2 cycle question

notjustair

Well-known Member
I have an old pre-compliance Lawnboy push mower. It rarely gets used around the farm - maybe a tank of fuel a year. I used to run that "mixes to any ratio" generic oil, but have learned the error of my ways and use only Stihl silver bottle now. I think that is mixed for around 50:1 operation. The Lawnboy is 32:1.

Will that fuel be ok in that old mower? I have an old Craftsman saw that uses a pint of 30 weight to a gallon of fuel. Should I throw a little of that in it mixed with the Stihl fuel? It runs well and is handy and light to use around the shed and things. I'd hate to lock up that engine.
 
I can't tell if that mixture is ok. I use to have 5 differant cans of gas mixed for the differant two cycle engines we had around the place. I went to Opti-2 and one mix is good for all 2 cycle engines and I have been running the Opti-2 for the past 15 years. You don't have all the smoke and stick like a lot of the oil mixtures.
 
You're running today's best oil in the silver bottle. The 32:1 was back in an earlier era where oils weren't as good as they are today.

Case in point, my mother's 1951 ford had the oil changed every 1000 miles. My 2011 Silverado can run 7500 and it's in the owner's manual.

I'd do it in a heartbeat. I have one can of pre mix that runs everything 2 cycle on my farm and I use Stihl orange. Nar a problem.

Mark
 

This just my opinion based on running a lot of 2 strokes that originally used anything from 16-1 to 50-1. In the real old stuff going too lean is not good. In the new stuff going too rich is not good. In your case with 32-1 original specs and using something that isn't under constant heavy load, like a tiller for example, I'd feel okay with 40-1 or a little leaner. If that happens to be the mower you use in heavy, dense or wet grass or light brush I'd lean towards a richer mix. If it's just sidehill mowing leaner would probably be okay.

You can mix the 50-1 designed oil at any ratio you want. There are places you can print off the formulas on line. Remember that a lot of the reason for 50-1 recommendations these days is because of EPA compliance, not because it's the best thing for the engine.
 
Like has been stated--Todays two cycle oil is much improved over what was recommended in the older engines.
I use Husqvarna synthetic blend in all my two strokes at a mixture of 3 oz. to one gallon of non ethanol 91/93 octane fuel.
I feel that 50 to 1 mix is an EPA issue and is questionable.
If I was concerned with a really old engine that recommended 8 oz. or more to one gal., I would use 4/1.
Just remember --Do not use outboard two stroke oil designed for a water cooled engine.
 
If you like the Stihl oil in orange thats great. My nephew takes doen trees part time to make extra money and he uses it in his Stihl saws and likes it . His saws smoke a lot when idling and stink. I started 3 of my new Stihls out on Opti-2 from day one( Stihl will honor warranty using Opti-2). I can let them idle and have no smoke and no stink. Mufflers are clean and pistons look like new I have an old (25 years old)Husky 50 special thats been running it on Opti-2 the lsat 15 years and runs like new with a ton of hours on it and still runs strong.
 
(quoted from post at 12:13:11 03/20/15) Like has been stated--Todays two cycle oil is much improved over what was recommended in the older engines.

I agree. The only thing is that those old engines had different design parameters and they've been running since 1961 or 69 or 76. What are the clearances now and is a leaner mix going to be adequate? That's something only the owners judgement is going to be capable of answering. No matter how good the oils of today, they won't fix what was done over 40 years, and yes, lots of us are running saws, tillers, mowers, etc, 30-40-50 years old or older and working them.
 
I have the Stihl 175 (I think) with 16" bar that I have had for at least 10 years. Don't notice smoke, and idles great which all my previous Poulan brand and subsidies wouldn't do. Thanks for the tip on another oil but I'm good and when I run out of current stock think I will go with the silver as I am a syn. oil user in everything I own and found a local farm store that stocks it.

Mark
 

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