I've heard a lot about Trufuel the past couple years and thought, how could it really be that much better? How could it be worth the cost? Well I'll be darned. I bought a brand new string trimmer this year to replace the one that after only 3 years just wouldn't run, no matter what I tried. Bought some 2 stroke oil and mixed a fresh gallon of gas for the new trimmer and I was sorely disappointed in the performance. Brand new and i could only use it if at half choke. Seemed to be running leaning. Thought about taking it back. Before I did I bought a can of Trufuel 40:1 this afternoon. Dumped the fuel and filled it up with Trufuel and it runs like an absolute champ. I could not believe what a difference a can of gas could make. I'm now a loyal customer.
Trufuel is the bomb
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How much alcohol do you have in your gas there? My OLD Echo trimmer, which was used by a commercial user for 2 years before I got it, (about 10 years ago) and uses just plain E-0 and supertech 2 cycle oil always works great. Filled the tank last fall, got it out of the shed yesterday, and started right up as always.
I wonder why such a difference..trufuel is pricey..I just picked up a gas trimmer a week ago..i will try gas mixed 40:1, if any issues i might consider giving it a try. Thanks for posting!
Originally Posted By: hatt
Did you have the proper octane gas mixed in the proper ratio? Hard to believe this story.
I can't believe it either thats why I had to post lol! But it happened. Our gas here is 10% ethanol, and I used 92 octane. I used the Promix oil from Lowes that is supposed to be one ratio fits all. I have a feeling this stuff may have been the problem. I have used it in the past, but idk. I know it wouldn't run worth a dam.
Did you have the proper octane gas mixed in the proper ratio? Hard to believe this story.
I can't believe it either thats why I had to post lol! But it happened. Our gas here is 10% ethanol, and I used 92 octane. I used the Promix oil from Lowes that is supposed to be one ratio fits all. I have a feeling this stuff may have been the problem. I have used it in the past, but idk. I know it wouldn't run worth a dam.
Was the gas he used fresh gas? He said he mixed up a fresh gallon of gas and oil.
If all your worried about is the engine running well for the moment, then TruFuel is probably not much better than fresh gas and quality oil mixed to the proper ratio.
The benefit of TruFuel is the engine stores longer/better with TruFuel.
Also TruFuel is 92 or so octane. So is the E0 we can buy in NY. Maybe the mix he made was with 87 and the engine required 92.
If all your worried about is the engine running well for the moment, then TruFuel is probably not much better than fresh gas and quality oil mixed to the proper ratio.
The benefit of TruFuel is the engine stores longer/better with TruFuel.
Also TruFuel is 92 or so octane. So is the E0 we can buy in NY. Maybe the mix he made was with 87 and the engine required 92.
Yes, I used fresh gas, and yes I was worried about the engine running well at the moment. Because that was the problem... out of the box it was not running well at all. Warmed up with the choke off it would not accelerate at all. It would just bog. The only way it was even slightly usable is when at half choke, and it would stumble around and hunt. I wish I had a before and after video. I couldn't believe it myself, which is why I had to tell someone.
I have a husky 325 trimmer that has never failed to start and properly run in the 16 years I have owned it. It trims 3 acres each year for 13 out of the 16 years I have owned it. Plus lawn care and trimming chores in the two rentals I have if they are vacant; No gas stabilizer? just pump gas and bulk all purpose 2 stroke oil mixed at 32 to 1. Now that is the bomb.
I know the stuff is overpriced but I buy it because I only have 1 2 stroke machine and don't care to measure out the oil an fuel.
A standard can of the stuff lasts me all season for weekly mowings and I don't do anything special for winter storage. Starts right up every spring and I've never had to tear it down for a rebuild in 5+ years of ownership.
A standard can of the stuff lasts me all season for weekly mowings and I don't do anything special for winter storage. Starts right up every spring and I've never had to tear it down for a rebuild in 5+ years of ownership.
Sounds like you ran E85? Remember the more alcohol in the gas the more fuel volume is needed per a given amount of air to not be lean. So it makes sense that an engine running lean burning alcohol gas would run better with no alcohol.
Also small two stroke engines are sensitive to proper mixture. And if lean they heat up and run even worse with no power. Mixed a tiny bit rich is usually best.
There should be Lo and Hi speed mixture screws on the carb. Take it to a small engine repair guy and he can set it with the fuel you normally use.
Also small two stroke engines are sensitive to proper mixture. And if lean they heat up and run even worse with no power. Mixed a tiny bit rich is usually best.
There should be Lo and Hi speed mixture screws on the carb. Take it to a small engine repair guy and he can set it with the fuel you normally use.
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Saber 2 cycle oil and fresh 93 ethanol free fuel, no issues. 15yr old Kawasaki string trimmer runs like a champ.
A couple times a year Home Depot has a BOGO on 6 packs of Tru-Fuel. Works out to ~$3/can.
Originally Posted By: Kawiguy454
Sounds like you ran E85? Remember the more alcohol in the gas the more fuel volume is needed per a given amount of air to not be lean. So it makes sense that an engine running lean burning alcohol gas would run better with no alcohol.
