HELP! Water in fuel.

[Paul Lloyd-Jones]

I suddenly have about 10 chainsaws in our fleet that are stalling or won’t run right. I’m suspecting water in our fuel supply. After replacing the fuel, what do I need to do for the saws?

 

[Steve]

Get fresh mix in the tanks and run them. If it all clears up then your good. If not then is on to diagnostic time to figure it out. But I seriously doubt 10 saws all just started running bad all at the same time with different problems so you are spot on to start with the common denominator and the simplest fix first.

 

[Poleman]

New fresh in Ethanol fuel, clean your containers.
If you’re running a crew watch for a slacker(s). I caught one putting snow in the fuel cans and kicked him down the road. Before that I caught him short filling his saw and chewed/warned him about that. All around Bad Apple.

 

[hacskaroly]

I suddenly have about 10 chainsaws in our fleet that are stalling or won’t run right. I’m suspecting water in our fuel supply. After replacing the fuel, what do I need to do for the saws?

I think you are on the right track...when troubleshooting, if all of the saws are having the same issue, I would think it points to the fuel. You might spend the money on a gallon of store bought fuel (Husqvarna, Harvest King, Stihl (last resourt - most expensive)) and pour some, not a full tank, but enough to help run through any bad fuel/water. Since those fuels have stabilizer and such in them, you know that its good fuel and if the saws run great after that, then you know for sure the original fuel was the bad stuff. I generally keep some canned fuel on hand for emergencies and for testing rebuilds to help eliminate any issues.

 

[HumBurner]

New fresh in Ethanol fuel, clean your containers.
If you’re running a crew watch for a slacker(s). I caught one putting snow in the fuel cans and kicked him down the road. Before that I caught him short filling his saw and chewed/warned him about that. All around Bad Apple.

??????

Was snow in the fuel a way at getting back at you....?? WTF, either way!

 

[SimonHS]

You can de-water the suspect fuel. Better than disposing it.

Link to the Mr. Funnel website:

Home

 

[Nutball]

I suddenly have about 10 chainsaws in our fleet that are stalling or won’t run right. I’m suspecting water in our fuel supply. After replacing the fuel, what do I need to do for the saws?

Make sure nobody put a double shot of oil in the gas. I was working with mexicans once, and one wanted to top off the half full 5gal can. I told him don't put all the oil in, but he's a know it all, it won't hurt, it's more better. Sure enough everything ran like crap that day. All too lean and on the edge of unusable.

 

[Bill G]

Make sure nobody put a double shot of oil in the gas. I was working with mexicans once, and one wanted to top off the half full 5gal can. I told him don't put all the oil in, but he's a know it all, it won't hurt, it's more better. Sure enough everything ran like crap that day. All too lean and on the edge of unusable.

That just might be a possibility that I had not considered and damn sure might be right

My gut feeling is chitty gas to start with. I am a huge, huge promoter of ethanol fuels but there are engines that you should never put ethanol blended fuels in and saws are one. Do not trust your local pump station either that use a single nozzle as they will still blend ethanol based fuels to save a dime. Get non ethanol fuel from a good station with an above ground dedicated tank.

 

[Nutball]

Would you believe I'm still using $5.75/gal ethanol pump gas from lockdown times in my 2 stroke OPE? Works great.

 

[Bill G]

Coming from a corn farmer I will say you are damn lucky. Go buy a Powerball ticket

 

[Nutball]

I put Stabil and 2 stroke oil in the cans when I went to the pump, filled with premium grade to the top keeping the air gap minimal, and kept the cans closed tight and in a cool place.