
A pilot friend tipped me to using av gas in my lawnmower, chain saw, and weedeater and generator. He says it has no alcohol and is about 105 octane and does not go bad sitting in a gas can like premium auto gas. I've been using it for these engines and like the results.
Full Answer
Can I use AVGAS on the road?
Avgas isn’t taxed for road use, and cars might not be welcome on the taxiways at the local airport. Avgas contains some of the same additives found in pump fuel, including corrosion inhibitors and antioxidants that increase shelf life.
What kind of gas to use in a 2 stroke chainsaw?
Also Avgas has lead in it, and I would not want to run a saw near me burning toxic tetraethyl lead. Non-leaded non-ethanol premium gas mixed with a good JASO rated air-cooled engine premix oil (non-marine) is all you really need to use to avoid any gas issues with 2-stroke chainsaw engines.
What is AVGAS fuel?
Avgas contains some of the same additives found in pump fuel, including corrosion inhibitors and antioxidants that increase shelf life. However, some of its additives aren’t found in car fuels–like compounds that prevent icing and static electricity.
Does avgas have lead in it?
Even avgas 100LL, a newer, low-lead option, still contains lead–about 1.9 grams per gallon. Avgas isn’t taxed for road use, and cars might not be welcome on the taxiways at the local airport. Avgas contains some of the same additives found in pump fuel, including corrosion inhibitors and antioxidants that increase shelf life.

What's the best gas to run in a chainsaw?
Use a minimum of 89 octane gasoline and always use fresh fuel. Only buy enough gasoline that you can easily use up within a two- month period. For air-cooled, two-cycle engines, use a quality mix oil that meets the engine manufacturer's recommendations.
Can avgas be used in small engines?
Avgas is fuel for small piston engine powered aircraft, while jet fuel is more like kerosene and is used to power turbine engine aircraft.
Is avgas ethanol free?
Zero Ethanol: Avgas doesn't contain any ethanol. While ethanol can help gasoline make more power, it can also cause hardware issues in older vehicles.
Is ethanol free gas better for chainsaws?
Non-Ethanol gas is the best option for your smaller summer engine equipment, machinery, and recreational vehicles. This includes chainsaws, lawn mowers, and motorcycles.
Can I use avgas in my lawn mower?
Avgas. Other than the price, Avgas is fine for lawn equipment.
What is the octane of avgas?
The octane ratings of AVGAS, a gasoline-based fuel, are usually either 91 or 100 (lean mixture) and 96 or 130 (rich mixture). The octane rating of jet fuel is much lower, around 15 – this is much more like automotive diesel and thus much more resistant to detonating due to sparks or compression.
What happens if you put avgas in a car?
Using leaded avgas in a modern car would ruin components such as the catalytic converter. Conversely, Jet-A wouldn't work in a gas engine. It would be like putting diesel fuel in your gas-powered car, it just won't run.
What happens when you mix avgas?
If you mix two gasolines that are both rated 100, even if they got there by the addition of different amounts of lead, the result is still 100. Also, the amount of lead in the standards for both 100/130 and 100LL is a maximum, not a fixed value.
Does avgas go bad?
Studies show with proper fuel management, fuel can be stored for extended periods of time. Military organizations regularly store jet fuel for as long as 36 months with no significant changes to fuel quality specification.
Is ethanol free gas good for 2 stroke engines?
Engineered with proprietary additive technology, TruFuel is the cleanest burning ready-to-use fuel for all 2-cycle and 4-cycle engines. Unlike conventional small engine gas, TruFuel is ethanol-free, so you won't have to worry about ethanol corrosion between uses–or even between seasons.
What is the best gas to use in small engines?
What is the best small engine or lawn mower gas?Clean and fresh - fuel can begin to deteriorate in as little as 30 days.A minimum of 87 octane/87 AKI (91 RON); If operating at high altitude, see below.Gasoline with up to 10% ethanol (gasohol) or up to 15% MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether), is acceptable.More items...
What brand of gas has the least ethanol?
According to Dan McTeague, a noted petroleum analyst, Shell and Esso 91 are both ethanol free.
Does aviation fuel contain alcohol?
As an approved aviation fuel, it does not contain ethanol, so it is a good choice for low-compression engines. However, it is only available at a limited number of airports and its price tends to be on par or even higher in some locations than 100LL.
Will 100LL hurt my car?
Any car will run fine on any gas as long as the octane number is high enough to avoid knocking. But lead destroys the catalytic converter. Otherwise the only problem you may encounter running a car on AVGAS would be when starting the engine in very cold winter weather.
Does 100 octane aviation fuel have ethanol?
On paper, running aviation-grade fuel might sound like a great idea since it has a relatively high octane along with no ethanol. In practice, however, it may not be the best idea, even if you do manage to get your car out onto the taxiway.
Does avgas contain lead?
Avgas remains the only transportation fuel in the United States to contain lead. More than 222,600 registered piston-engine aircraft can operate on leaded avgas. The most common and reliable type of avgas is 100 octane Low Lead, also known as 100LL.
Why do I mark my gas cans?
I mark my gas cans to determine which ones contain gasoline with ethanol blend and those without ethanol blend. That helps avoid accidentially placing gasoline with ethanol blend in small engines. Something your FD may have to do to prevent ethanol usage in small engines.
Is aviation fuel ethanol free?
Aviation fuel is readily available to us at an airport down the road. Its ethanol free 100 octane low-lead.
