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  dan January 30, 2019 at 9:38am

  Hi Glen -- ive found the opposite, in fact i believe many of the newer sthil models should not be run on anything other than a hp super -- or quality synthetic oil. 

  Unfortunately i learned this the hard way as ive had carb issues on multiple sthil hedge cutters which can only be expplained by using the cheaper oils. I experienced idlling issues which became so bad the blades would start running in idle which was fairly dangerous and required a new carb as the old one had become clogged up in only a year. Since switching to HP theres been a considerable improvement in even ones that where starting to show this idling issue. 

  It could be its coincidence that its when you have switched but the problem could be carb related due to running the lower quality red oils ? 

  I think sthil have had a lot of carb problems possibly due to tweaking the machines for emmission regulations where now the newer models are a bit too fussy about what goes in them and how they handle it. 
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    Glen Stillman > dan January 30, 2019 at 6:49pm

    Thanks for the replies guys. Yep I'll check out the fuel, clean tank and carbs etc see how it goes. 
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  Graham Taylor January 30, 2019 at 9:40am

  I'd say it's nothing to do with the oil and you shouldn't have to do any carb adjustments.... I switched to the hp ultra with no problems.  I had a rather similar problem some 12 months ago effecting several machines..... poor idling, diffcult to start, reluctant to rev up though ok at high revs.  I'm pretty sure it was the petrol from the local bp garage as I emptied all the fuel out the machines and bought a new lot from Sainsbury's and the problem immediately went away. Used up the BP fuel in the mower instead where it worked ok.  Might be worth trying some fuel from a different garage.
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    Clive > Graham Taylor February 3, 2019 at 9:33am

    Hi Graham,

    I believe the two most superior fuel supliers are Shell & BP. Supermarket fuels are full of detergents. 

    Difficult to start - first places to check are your plug and air filter ;)
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  PGM January 30, 2019 at 9:44am

  Like Dan I also found the opposite. Switching to the Super version from an old red 2 stroke made a noitceable improvement to all my tools and i've never gone back. Hope you get it sorted.
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  Tony @SM January 30, 2019 at 4:34pm

  I think there may be something in what Graham, said-re petrol. The Stihl green super oil really shouldnt be the problem.  My son is a mechanic specialising in engines, (auto, not landscape machines). He advised I use the higher octane fuels as opposed to 4 star, Shell Super etc.  For the little extra involved I've always done this and I've had very few problems. Apparantly, most supermarkets buy their fuel by lowest bulk price, (particularly diesel).  The "super" fuels have a higher spec and have to be of a quality. It may be that I'm over cautious, but I am just more comfortable with the high octane stuff.
• PRO

  Gary RK January 30, 2019 at 7:20pm

  There are two Stihl green oils - Super & Ultra, with the later being almost specific for 4mix engines (so hope I’ve got it around right way).

  Quite a difference in price as well. 

  We standardised on Super (! Need to check in Yard) as it’s ok across a range of machines and they certainly run better than on Red.

  Regading higher octane fuel - I’m not sure our gear can take full advantage of it as they only have basic electronic ignition modules with out any clever / intelligent ECUs.

  Most tests suggest base 95 fuel is the same across all forecourts, but clever marketing works wonders ? 

  In comparison, my car is designed run to on 98+ fuel, but will downgrade and run on 95 ... however you do notice its smoothness and pickup when running 98 or VPower
• PRO

  Seth Burgess January 30, 2019 at 8:06pm

  Was the oregon oil the mineral or semi-synth? If it was the semi-synth its virtually the same as Stihl Super anyway. Mineral 2 stroke is the one to avoid not just red two stroke oil. In fact probably the best two stroke you can buy (red line) is red.

   

  However I dont think this is anything to do with oil and perhaps a conicidence or you are just currently more sensitive to how they are running because you have switched oils so are "looking" for something different (whether subconsciously or not)
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    Glen Stillman > Seth Burgess January 30, 2019 at 8:46pm

    The oregon semi synth is good oil, not cheap rubbish  

    I take your point but it is a bit more than me looking for a problem. As mentioned above I'll try some fresh petrol and give the carb a good clean. 
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  Ben Carter February 3, 2019 at 12:22pm

  You may have done this already, but when I changed of to HP super the dealer told me to make sure the tanks were empty and that the oil wasn't contaminated in anyway.  I didn't need to adjust any carbs, I get my fuel for a number of suppliers including BP and Sainsburys.  Are you sure you haven't got a batch of high ultra fuel (or what ever they call it) fom the garage?  I run it in a number of bits of kit including a 4 mix hedge cutter and a 20 year old chainsaw and it works fine in all of them.  Oregon red is a very good quality oil but the Stihl stuff does produce a less smokey emission.  Are you mixing it at 50:1?   I'm a bit anal when it comes to mixing fuel and measure it out very accurately.  Try spraying some carb cleaner in the machines!  

  Let us know how you get on.