Did a stupid thing to an 046

[hkeller]

Ugh. I use this saw about once a year. I was worried ethanol would gum up the carb. So, I asked a guy at the Stihl dealer. He said to run seafoam through it before I put it away. I did, without oil for about 90 seconds. Now, on regular mix, it smokes like crazy. Did I ruin this saw? It only has like 10hours on it. I am pissed at myself!

 

[ojaij40]

Ugh. I use this saw about once a year. I was worried ethanol would gum up the carb. So, I asked a guy at the Stihl dealer. He said to run seafoam through it before I put it away. I did, without oil for about 90 seconds. Now, on regular mix, it smokes like crazy. Did I ruin this saw? It only has like 10hours on it. I am pissed at myself!

Are you saying you ran it on straight gas with a little seafoam in it?

 

[90FJ]

how long have you run it? seafoam will smoke the s*** out of an engine for 60 seconds or so until it's purged.

 

[hkeller]

I ran it on straight Seafoam (no gas) for about 90 seconds. Then, it ran out and stalled. A few days later, I started to think, "Maybe that was not so bright." So, I bought that crazy expensive Motomix. Filled the tank half way. I started it and it still smoked and smoked for another 90 seconds of running.

I am hoping against hope that maybe I am still burning off Seafoam from the muffler.

 

[D'Animal]

You are still burning the Sea Foam out.

Basically what you did was called "Foggging" the engine. It used to be a common practice to reduce rusting of internal parts. The 2-cycle oils of today leave a nice residue on all the parts to help eliminate the rusting of internal components.

It will probably blow smoke until it get to operating temperature. This means cutting a few rounds off of a log.

 

[hkeller]

D'Animal - That gives me hope. I'll fire it up tonight and let you know what happens.

 

[jeffro109]

sounds about right for smoke from seafoam when I have done it on an older saw. I don't really see how a saw with 10 hrs on it would need it though.

I doubt you did any real harm, if you ran it on straight gas and killed it you would not be able to start it now.

Once you get it burned out and running 'normal' again, consider finding ethanol free gas, mixing the oil a little more than the 50:1 such as 40:1 or so (just don't put quite as much gas in the can as the mix bottle says to add), and making sure your carb is set right. Saw should last a lifetime.

You can put a few ounces of seafoam in the mixed gas, it will help to clean the crud out of an engine and acts like a fuel stabilizer too, or so it claims.

 

[hkeller]

OK - pretty sure the saw is OK. I ran it a bit this weekend and the smoking slowed to a minimum. Saw runs great and compression on pull is there. I think maybe a bunch of unburned SeaFoam settled in the muffler and it took a while to burn off.

I live in a pretty snotty neighborhood. I am sure they all love me after running that loud smoke machine like I did. Looked like some special effects from a zombie movie.