Even though chainsaws are perceived to be the most versatile kind of machine, but still that does not mean that they will never get worn out or be damaged.

Yes, the maintenance they require is minimal, but simultaneously you should not take steps to the detriment of your chainsaw.

Most users are unaware of the kind of fuel that they should use in their chainsaws, and with the limited and inaccurate knowledge that they have on the issue, they use inaccurate proportions of fuels in the mixture.

This could lead to severe damage to the chainsaw’s engine and bring you no benefit but instead incur costs.

So, let’s find a solution to your concern: should I use high-octane gas in my chainsaw mixture?

Should I Use High Octane Gas In My Chainsaw Mixture?

The kind of fuel or the composition of different fuels that constitute a mixture and have to be used in the chainsaw depends and varies according to certain factors.

Here the primary consideration that one must always undertake is the sort of engine that is supporting their chainsaws.

Size Of Engine

Engines that are small in size cannot support a high and dense mixture of fuel. There is no comprehensive reason for it but the mere fact that they have not been designed in a manner, nor can their adjoining components withstand the fuel mixture. 

Similarly, when it comes to whether should i use high-octane gas in my chainsaw mixture, the only way you can have a decisive answer is by evaluating the engine supporting the operations of your chainsaw.

 

The sort of fuel that the engine of your chainsaw can support is always mentioned in the manual guide that comes with purchasing the equipment. You can consult it anytime you feel doubtful about the gas mixture you use in the chainsaw. 

Octane Composition 

With engines usually installed in chainsaws, you can use a fuel with a high octane rating. For example, gas with a minimum 89 rating of octane and a maximum 10 rating of ethanol in the fuel mixture can be used. 

This will not be hurting the engine of your chainsaw. Especially, if you are the owner of a Stihl chainsaw, no particular consideration as to the engine size has to be made because the composition of ethanol and octane that we have suggested will work ideally for the machine.

However, beware never of utilizing regular gas, meaning purified gas with no composition of another fuel type in the mixture you are pouring into the chainsaw. This, therefore, could result in serious damage to the engine if the pattern remains consistent. 

Supposedly, suppose your chainsaw’s engine is large, and it only happens when you have a professional chainsaw like MS660 from Stihl. In that case, you might want to raise the octane levels in the gas you add to the engine to ensure that it delivers its optimal functioning.

Even then, the ethanol level must not exceed 10% as it is the maximum content a chainsaw’s engine will support regardless of size. Large amounts of ethanol in the gas mixture are harmful to the engine, and problems with the functioning of the chainsaw will eventually start to materialize. 

A major problem that you will face is with starting the engine of the chainsaw. Since the fuel composition will be incorrect with high ethanol, the fuel will not be powered to the engine, and you will be unable to start the machine. To avoid this, one must use the right composition in the gas mixture. 

To summarize, you can use high-octane gas in your chainsaw mixture. Whereby 89% of octane in the gas mixture stands to be ideal for a small chainsaw engine, but with an increase in the engine size, you can also enhance the octane levels. 

Conclusion

Now that we have addressed your concern regarding should I use high-octane gas in my chainsaw mixture, we hope that you never make the mistake of either intentionally or unintentionally messing around with the gas composition.