Black Mold Caused by Ethynol

[Johnny P]

Use non-ethynol in everything I have. Use Stihl gas treatment in all two cycle. Hadn't started my Stihl chainsaw in about 4 years and figured it wouldn't start, and chain needed sharpening so took it to the shop. Told the mechanic it probably wouldn't start and clean it out. He poured out the old gas, put fresh in and it started after a few pulls. Firm believer in non-ethynol gas.

[Allen]

Use non-ethynol in everything I have. Use Stihl gas treatment in all two cycle. Hadn't started my Stihl chainsaw in about 4 years and figured it wouldn't start, and chain needed sharpening so took it to the shop. Told the mechanic it probably wouldn't start and clean it out. He poured out the old gas, put fresh in and it started after a few pulls. Firm believer in non-ethynol gas.

I use only Stihl saws, hedge trimmers, weed eaters and leaf blowers. It is mostly due to Stihl designs. Have had the same or similar luck with them except for the blower which either starts or don't start (poor carb design). On the saws I've used Pouland, Husqvarna, and Homelite and had to clean the carbs after non-use.

[Johnny P]

My Stihl blower is the same way. Strictly adhering to starting procedure it normally starts, but if it doesn't you can forget about for several hours. Normally it will fire on the first pull, turn off the choke and it starts next pull.

[Allen]

My Stihl blower is the same way. Strictly adhering to starting procedure it normally starts, but if it doesn't you can forget about for several hours. Normally it will fire on the first pull, turn off the choke and it starts next pull.

Exactly, and it's only the blower. If it starts it runs like a new one. If it doesn't, an act of congress won't get it to start. I've had to use a push broom many a day to sweep off my carport due to the blower not starting.

[bruce]

Cut a absolute prodigious pile of trees and stumps using Homelite saws ... mostly 20-22 inch and one 5 hp. Super Whiz that had about a 4 ft. bar. It was barely manageable up in a tree. One day my brother bought a little Huskvarna for groundwork. It rapidly was put to work in the tops of trees. Much lighter, easier to use. Quickly went over to all Huskvarna once the Homelite saws were used up. Nowadays ... don't hardly ever use a chainsaw. If I did, I'd go by the old homeplace and grab one of the Huskvarna's off the wall. I expect that with a little fiddling, it would fire right up. Sincerely. bruce.

[Allen]

Cut a absolute prodigious pile of trees and stumps using Homelite saws ... mostly 20-22 inch and one 5 hp. Super Whiz that had about a 4 ft. bar. It was barely manageable up in a tree. One day my brother bought a little Huskvarna for groundwork. It rapidly was put to work in the tops of trees. Much lighter, easier to use. Quickly went over to all Huskvarna once the Homelite saws were used up. Nowadays ... don't hardly ever use a chainsaw. If I did, I'd go by the old homeplace and grab one of the Huskvarna's off the wall. I expect that with a little fiddling, it would fire right up. Sincerely. bruce.

On small stuff under 4" I simply use a Dewalt 18v recip saw. I use it a lot. It will cut metal, wood or anything in between using the appropriate blade.

[lyman]

Dad had a set of Homelite's, one with a big Bow, and one without, and a smaller one for limbing etc,

they ran well, but being old tech, they just about vibrated you to death,

in high school I worked for a friend of my Father's, and was limbing trees with a big Poulin,
it was heavy, I was all of about 125lbs, but it and I got the job done,


fast forward a bit and I am still using a Stihl leaf blower from the mid 90's, and between my brother and I, we have 3 or 4 Stihl saw, including a tiny one that you can hook to your belt if you climb trees,

all run like champs,


I broke down and replaced a husky weed eater, that was maybe 14 yrs old and was damn near dead, with a combo Stihl (I have the weed eater, sidewake edger and bush trimmer attachments, about 8 yrs ago, and it too runs like a top,


I'll stick with Stihl

[Ken The Kanuck]

I have noticed this on storage tanks at the refinery.

KTK

[Allen]

I have noticed this on storage tanks at the refinery.

KTK

Ironically I worked at a refinery and did not notice that but it depends upon where the vent is. That's where the mold will be. Some laws require a recovery system where the vent or fumes are returned to the tank rather than released into the the atmosphere. Also, we had a large loading rack to fill tanker trucks and the ethynol may have been added there. That's a part of the plant I wasn't involved with.