So what octane do you use with your power tools?

Reason I ask is because I have a Troybilt trimmer that is 6 months old and have only been used 3-4 times with approximately 3 hours of total use that won't start. I called Troybilt and referred me to two authorized repair centers that said the same thing. "We don't fix Troybilt trimmers because it would cost us more to repair than replace." I bought the trimmer for $90. So I called Troybilt again and told them what their service centers said, The Troybilt rep told me it could be a dirty carburetor and to spray carb cleaner on it.

Honestly I was expecting something better since this thing still has 2 years manufacturer warranty and regardless of the price they should still help me by offering to send me another product since the cost of repair is more than a replacement or refer me to another service center.

Now back to my question, I have been using 87 octane regular gas with 40:1 oil ratio. How can this thing get dirty so fast with such little time?

I remember back a little over 10 years ago when my Dad bought he filled it with 93 octane and later change it to 87 octane since it had a hard time starting. The place he took it to told him to use 87 to prolong the life of it. I'm still puzzled at how his more than 10 year old power tool is churning like a champ to this day while my Troybilt took a dump...

Sorry for the long post....

 

Because Troybilt.

Get an Echo or a Stihl.

 

I use 93 in my Deere Lawn Tactor and Honda push mower and 93 in 50:1 with the Stihl Combi unit.
I will say that I use Sta Bil by the jug to prevent any lacquering in the carbs and lines

 

 

Manual for my Echo says 89 or greater...87 works just fine.

 

buy 4-cycle stuff.

 

I'm a believer in the fuel stabilizer. I never drain out my Echo 2 cycle string trimmer and it starts as expected in the Spring.

I also never drain my lawn tractor's tank and it starts right up in Spring too.

I've always used 87 for my equipment and haven't had any problem.

 

I thought this was caused by obamafied gas that has ethanol in it. It clogs shit up, had this issue with a couple lawn mower

 

Stunna is correct, get ethanol free gas. My parents have tons of equipment on their horse farms and we were going through power washers, trimmers, chain saws, etc like crazy until we started using ethanol free gas. We even had an echo trimmer that worked for years and years but died when ethanol started clogging it up.

Other thing to do is get the extended service plan through home depot, they return things all the time no questions asked and give you a new one. Even if you buy good stuff, they just don't seem to work long.

 

Thanks guys, will be on the look out for ethanol when i fill my power tools.

Another thing, I currently have a gallon of the 40:1 mix left in my gas container and the new trimmer I'm looking at has a 50:1 mix requirement. Can I add 93 octane gas into what I have left and pour the 50:1 oil mix in my current gas container??? Will this be fine for my new trimmer??

I'm trying to calculate what mix I'll end up with. If its not good for my new trimmer then I'll just dump the left over and start with a new mix.