Stihl SH 56 C-E Spec Review

Overview of the Stihl SH 56 C-E

The Stihl SH 56 C-E

• Power: The SH 56 C-E gas-powered blower, manufactured by Stihl, is rated for a max air volume of 412 cubic feet per minute (CFM) and a max air speed of 159 MPH.
• Handling: For those who are looking for a portable and convenient leaf blower, this model is a strong candidate. It’s designed for easy handling and use, and its size means it’s easily carried and stored. Be aware that, at 11.5 lbs, the Stihl SH 56 C-E is on the heavier side for gas-powered handheld blowers.
• Engine: Its 2-Mix engine boasts a displacement of 27.2 cc. As you may or may not know, 2-stroke engines require a mixture of gasoline and oil in order to keep all the moving parts lubricated while fuelling the engine’s internal combustion. The fuel/oil ratio recommended by Stihl for the SH 56 C-E is 50:1. You can find more information about Stihl's 2-Mix engine technology below.
• Speed Settings: Sometimes you just need a little more power, while other times you may want a little more precision when moving leaves and debris. That’s why the SH 56 C-E features variable speed settings for added control.
• Vacuum: This unit isn’t just a blower—it has the added feature of being able to collect leaves and soft debris into a handy storage bag (9.3 gallon bag included).
• Mulching: This mulcher’s 14:1 mulching ratio means it can reduce 14 bags of leaves and debris down to one bag of mulch.
• Noise: With a decibel rating of 70 dB, the SH 56 C-E is neither louder nor quieter than its rivals in the gas-powered handheld category.
• Fuel Tank: It has an average fuel capacity for a handheld blower, with a tank that holds around 18.3 fl. oz of fuel.
• Easy2Start™: The SH 56 C-E has the letter “E” in its name, which is Stihl’s indication that it benefits from Stihl’s proprietary Easy2Start™ (also called “ErgoStart”) technology. As the name suggests, this technology makes the starter mechanism more reliable thanks to an additional spring between the crankshaft and the starter rope. Upon pulling the starter rope, the engine will attempt to start regardless of how hard the rope was pulled – even a simple two-finger pull is sufficient to start it. Easy2Start™ allows the SH 56 C-E to be started with remarkably less effort than most other blowers.

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The Stihl SH 56 C-E's performance versus other blowers

The following charts are provided to give you an idea how the key specs of the Stihl SH 56 C-E compare with similar leaf blowers.

• Maxing out at 159 MPH at full power, this blower is on the lower end in terms of air speed for gas-powered handheld blowers. For the fastest air speed in this category, you may want to consider the Craftsman BV2500, which can expell air at a velocity that can reach 250 MPH.
• The SH 56 C-E is average in terms of air volume. It's rated at 412 CFM, which is common for gas-powered handheld blowers. If air volume is important to you, the Craftsman B225, with 650 CFM, could be in your good books.

Price comparison

2-Mix Engine Technology

Stihl's 2-Mix engine is a more eco-friendly and powerful approach to the traditional 2 stroke engine. It features what Stihl calls "stratified scavenging", which simply means that a layer of air is created between the combustion chamber and the crankcase. This action allows the engine to separate fresh fuel from the exhaust, which in turn minimizes the scavenging losses and eliminates the components of the mix that pose a health and environmental hazard (compliant with European Emissions Directive, Stage II). The 2-Mix engine offers a high torque over a wide speed range, a fuel consumption up to 20% lower than conventional 2-cycle engines, and fewer harmful emissions.

The bottom line