Can you use ethanol in small engines?
Ethanol. Gasoline with an ethanol blend (any percentage mixed with gasoline) generally should not be used in small engines. Talk with your fuel supplier and ask if gasoline with no ethanol blend is available. Some states have mandated ethanol blends and it is getting harder to obtain non-ethanol gasoline in some locations.
What octane should I use for a saw?
I recommend a minimum 90 octane for saws because I have a couple saws that specify 90 or 91 minimum octane in their manuals. These days, I use 93 octane + Stihl Ultra for everything.
Why do you have to retune a carburetor when running a saw?
Same goes when you run lesser gas in your saw, chances are you will have to richen the carb because of the lower octane rating.
Why do Husky and Stihl say 89?
Husky and Stihl both say run 89 and that's because mixing the fuel with oil lowers the octane a bit. Running a higher octane fuel will not yield better power unless the saw is tuned to take advantage. Most of us do not play with the ignition timing on our saws.
Why does my engine tilt when running lower octane gas?
The real issue with running lower octane gas in a small 2-stroke engine is that it does not burn as evenly. Uneven burning and flaring at TDC causes uneven pressure on the piston, and that in turn can cause the piston to tilt slightly as a result (if a flare is not parallel to the centerline of the bearings).
Can you put bar oil in a gas tank?
. the pat answer is to follow the manufacturer's suggestion. What most of us do is run the mid to high grade . . . but if for some reason you use the cheaper stuff to either save some money or because you forgot you will be fine . . . just don't put the bar oil in the gas tank and the gas in the bar oil tank . . . that will not work out so well.
Does Dolmar 5100 run on E10?
They have also designed and re-tuned their current line of saws to run on American mid-grade ethanol E10 gasoline. Dolmar had some issues with their 5100 saws not being re-tuned for crappy American grade gasoline (German gas has far higher octane than US gas). They ran too lean here.
What mix to use for chainsaw?
I usually run a 50/50 mixture, or a 75% mogas/25% avgas in the small engines with no problems. Left my chainsaw with 75/25 mix for 3 years without starting it, and it started on the third pull.
How long does it take for mixed gas to break down?
Not initially, but mixed gas starts to break down after about 12 hours. General rule of thumb for those of use running Rotax power aircraft was to throw out mixed fuel more than a week old. That's part of why oil injection is so nice.
Can you run 100LL in a lawnmower?
I've been running 100LL in lawnmowers, generators, Polaris Ranger, ATV's, Harleys, chainsaws, and boats that sit up all winter with no ill effects over many years. Only had a problem with one small chainsaw and resolved by adjusting for the high octane. Oil mixes fine with 100LL. Just my experience, I'm no expert on the topic.
Can you use 100LL on a Yamaha generator?
Don't use it in a Yamaha EF1000IS generator. The lead coats the inside of the valve guide on the exhaust valve till the exhaust valve can no longer move. This is what's required to get the valve out on a brand new generator after ten hours of use. I have also used 100LL in my Honda EU2000IS for awhile now but not any more.
Can you run a Gator carb in 2 cycles?
I run it in all the stuff you want to run it in. Works good, it's the only thing my Gator will run on. Mixes with 2 cycle fine. You won't see a cleaner carb.
Is 100LL good for car gas?
Likes 100LL is an overstatement. It runs okay on it but honestly it runs better on car gas. Since my doctor found high lead levels in my blood I've quit burning LL in everything but the airplane.
What percentage of ethanol is used in a STIHL engine?
Note: STIHL recommends use of fuel with no more than 10% ethanol content. Using fuel with greater than 10% ethanol content may cause damage to your equipment and may void your STIHL warranty. Learn More…
How long can you store STIHL fuel?
STIHL currently recommends that you do not store or use fuel older than 60 days, and preferably no longer than 30 days, even with a stabilizer.
Does Stihl use aviation fuel?
STIHL does not recommend the use of aviation fuel in our products.
Can you run a chainsaw without a load?
This can cause internal engine damage. STIHL recommends that you do not run your engine at wide open throttle without a load. A blower is under a load at all times, a trimmer is under a load as long as the trimmer head is in place and the line is to the correct length, while a chainsaw is under a load when the bar and chain are in a cut.
Does Stihl use ethanol?
STIHL products can use gasoline blends with up to 10% ethanol. It is important to follow proper fuel storage recommendations with all standard pump gasoline. Improper fuel storage is a leading cause of fuel system component failures which can lead to expensive engine damage. Additional information is contained in the following links:
What is the knock resistance of Avgas 100?
As a result, the avgas 100 found at many regional airports would have about as much knock resistance as a 105-octane fuel intended for cars and truck.
Does lead cause smog?
Not only does lead cause smog, but it’s not compatible with the oxygen sensors and other pieces of emissions equipment found in most cars built since the ’70s. Even avgas 100LL, a newer, low-lead option, still contains lead–about 1.9 grams per gallon.
Does avgas have ethanol?
Avgas doesn’t contain any ethanol. While ethanol can help gasoline make more power, it can also cause hardware issues in older vehicles. “Can’t pull your plane over on the side of the road if there’s a problem with the fuel system,” Santner notes.
Does Avgas have additives?
Avgas contains some of the same additives found in pump fuel, including corrosion inhibitors and antioxidants that increase shelf life. However, some of its additives aren’t found in car fuels–like compounds that prevent icing and static electricity. “It’s just more additives that you don’t need,” Santner notes.
