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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

2 Cycle Mix Questions

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Bill VA

02-09-2008 18:49:02




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I have read of folks using one mix for their various 2 cycle engine equipment with good results.

With the idea in mind of erroring on side of too much oil in the mix is better than too little.

I have a Stihl Trimmer that uses 50:1 mix. I have just bought a Poulan Pro Pruner that uses a 40:1 mix.

Last summer I tried 40:1 in the Stihl, but the exhaust dripped some oil from it. Not a lot, but enough to wipe-up with a finger. I changed to 50:1 and the oil on the exhaust went away.

I read that because the Poulan"s were jetted so lean that it is a good idea to use 32:1 in stead of 40:1. I trie this and thought the pruner runs great, I am getting the same slight dripping of oil.

Anyone running a more richer oil mix like I am doing above? Aside from the potential of the exhaust ports clogging a bit sooner and a bit more smoke, is the oil on the exhaust going to be a problem?

I trust the Stihl is going to be ok at 50:1, but I am a little concerned about the Poulan and want to be sure it is getting enough oil in the crankcase.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Bill

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guido

02-12-2008 11:21:56




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 Re: 2 Cycle Mix Questions in reply to Bill VA, 02-09-2008 18:49:02  
Hello Bill
Here is my experience with two cycle oil.
Years ago,20 or so, I was able to by outbord Mobil oil cheap, I bought 2 cases 32 quarts. I am on my last quart.I have been using it on all my 2cycle engines,zero broblems!
My 27 year old saw is still going strong, I have been cutting about 4 cords a year.
Guido.



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Kentb of SWMO

02-10-2008 17:51:20




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 Re: 2 Cycle Mix Questions in reply to Bill VA, 02-09-2008 18:49:02  
Watch you 2 stroke engines closly. The 10% ethaol in most fuel now can be VERY bad for 2 stokes. I think it is something about the oil settaling out on mix.

Kent



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buickanddeere

02-10-2008 15:22:41




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 Re: 2 Cycle Mix Questions in reply to Bill VA, 02-09-2008 18:49:02  
Running an outboard two stroke oil for water cooled engines in a chainsaw/blower/weedeater is not a good idea. Neither is running chainsaw two stroke lube in an outboard. Extra oil leans the mixture making the engine run hotter and more prone to knock/detonation.Lube oil also has a lower octane rating than gasoline which makes detonation even more likely. Take a look at most ruined two stroke engines. Detonation broke those rings/piston ring lands, pounded out the bottom end bearings or melted the hole through the piston. That is not a lube oil failure as most people suspect.

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IH2444

02-10-2008 07:22:29




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 Re: 2 Cycle Mix Questions in reply to Bill VA, 02-09-2008 18:49:02  
I run the mix in each 2 stroke that the manufacturwer recommends. I have a 6 yr old Poulan saw that still has the origional spark plug in it. I cut well over 20 pickup loads of firewood a year with it. I have been using the synthetic oil for the last year in it because that is what they are selling for it now, but can tell no real difference.



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Charles (in GA)

02-10-2008 07:06:35




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 Re: 2 Cycle Mix Questions in reply to Bill VA, 02-09-2008 18:49:02  
Use synthetic two stroke oil, such as AMSOIL, it runs much cleaner, and makes the engine easier to start, night and day vs regular two stroke oil. AMSOIL says you can run theirs 100:1 in virtually anything.

Charles



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T_Bone

02-10-2008 13:42:15




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 Re: 2 Cycle Mix Questions in reply to Charles (in GA), 02-10-2008 07:06:35  
Hi Charles,

Be careful about this suggestion. About 5yrs ago we had a very long discussion on the very same topic and a respected forum member made a very strong point for using Amsoil at 100:1.

The reader tried this suggestion and scored a cylinder wall, not bad but still scored it none the less.

We lost a very valueable forum contributor as he apparently felt really bad that this happened upon his suggestion. He"s never posted again and that"s such a shame!

T_Bone

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lucas boy

02-10-2008 06:29:38




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 Re: 2 Cycle Mix Questions in reply to Bill VA, 02-09-2008 18:49:02  
i think the stihl mix at 50-1 will run any 2 stroke saw blower trimmer safely. when poulan reccomends a richer mix for example,,i think they are refering to useing their oil that is not as good quality as the stihl oil. i look at oil mix in two cateories, for slow running stuff (6000rpm or less) and fast running stuff (10,000rpm+ ) the stihl oil,echo oil,husqvuarna oil is for the fast running machines,wont sling off crank at top speed,, and therefore is safe also for the slow running stuff. the cheep oils for slow running stuff is not safe for the faster running machines because it slings off at high rpm. andy coochmeyer at echo explained this to me at the echo factory school. makes sense. so thats why my customers use stihl and echo oil 50-1 in everything they use . it covers the fast and slower running engines.running the cheep oil can cost you a fast running engine . we put stihl mix at 50-1 in everything we service,have or 25 years..as far as the optimal 100-1 mix, i have customers that use it and swear by it,and others that curse it because they scored a cylinder. i think the answer is that when you mix 100-1,you better be sure it is mixed exactly and not a little thin...lucas boy

