TruFuel issues?

[Japanese]

The Prius wasn’t complaining at all with TruFuel in its tank.

Are you saying you had issues with TruFuel in the blower, but not in your car?

You dumped half a gallon of old fuel that got mixed up with 10x more fresh fuel in the car's gas tank and say the TruFuel was fine. But running it alone in the blower it does't run fine - the TruFuel is old and you compare it with fresh Husky XP+ fuel. It's not the brand, but the age of the fuel.

 

[Japanese]

You need some carb work, cleaning, rebuild etc.

What is the schedule for carb cleaning on a 2-stroke? Is it once a year after you pull it out of storage or less often?
I know carbs of 4-stroke or 2-stroke oil injected where oil doesn't go through the carb need more often carb cleaning vs 2-strokes where the oil run through the carb.
Thanks.

 

[RazorsEdge]

I've used Trufuel for winter storage for years with no issues.

 

[nthach]

I believe some equipment doesn't like Trufuel, while others run fine on it. Trufuel is all I've ever used in my Echo weed trimmer and it runs fine. Chickanic isn't a total Trufuel hater though; she says it's great for keeping fuel system components in good condition for long term OPE storage.

I run their 4 stroke in a Honda GCV160 for that reason. But I might switch that to pump gas and Stabil Marine formula.

 

[Opelman]

It's trash. I lose anywhere from 700rpm to 2000rpm running trufuel.
Ethanol free pump gas at 40:1 is cheaper, stuff starts easier and gives more power.
My small echo saw is about to turn 25 years old, largely in part to ethanol free pump gas and redarmor.

I think that the loss of rpm is due to the fuel being alkylated and having slightly less btu energy content than ethanol free gas. When I lived in CA with no ethanol / MTBE free options available, Tru Fuel was a lifesaver. Equipment that was on the edge of not running became new machines with one tank. As others have said here, some machines don't like it. Luckily other manufacturers have jumped in like VP. Personally now that I have alky free available, I don't use engineered fuel and only recommend it as a long term storage option. My stuff has been getting ethanol free with Kawasaki FD oil as my dealer is out of Red Armor.

 

[Propflux01]

Been using it exclusively in an echo trimmer and a blower for 12 years now. Always start easy no matter the time of year. I’ve never even changed plugs in any of them.

 

[oil pan 4]

I think that the loss of rpm is due to the fuel being alkylated and having slightly less btu energy content than ethanol free gas. When I lived in CA with no ethanol / MTBE free options available, Tru Fuel was a lifesaver. Equipment that was on the edge of not running became new machines with one tank. As others have said here, some machines don't like it. Luckily other manufacturers have jumped in like VP. Personally now that I have alky free available, I don't use engineered fuel and only recommend it as a long term storage option. My stuff has been getting ethanol free with Kawasaki FD oil as my dealer is out of Red Armor.

I just figured it was the reduced volatility of the shelf stabilized gas.
If I don't have at least a gallon of 2 stroke gas mixed up, a small can of redarmor in my oil milkcrate that stays in the bed of my truck, 2 redarmors in my chainsaws tool box and some redarmor on the oil shelf in the garage I order more.
VP racing FD 2 stroke also seems acceptable, but it smells like burning plastic when it comes out the exhaust.

 

[BobsArmory]

I was having problems with my 2 stroke equipment until I tossed the canned fuel and went with Amsoil Saber oil mixed with either Rec fuel or premium. The difference was astounding.

 

[loneryder]

What is the schedule for carb cleaning on a 2-stroke? Is it once a year after you pull it out of storage or less often?
I know carbs of 4-stroke or 2-stroke oil injected where oil doesn't go through the carb need more often carb cleaning vs 2-strokes where the oil run through the carb.
Thanks.

I am referring to the use of ethanol gas which causes buildup of Corn starch in the bowl and the diaphragms to stiffen or harden. It doesn't take log. Just sitting for a month of non use can do it. They need to be cleaned and a rebuild kit which contains seals and diaphragms. The cost of Chinese carbs has come down to it's cheaper to just replace the carb than rebuild it.