Also small two stroke engines are sensitive to proper mixture. And if lean they heat up and run even worse with no power. Mixed a tiny bit rich is usually best.
There should be Lo and Hi speed mixture screws on the carb. Take it to a small engine repair guy and he can set it with the fuel you normally use.
They don't sell E85 near me. It was E10. I think I mentioned that. I should take the brand new trimmer to a small engine guy to set the carb? Out of the box? I'm aware of the mixture screws. The ones that aren't accessible unless you take a Dremel to them. I don't know what I was thinking by posting this here. Where everyone will say 'oh he probably....' 'He probably didn't do this...' 'Must have been this...' 'I've used xxx in my xxx for 20 years with no problem.' So have I! Gd! I understand the skeptacism. I've been a skeptic myself thats why I posted it here. I'm not one to say that E10 does any harm. I still don't. All i am saying is fresh out of the box, fresh gas out of the pump, 92 octane out of a station with a single hose and yes I filled up my car first should anyone try to make a presumption about how much of the gas was actually 92. Fresh gas, fresh oil, ran like garbage. Dumped it out, poured in the trufuel and it ran great. There aren't many variables here. As i said above the only suspect part was the Promix one dose fits all ratios that i bought at Lowes. I didn't see the included Troybilt/MTD oil that was rolled up in the instructions because who reads those. I do plan to mix a gallon with that oil and see what happens, but in the meantime I'll use the Trufuel because it runs well. This wasn't a seat of the pants I cleaned the air cleaner kinda thing. It ran like shat on the fresh E10 92 octane and Promix.
Sounds like you ran E85? Remember the more alcohol in the gas the more fuel volume is needed per a given amount of air to not be lean. So it makes sense that an engine running lean burning alcohol gas would run better with no alcohol.
Also small two stroke engines are sensitive to proper mixture. And if lean they heat up and run even worse with no power. Mixed a tiny bit rich is usually best.
There should be Lo and Hi speed mixture screws on the carb. Take it to a small engine repair guy and he can set it with the fuel you normally use.
They don't sell E85 near me. It was E10. I think I mentioned that. I should take the brand new trimmer to a small engine guy to set the carb? Out of the box? I'm aware of the mixture screws. The ones that aren't accessible unless you take a Dremel to them. I don't know what I was thinking by posting this here. Where everyone will say 'oh he probably....' 'He probably didn't do this...' 'Must have been this...' 'I've used xxx in my xxx for 20 years with no problem.' So have I! Gd! I understand the skeptacism. I've been a skeptic myself thats why I posted it here. I'm not one to say that E10 does any harm. I still don't. All i am saying is fresh out of the box, fresh gas out of the pump, 92 octane out of a station with a single hose and yes I filled up my car first should anyone try to make a presumption about how much of the gas was actually 92. Fresh gas, fresh oil, ran like garbage. Dumped it out, poured in the trufuel and it ran great. There aren't many variables here. As i said above the only suspect part was the Promix one dose fits all ratios that i bought at Lowes. I didn't see the included Troybilt/MTD oil that was rolled up in the instructions because who reads those. I do plan to mix a gallon with that oil and see what happens, but in the meantime I'll use the Trufuel because it runs well. This wasn't a seat of the pants I cleaned the air cleaner kinda thing. It ran like shat on the fresh E10 92 octane and Promix.
When you first added gas/oil was there anything in the tank or was it dry? Maybe some old gas in the tank before you added gas/oil.
Possibly the factory left a small amount of fuel in it when they test ran it, and it partially gummed up the carb, and the Trufuel cleaned it out? If the next tank of regular gas/oil mix works ok, that would be my guess. Otherwise there is a problem somewhere, as all engines should run fine on pump gas.
Originally Posted By: jkasch
That Promix oil is suspect. I was having similar issues until I switched to Stihl oil.
I do believe that is it. I've used it before, and now I'm sure that is what caused the issues with the trimmer I replaced. Just shocked that it ran so foul out of the box, and never considered the oil would have such a negative effect on the performance. Maybe Lowes sells it because it helps increase the sale of their OPE? Lol!
To address the above comments about ethanol, i never suspected it caused the problem. I've never had a problem with ethanol. Lawnmower stored with E10 and no stabilizer started on the first pull. Harbor Freight Predator engine too. I admit i was a little surprise at the first pull vrooom and go.
That Promix oil is suspect. I was having similar issues until I switched to Stihl oil.
I do believe that is it. I've used it before, and now I'm sure that is what caused the issues with the trimmer I replaced. Just shocked that it ran so foul out of the box, and never considered the oil would have such a negative effect on the performance. Maybe Lowes sells it because it helps increase the sale of their OPE? Lol!
To address the above comments about ethanol, i never suspected it caused the problem. I've never had a problem with ethanol. Lawnmower stored with E10 and no stabilizer started on the first pull. Harbor Freight Predator engine too. I admit i was a little surprise at the first pull vrooom and go.
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