114 Octane

[bendjoseph]

A friend of mine claims to be running 114 octane race fuel in his Husky 353.  I run 93 in my Stihl now.  I am couroius about the race fuel, but i am worried about burning up the engine.  Anyone got any comments?

[sawguy21]

The octane rating refers to the anti knock properties of the fuel. Ultra high compression racing engines certainly require it but his 353 won't become a hot rod on the stuff without serious modification. 91 pump gas is more than adequate for a stock saw.

[barbender]

Race fuel will not burn up your engine. It's just an unneccesary expense, 91 octane non ethanol premium is adequate for a stock saw. When you start increasing compression, you need higher octane fuel to prevent pre-ignition (knock).

[ladylake]

 A stock saw will make more power on 91 octane.   Steve

[Okrafarmer]

We use 87 octane, ethanol-free on our saws. Around here the only ethanol free gas we've been able to find has been 87. All the saws seem to do ok on it.

[MReinemann]

We use 87 octane, ethanol-free on our saws. Around here the only ethanol free gas we've been able to find has been 87. All the saws seem to do ok on it.

I use 87 in my 290 farm boss.  4 yrs and still going strong.  That's with ethanol too.  I through a little marine sta-bil in the mix.  Pretty much convinced that saw is bullet proof.  Took a dip in the stream one day when it fell off the back of the tractor.  Dried it out and still runs like a champ. 
-Matt

[Okrafarmer]

Yes, mine's pretty indestructable too. Had it 6-7 years and abused it quite intensely. Still my go-to saw. It has had some ethanol at times, too.

[Al_Smith]

Racing gas won't do you much good on a stock compression saw engine .Cost you a little more money is all .

[Slab Slicer]

Although the higher octane fuel will burn more evenly, and at a lower temp, it won't do much good, other than allowing your saw to run a bit cooler. Wasted money if you ask me. Now take that same saw, bump the compression a bunch, and you better run the good stuff, or you will be popping a hole in the piston.  :D

[AdkStihl]

Racing gas won't do you much good on a stock compression saw engine .Cost you a little more money is all .

Higher octane fuel in resistant to ignition and creates less HP. A saw with 150-170psi (typical) will not like to burn without some carb adjustments.
I keep 5 gallons of 100LL handy for "in-saw" storage purposes. My "nmurphized" 346XP will not run with 100LL on stock settings.

Dont waste your money on the stuff.

I typically burn 89 and my stuff runs good  ;)

[Al_Smith]

There might be some merit to using Av gas or some of that Sun oil race gas but it doesn't apply to 99.9 percent of all saw users .Fact the only reason I even bother with 92-93 octane is because of a few saws I have which are enhanced tad bit .Like a dime more than regular maybe 20 cents it isn't going to send me to the poor house any way .

Ha thinking back in time about run on which is off topic .I had an Olds toranado ,1973 with a 455 V8 .That pot licker could diesel at about 20 miles per hour once you turned it off .You had to put that gas guzzling behemouth in drive and ride the brake to get it to stop .You about had to run hi-test in that old land yacht else it would sit there and chug and hiccup for ten minutes and stink to high heavens dieseling on regular gas .Good old days my foot . :D