 

[Astro_Guy]

Neither my Stihl leaf blower nor the chainsaw run as well on Tru-Fuel as they do on E0 mixed 50:1 with Husqvarna 2-cycle oil. They don't make consistent RPMs at wide open throttle. I stopped using Tru-Fuel four years ago. Luckily I don't have to drive too far to get 90 octane E0 from a pump. The last batch I mixed is at least 18 month old and continues to perform well but I think that I will dump whatever is left of that into a car or the lawn tractor before the 2026 lawn season gets rolling.

 

[Silverado12]

I had issues with Stihl mix in a Stihl weed whacker. I dumped it out, ran my gas station mix and it stumbled for about 30 seconds then back to normal.

 

[Chris142]

. Why in the world would anybody buy an expensive pre-mixed can of fuel?

Because ethanol free gas is not available in my area period.

 

[Japanese]

Noticed with the Stihl blower my parents have, it runs bad with TruFuel 50:1.

I've used Trufuel for winter storage for years with no issues.

I had issues with Stihl mix in a Stihl weed whacker.

Do those mixes have expiration date on the can? Because even they have stabilizer in them it's not forever, right?
If they don't sell much (most guys pre-mix themselves) you might get very old gas in those mix fuels, if they don't have expiration date.

 

[RazorsEdge]

Do those mixes have expiration date on the can? Because even they have stabilizer in them it's not forever, right?
If they don't sell much (most guys pre-mix themselves) you might get very old gas in those mix fuels, if they don't have expiration date.

I'll let you know when I have any issues. Seeing as they are good for years, I'm not worried.

 

[Silverado12]

Do those mixes have expiration date on the can? Because even they have stabilizer in them it's not forever, right?
If they don't sell much (most guys pre-mix themselves) you might get very old gas in those mix fuels, if they don't have expiration date.

Stihl Motomix is supposedly good for up to 2 years after you unseal the can; it's sealed w/nitrogen charge before sealing at the factory.

 

[97prizm]

Noticed with the Stihl blower my parents have, it runs bad with TruFuel 50:1. Takes a while for it to start and when it does run, it bogs down. Not a problem if I use Husky XP pre-mix(I drive to Lowe’s to get it, the local Ace has Stihl MotoMix, WM near Lowe’s has VP 50:1). I barely use the thing, so we stick to pre-mix 50:1.

I find this on YouTube,



I’ve used the stuff in a Homelite trimmer with no issues but it seems like this Stihl is picky with fuel. We did have two other pieces of two-stroke(since replaced with battery electric) that seemed to run OK on TruFuel but I think it might have contributed to them dying sooner due to piston scuffing.

Yeah the Chicanic channel says it sounds like a quality control issue among other things. I just use 100LL or mogas from the airport. Never had an issue and fires right up.

 

[Donald]

It's trash. I lose anywhere from 700rpm to 2000rpm running trufuel.
Ethanol free pump gas at 40:1 is cheaper, stuff starts easier and gives more power.
My small echo saw is about to turn 25 years old, largely in part to ethanol free pump gas and redarmor.

Remember not everyone can get E0 gas.

 

[oil pan 4]

Remember not everyone can get E0 gas.

Then I'd run e10 and flush the fuel system with canned ethanol free stuff when I'm done with them for more than a week or 2.

 

[Donald]

I use TruFuel in 2 cycle OPE. And E0 from the gas pump with Blue Marine Stabil for 4 cycle OPE.

But it's only been a year or two since I could find E0 at the pump in DE.

 

[FZ1]

I just figured it was the reduced volatility of the shelf stabilized gas.
If I don't have at least a gallon of 2 stroke gas mixed up, a small can of redarmor in my oil milkcrate that stays in the bed of my truck, 2 redarmors in my chainsaws tool box and some redarmor on the oil shelf in the garage I order more.
VP racing FD 2 stroke also seems acceptable, but it smells like burning plastic when it comes out the exhaust.

Trufuel runs better than VP Racing in my Echos.