2 stroke oil, what brand and what ratio?

[OM617YOTA]

Just because there's not enough controversy around here.

I am using my last remaining stock of MX2T. When it was discontinued I bought up all I could find, I have enough for a few more years at current consumption levels.

32:1 for me, easy to measure. I'd rather run richer than leaner as long as it's not carboning up anything. MX2T is synthetic and burns extremely cleanly. My equipment gives a brief white puff on first startup, after it warms up a bit the exhaust goes clear and stays that way. MX2T has very little dye and a couple of times I just wasn't sure if I added oil, so to be safe I have added a second dose to my two stroke can. The exhaust smelled much more strongly of two stroke oil, so I was pretty sure I had doubled up. Regardless, 16:1 is better for equipment than 0:1. No carbon issues, burned fine, just smelled stronger. I don't hack up crud for two days after using MX2T, it runs very clean in my equipment, my girlfriend doesn't find the smell on my clothes objectionable after I've been using the chainsaw. I was miffed when it was discontinued.

I have a 2oz syringe for easy measuring, two full squirts in a gallon and good to go.

When I run out I'll probably switch to Pennzoil aircooled, although I wish I could find something locally that was better than the no-name big box store oil. Pennzoil aircooled rated very highly in an ultralight airplane engine test. The results were very favorable and are why I want to go with Pennzoil Aircooled next. I'll try and find it and post a link. Edit: http://www.ultralightnews.com/features/oiltest.htm

Fire away.

[Air&Road]

If you're talking chain saws and such where you do t burn a whole bunch of it I am reay satisfied with the top of the line Stihl oil in the silver bottle. It has fuel stabilizer and is synthetic. I have been impressed and they are so confident thAt when buying a new chain saw or other two cycle product if you buy a sixpack of this oil they double the warranty from two years to five.

[Air&Road]

Whoops, Stihl has oil mix four cycles that the warranty extension also applies to.

[rscurtis]

I use Amsoil Sabre 100:1 at 80:1 and it works fine. It runs with an invisible exhaust. I could probably run at 100:1, I may try that on the next tank. It also works fine in the Stihl 4-mix.

[OM617YOTA]

I do the lion's share of firewood cutting for two households, probably 10 gallons of two stroke mix per year through the saw and another 5 or so in a little Harbor Freight two stroke gennie(which has been completely AWESOME, by the way). I thought briefly about getting a more generic mix for the generator and reserve the MX2T for my Stihl, just have no desire to keep two separate cans of mix around and have to keep track of which tool gets what.

A&R - Thank you, I'll look into the Stihl synthetic.

Rscurtis - Does your equipment manufacturer honor the warranty with Amsoil at 100:1?

[Air&Road]

I don't use 10 gallons a year, only 2 or 3. So I just mix a gallon at a time. One of the small bottles to a gallon of 91 or better octane. It might be that they sell the stuff in larger bottles for mixing larger batches.

[TwitchKitty]

Originally Posted by rscurtis

I use Amsoil Sabre 100:1 at 80:1 and it works fine. It runs with an invisible exhaust. I could probably run at 100:1, I may try that on the next tank. It also works fine in the Stihl 4-mix.

It's a little scary sometimes but I have run this oil at 120:1 and some other modern two stroke oils as lean as 160:1 in motocross bikes and ultralight aircraft engines. Did it right before a top end job at least once so I could check the internals for lubrication. Some modern two stroke oil is pretty amazing stuff. Your mileage may vary, don't do anything stupid based on this.

For my chain saw I am trying to use up some old Yamaha snowmobile oil. I cover half of the bottom of a canning jar with oil and mix enough gas to fill the tank. Eyeball work. Both extremes you see. This particular antique chain saw probably belongs in a museum. It will probably outlast me.

[rscurtis]

Rscurtis - Does your equipment manufacturer honor the warranty with Amsoil at 100:1?

Except for the 4-mix, most of my stuff is old, and I am my own warranty station. Many of these engines, such as the D600 Lawn Boy from 1970, were originally specced for 16:1. It must be sufficient, as the spark plug threads are still wet and the rings are damp with oil when checked through the exhaust.

Having said that, I wouldn't recommend these ratios on older 2-strokes that still used plain bearings.

When I was a Stihl dealer, I recall our sales rep. at the time saying that they had tested some equipment with their oil at 250:1 with no ill effects.

[spdrun]

I'm confused -- there are 4-stroke engines that use pre-mix? Wouldn't those have the disadvantages of both 4-stroke and 2-stroke?

[Dudesky]

Originally Posted by spdrun

I'm confused -- there are 4-stroke engines that use pre-mix? Wouldn't those have the disadvantages of both 4-stroke and 2-stroke?

Conventional 4 stroke is going to have oil in the engine crankcase no mixing.

Found this on Stihl site.....never heard of it...pretty cool:

The award-winning STIHL four-stroke engine that runs on a petrol-oil mix. The STIHL 4-MIX engine thus combines the advantages of a 2-stroke and a 4-stroke. As well has having plenty of lugging power and perceptibly higher torque, the 4-MIX engine is also convincing in terms of lower emissions, low maintenance and a pleasant sound.
Clear advantages

• Fewer emissions: The fuel burns with very little in the way of residues and thus complies with the strict European exhaust emission limits, Stage II.
• No oil servicing: Easy maintenance, as it uses the familiar fuel mix.
• Lightweight: The mix-lubricated system avoids the need for components like an oil pump, sump and oil tank as on conventional four-strokes.
• Lower noise threshold: Pleasant sound, even at high power.
• Lugging power and high torque: Very good acceleration for plenty of power.

[rscurtis]

Here's a picture of a 4-mix engine. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/open-discussion/342903-weed-wacker.html

[Txjake]

BelRay

[TwitchKitty]

Some of the direct injection two-strokes are amazing. I think it was Bombardier that tested emissions and showed that they are viable as automotive engines.