 to $100 carburetor repair that you are drastically more likely to have with mix it yourself fuel, than the canned fuel. Yes, its that good.
Seriously, I shouldn't have to math this out for folks. If you are an average home owner, with a 1/4 acre lot or so, and you are NOT using these cans already, then you are making a mistake. A drastic mistake. These cans actually save you money long term, give you better running equipment, and save you engine repairs. Its such a no brainer.
Just buy these $5 cans from Home Depot. They are made by VP racing fuels, they have the latest high tech JASO FD synthetic oil made by VP Racing. Fantastic stuff.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Power-Care-32-oz-50-1-Pre-Mixed-Small-Engine-Fuel-6985/206455565
And your Echo runs on 50:1. You mixing your batch at 40:1 is counter productive and will actually shorten the life of your equipment.
I had a small engine shop. When a customer would bring in a 2 cycle, the first thing I would do, while the customer was there, would be to drain the fuel tank, and refill it with premix can fuel. And it would fix their problem, right then and there, without any repairs, 50% of the time. Id sell them the rest of the can right then and there, and send them on their way, happy at the $6 "repair".
You raise a valid point and I had forgotten about the cost of the additives. I'll consider this route depending on how long it takes me to use up a supply of fuel.
Perhaps I can buy 1/4 or 1/2 gal of gas at a time, and that would alleviate the fuel freshness issue?
Originally Posted by JHZR2
OP: I have a similar if not the same handheld echo blower since 2006. Since buying a high power husquvarna backpack blower, and a Makita electric for blowing off the car (lighter), I haven't gotten a ton of use. I actually just ran it today, the fuel in it is over a year old. It is 93 with a decade old Mobil 1 racing 2T two stroke oil in it, plus a splash of stabil and a splash of Schaefer's soy ultra gas additive. Your climate is more benign than mine. Our pump fuel is E10.
I think you'll be fine. My echo ran like a champ when blowing off the driveway today. Fired right up after priming.
Thanks - I think after the current batch, I will purchase fuel in 1/4 or 1/2 gal quantities to keep the supply fresher.