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moonlite 37

02-10-2008 04:05:40




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 Re: 2 Cycle Mix Questions in reply to Bill VA, 02-09-2008 18:49:02  
Burning oil makes HEAT which is the enemy of a high performing engine. A Stihl factory rep told me that even 100 to 1 would possibly be enough oil in their engines. I use 50 to 1 in both Poulan and Stihl. I doubt if carbon is the real problem eith modern chain saw oil even if used too rich. Again the problem is heat. Less oil = less heat



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Sam from WA

02-09-2008 22:54:46




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 Re: 2 Cycle Mix Questions in reply to Bill VA, 02-09-2008 18:49:02  
I believe we run 32:1 in every chainsaw and brush saw around here. we have several old saws that run like champs, but they use higher ratios of oil to gas. most of our newer saws and brush cutters smoke a bit more, but haven't had any problems.



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eli fish

02-09-2008 20:54:13




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 Re: 2 Cycle Mix Questions in reply to Bill VA, 02-09-2008 18:49:02  
A little extra oil won't hurt anything as long as it doesn't foul plugs because of it. I have always fine tuned my mixture by starting rich then less and less oil until the exhaust drip you speak of goes away. I mostly do this with engines that I don't know what the mix ratio should be. Too little oil will just shorten engine life a little or possibly more depending on how far you are off. Too much oil can really goober rings though so if it starts fouling plugs I'd back off a little. Another interesting point is that two stroke race engines are usually run a bit lean on oil. It makes them a bit snappier and keeps things from gumming up, rings sticking, plugs fouling etc. As long as your engine doesn't get sluggish when warmed up it should have enough oil. I guess you could say it's a compromise between power, clenliness,and longevity. Maybe 45:1 would work good?

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jokers

02-12-2008 13:01:25




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 Re: 2 Cycle Mix Questions in reply to eli fish, 02-09-2008 20:54:13  
Sorry Eli but it`s not true that racing two strokes are run on leaner oil to fuel ratios, infact just the opposite is true, many two stroke bike and cart engines run on ratios as low as 16:1 and the snappiness that you speak of is attained by a proper fuel/air ratio, high compression, and ignition timing although there is an optimal fuel/oil ratio for power which is usually on the lower end, 16:1 - 20:1.

Black mung dripping from a muffler means that the air/fuel ratio is way too rich, not the oil/fuel ratio. Today`s ashless oil burns exceptionally clean and will smoke more on a rich mixture but it won`t carbonize an engine like the old days if the carb is adjusted right. Furthermore, certain saws like the Husky 575 and 385 that were having big end bearing problems on 50:1 will last a couple of years at 32:1 in professional usage.

The issue of heat killing an engine that buickanddeere mentioned is also valid but his info is flawed. The most common two stroke failure mode that I`ve seen as well as most professional saw mechanics is siezure, either caused by a lean fuel/air ratio which scores the piston the exhaust side, overheating which scores the piston all the way around, usually caused by an extremely dirty saw that doesn`t get any cooling air, water score which is caused by snow or rain being injested through the intake or sucking dirt in through the carb due to a faulty or missing air filter.

There`s more I can add but for the purpose of this thread i`m just going to say run a qaulity oil at 32:1 - 40:1 and have your carb adjusted properly.

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Steve A W

02-09-2008 20:10:37




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 Re: 2 Cycle Mix Questions in reply to Bill VA, 02-09-2008 18:49:02  
For the last 20 or so years I have used a
synthetic mix called Opti 2. I have not had a fouled plug or plugged exhaust in any of
my machines.



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135 Fan

02-10-2008 11:14:05




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 Re: 2 Cycle Mix Questions in reply to Steve A W, 02-09-2008 20:10:37  
Opti 2 is not synthetic oil. It is a very good oil however. Synthetic oils should never be mixed with non synthetic oils. You can switch but you should drain the fuel tank or run the machine dry. Optimol oil is compatible with conventional oil. Stihl oil is made by Castrol and has stabilizer in it. It is good oil but I would rate Opti 2 better. I as well as a lot of others run opti 2 at 50-1 in 2 stroke race bikes with no problems what so ever. Know one guy that ran it at 100-1 but I wouldn't reccomend that. I will use the same mix for my chain saw and brush cutter. Dave

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BobOHIO

02-09-2008 19:30:43




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 Re: 2 Cycle Mix Questions in reply to Bill VA, 02-09-2008 18:49:02  
Hi Bill, I have always ran what the manufacturer recommended in all of my 2 cycle engines without any problems. My experence with running too much oil is fouled spark plugs and clogged exhaust screens. It does help keep the mosquitoes away.



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