This. Lost a chainsaw and the motor on my DR high wheel trimmer before I wised up and ran nothing but ethanol-free premium in all of my small engines. Current DR starts on the first pull, chainsaws on the second or third. Also fill up the Yukon with non-ethanol premium every 5th or 6th tankful. What a difference. That big 6.0 liter engine just purrs.
Get yourself some “Ethanol Shield” stabilizer. Available at Home Depot. I saved a new generator with their product “Mechanic in a Bottle” after using Stabil that failed.
Best I’ve ever used and I’ve used ALL of them. A distant second is “StarTron”.
Stabil is garbage.
I’ll even use the manufactured fuels for chainsaws or any sporadic use engine.
I’ve stored equipment for over two years with Ethanol Shield treated fuel with no problem.