Leaving mixed fuel in your chainsaw for a few days or maybe a month won't generally cause you any problems. Leaving it over off season, for months, is begging for trouble. My personal policy and my advice is to run your saw dry, until it quits, and then put the choke on and pull the cord a couple more times.
Chainsaws, like all tools with small gas engines, must be put away for the winter properly. Winterizing your chainsaw before it sits for two or three months will save you lots of time and money in repairs. And it only takes about 15 minutes to ensure it's ready to go in the spring.
STIHL currently recommends that you do not store or use fuel older than 60 days, and preferably no longer than 30 days, even with a stabilizer. Read more about storing your outdoor power equipment.
Over winter, fuel-powered chainsaws should be stored empty of gas. If you haven't used the chainsaw recently, run it until the engine is warm. Then, empty the fuel left in its tank. Keep the gas in a separate can to refill the chainsaw in the spring.
Without lubricant, the speed at which the chain moves over the chainsaw bar can cause some serious friction. A slowed-down chain and excessive fuel burning mean there's a lot of friction between your bar and chain, which means a lot of heat is being produced that could do major damage to your saw.
It's important to note that oil tanks cannot simply vent into the atmosphere, as this could lead to the oil leaking onto the operator during use. To avoid your chainsaw from leaking oil whist in storage, the best solution is to drain the chainsaw of its bar oil and fuel mix and store the chainsaw empty.
Starting as early as 2024, the state of California will ban the sale of gas-powered lawnmowers, leaf blowers, and chainsaws.
Never run your chainsaw dry; instead, use a quality gas stabilizer. A stabilizer will keep fuel fresh and protect a chainsaw fuel system from damage caused by stale gas.
It may come as an eye-opener to some. But wet wood is actually much easier to cut than dry wood. With dry wood lacking moisture content, more friction is created as the chainsaw chain comes into contact with the wood fibers. This friction results in the chain slowing down.
Dirty muddy ice or snow will quickly dull your chainsaw. It may contain elements such as metal or tiny rocks that when hit by the chainsaw, will cause it to dull. This is why it's recommended to only use your chainsaw on clean or pure ice.
In all but very exceptional cases there is nothing wrong with the chainsaw and what appears to be an oil leak is simply oil that has sprayed from the chain as it rotates at high speed, draining from the saw body and guide bar.
Gasoline that is 89 octane or higher is specifically recommended in engines that are two stroke and air cooled. Gasoline may contain a MAXIMUM of 10% Ethanol. Two stroke air cooled engines are approved to use a 87 octane rated clean gasoline in emergency situations.
Another problem, however, deals with keeping the fuel pump cool. When you run low on gas, it makes it possible for the fuel pump to start sucking in air. This can heat it up to the point where it could lead to expensive future repairs.
Chainsaws require special maintenance when you're working in cold weather. If the temperature where you live drops below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, you'll need to change some things about how you use and maintain your saw.
Use Fuel Stabilizer
Add a bottle of fuel stabilizer to the gas tank and then run the vehicle's engine for a few minutes to distribute it through the system.
Cutting on or near the ground puts you at risk for sinking the bar into the dirt. When learning how to use a chainsaw safely, one of the first things you should do is make sure to make your cuts off the ground. Dirt can dull the blades and damage the chain, which you want to avoid at all costs.
The chainsaw pulls in one direction, which results in a crooked finish. Blunt cutting teeth on one side or uneven teeth lengths usually cause this. The teeth has hit rocks or dirt and broken. If you notice the tops of the teeth are missing you will need to replace the chain.