Look before you pump

Look Before You Pump

Higher ethanol blends can damage your STIHL equipment

STIHL equipment was designed to run on fuel containing no more than 10 percent ethanol. The same fuel you put in your car may not be the same fuel meant for your chain saw, trimmer, blower, or other STIHL outdoor power equipment.

Isn’t All Gasoline Safe to Use?

No. Today, there are more fuel choices for consumers than ever before. No longer can anyone go to a gas station and assume the fuel from the pump is safe and legal for all engines. Most fuel sold today at gas stations for automobiles and outdoor power equipment contains up to 10 percent ethanol (E10). However, in the past year, more gas stations are selling ethanol fuel blends greater than 10 percent – such as E15 and E85. STIHL outdoor power equipment is not designed for ethanol blends higher than 10% ethanol or E10.

Don't Pump the Wrong Fuel

In the past, consumers were physically kept from selecting the wrong fuel – with diesel you have to use a different pump, for example. This isn’t the case now as blender pumps, which dispense various ethanol fuel blends, become more widely available. The EPA has stated E15 and higher is not legal for use in off-road engine products, and only legal for a subset of automobiles. Yet, the only warning against “mis-fueling” is a small 3x5 pump label. Double-check the pump to make sure you put the right fuel in the right engine.

Why Are There So Many Different Fuels?

In an effort to meet federal renewable fuel standards, higher ethanol blends are being brought to market. Ethanol is an oxygenated fuel. Engines designed for up to 10% ethanol may have problems with fuel higher than 10%, including engine failure. When a small number of retail gas stations in select U.S. states began offering E15 and higher ethanol blends for sale in 2012, we at STIHL grew concerned. We want to protect our customers and future customers from inadvertently damaging their equipment by using the wrong fuel.

Most people believe any fuel sold at a gas station or other retail fuel station is likely legal and safe for any engine product. This is not true, and STIHL owners need to become aware of the fuel for which their equipment was designed, built and warranted – and use only that fuel.

For more information, visit www.LookBeforeYouPump.

To help keep your STIHL running strong

• Avoid gasoline higher than 10% ethanol – STIHL equipment is not designed to use higher ethanol blends.
  
• Use a minimum of 89-octane gasoline.
  
• Use fresh fuel - Buy enough fuel to only last a two-month period.
  
• STIHL recommends STIHL MotoMix® Premixed Fuel - a pure and stable fuel mixture that can be stored for up to two years in its original container.