Question for petrol experts

Pitlamp

Well-known member
This new E10 petrol - will it be OK to use in my Stihl strimmer? Or should I buy a premium petrol like Shell V-Power for it? Anyone know?  :confused:
 

Cantclimbtom

Well-known member
I know nuffink about this, but a dip into Google I read 
"...but we can reassure you that petrol with an ethanol content of 10% or less, like the new E10 petrol will not cause a problem with your STIHL petrol tool...."  (source: https://blog.stihl.co.uk/how-will-e10-petrol-affect-your-stihl-chainsaw/)
 

Oscar D

Active member
I think E10 eats away at the type of rubber used in older fuel lines. This is why older cars might not be compatible. So unless your strimmer is more than 20 years old it should be alright.
 

sinker

New member
Pitlamp said:
This new E10 petrol - will it be OK to use in my Stihl strimmer? Or should I buy a premium petrol like Shell V-Power for it? Anyone know?  :confused:

TBH you should be using a premium petrol in it anyway along with a fuel conditioner/stabiliser.
Premium doesn't degrade as quickly as regular petrol and degrading of petrol is a major cause of breakdowns and poor running in strimmers, chainsaws, mowers etc as they typically don't get heavy use particularly in a domestic / DIY setting and especially over the winter.

 

PeteHall

Moderator
Have I missed something, or has this been snuck through under the radar?

Certainly won't be putting this stuff in my old V8 Land Rover!  :eek:
 

Frog2

Member
From UK Gov website - so believable?

E10 petrol is cleared for use in all Land Rover vehicles with petrol engines starting from model year 1996.Older vehicles should continue to use E5.

 

PeteHall

Moderator
I found that, hence it won't be going anywhere near mine (pre-96), though I expect I'll be paying a premium on "proper" petrol instead...
 

Cantclimbtom

Well-known member
what's actually involved for an old landy?  "just" a new fuel line and new filter? or are there gaskets/o-rings in float chamber etc in the carb that means you'd need a carb rebuild kit or something. Sounds like a mini project rather than a quick job?
 

Paul Marvin

Member
PeteHall said:
I found that, hence it won't be going anywhere near mine (pre-96), though I expect I'll be paying a premium on "proper" petrol instead...

It will run better anyway we run our car and my caddy on the good stuff, cleaner and more MPG  (y)
 

tomferry

Well-known member
I have always used the standard petrol in all my garden machines , is a good question I have a good repair company near by me I shall ask them their views  :read:
 

Pitlamp

Well-known member
Some really valuable points made above, for which thanks. Special thanks to Tomferry for offering to ask "them as know".

My Stihl strimmer is at least 20 years old. Never had any real problem but I always run it dry if it's not going to be used for a while, to prevent the carb getting gummed up. It's been a good 'un and I just didn't want to wreck it unnecessarily (hence the original question about petrol).
 

ChrisJC

Well-known member
That is interesting. Mind you, for the amount that I get through in my Land Rover, it would be a bit of a faff.

Chris.
 

tomferry

Well-known member
Pitlamp said:
Some really valuable points made above, for which thanks. Special thanks to Tomferry for offering to ask "them as know".

My Stihl strimmer is at least 20 years old. Never had any real problem but I always run it dry if it's not going to be used for a while, to prevent the carb getting gummed up. It's been a good 'un and I just didn't want to wreck it unnecessarily (hence the original question about petrol).

All of my machines are stihl so it?s definitely worth asking it hadn?t popped into my mind so I am glad you mentioned it , stihl in my view are built to last and very robust  , this is why the Forestry commission always use them , I have a petrol hedge cutter long and short arm , 460 chainsaw and a bull arm strimmer , I shall call the place that has always done my repairs they do the work for all the estates tools I work at and many other estates .
 

tomferry

Well-known member
I have just got of the phone to the machine expert.

I asked the question can I use the new e10 fuel in my Honda mowers their are 4 at work and a large ride on with many other machines billy goats scarification machines + all the stihl equipment I mentioned earlier.

He answered no I have read up largely on this over long periods of time this shall rot the seals out in the engine and fuel lines , his advice is use the current time ultimate fuels that shall still exist it?s not worth risking it with good machines to save a few pence .  Especially for home use where you might only use 20L in a hole year ! His actual words was tell the boss to stop being a tight ar*e tw*t but that?s another story .

He said he also recommends the last use of the year to use aspen fuel and store it with this Inside  over the winter .

https://aspenfuel.co.uk/


I am not recommending using the aspen as I think it?s over priced , all my machines will go on the bp ultimate and be stored run dry and empty as they always have been  (y)

Hope this is of some help pitlamp

Tom

 
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