2 cycle oil for my garden tools

[poconojoe]

I'm almost out of 2 cycle oil. The one I have is from Ace Hardware. It has that funny squeeze bottle with the side compartment for measuring the oil. There's a chart on the bottle giving the amount of oil to use for whatever ratio your machine uses. I have some machines that are 40:1 and some 50:1.
I was in Lowe's home center and they had a bottle, but there was no chart. The directions stated to use 3.2 ounces per gallon, nowhere on the bottle did it mention any ratios.
What gives? Is this oil somehow universal? 3.2 ounces of oil no matter what your ratio is?
This doesn't make sense to me. Or am I being too technical?
Thanks

 

[LundAngler1650]

3.2 ounces of oil per gallon, is 40 to 1 ratio. It really won't hurt your 50 to 1 items to run on 40 to 1 premix. I premix all my 2 stroke gas to 40 to 1, then run it despite whatever something asks for. You may have to change a spark plug slightly sooner, but not harmful, just a little extra lubrication for bearings, pistons, rings, cylinder walls, etc.

 

[matt167]

many online calculators for this.. Some of those oils are marked to be operated at a specific ratio, but it's all the same oil.

Just use 3.2oz per gal in all of your equipment, it won't matter.. When I cut my sumac field down every other year, I operate my $95 chinese chainsaw at 25:1 to fog the mosquitoes/ bugs while I do it

 

[Scott Danforth]

I have 5 2-stroke motors ranging from 32:1 to 50:1 (not counting the gale). I mix at 32:1 and have one tank of fuel. If i decide to run the gale, i will worry about 24:1 for tgat motor at that time

 

[poconojoe]

Thanks for the responses!

I wasn't sure if all 2 cycle oils were the same and that I could use any available chart to administer the proper ratio.

I figured there can't be much difference between a 40:1 and a 50:1 mix anyway.

The thing that got me was there was no mention on that bottle what ratio it was meant for. At least I didn't see any. It only stated 3.2 ounces per gallon.

I was keeping two containers. One for 40:1 and one for 50:1.
So, I'll just do everything at 40:1 and be done with it.
Thanks again!

 

[matt167]

in general the run of the mill 2 stroke oil is designed for air cooled engines.. TCW3 is outboard oil and then there is also PWC oil which is different yet..

TCW3 should not be used in air cooled 2 strokes. I use it in my $100 weed wacker or $100 chainsaw if I have some mixed up and it's fine, but they tell you it's a bad idea. Don't put it in your Husky or Stihl.

 

[racerone]

This thread sort of proves once again that the operation of a 2 stroke and how the oil behaves when mixed is a mystery.

 

[Lou C]

To add to the mystery or confusion I’ve heard some say that adding more oil (running a 50:1 machine on a 40:1 mix) actually leans the fuel mix since there is now more oil in the same quantity of fuel/oil mix. I have only 50:1 machines so that’s what I use and have not worn one out. The oldest is 23 years old the newest is about 8 years old with a few other old units in between.
1998 Toro snowblower 2 stroke Suzuki 5 hp
2000 or so Echo weedwacker
2000 or so Echo leaf blower
2005 or so Echo hedge trimmer
2012 Husky chain saw

 

[racerone]

But what happens to the oil once the mixture goes into the venturi / carburetor airflow ?-----A 50:1 machine will running just fine on 40:1 and will run for more hrs.----Board rooms decide on the mix ratios and there is nothing scientific about going from 24:1 one year to 50:1 the next year with the motors having the same parts.----The public today assumes that there must be something " inferior " on a motor where you have to mix gas and oil and it smokes !!-----Many older Evinrudes / Johnsons will be running long after the modern 4 strokes are gone.-----It all comes down to your budget I guess.

 

[LundAngler1650]

Thanks for the responses!

I wasn't sure if all 2 cycle oils were the same and that I could use any available chart to administer the proper ratio.

I figured there can't be much difference between a 40:1 and a 50:1 mix anyway.

The thing that got me was there was no mention on that bottle what ratio it was meant for. At least I didn't see any. It only stated 3.2 ounces per gallon.

I was keeping two containers. One for 40:1 and one for 50:1.
So, I'll just do everything at 40:1 and be done with it.
Thanks again!

The KISS theory, Keep It Simple Stupid. Even my motorcycle that technically asks for 32:1, I run it at 40:1, and if it needs a piston and rings a little bit earlier than it otherwise might, they are easy to replace some Sunday afternoon.
They also make a little plastic containers you can buy in stores, or off Amazon, called Mix Right, Ratio right, and many other similar names, it doesn't matter what brand name you buy, they are all basically the same. It has measurements written on it with various ratios, and a screw on lid to keep the inside clean when not in use, cost about $5.

 

[LundAngler1650]

To add to the mystery or confusion I’ve heard some say that adding more oil (running a 50:1 machine on a 40:1 mix) actually leans the fuel mix since there is now more oil in the same quantity of fuel/oil mix. I have only 50:1 machines so that’s what I use and have not worn one out. The oldest is 23 years old the newest is about 8 years old with a few other old units in between.
1998 Toro snowblower 2 stroke Suzuki 5 hp
2000 or so Echo weedwacker
2000 or so Echo leaf blower
2005 or so Echo hedge trimmer
2012 Husky chain saw

Technically that is correct, but unless your engine was already tuned to run very lean, that small amount of gas less shouldn't ever cause a lean burn melt down and hole a piston or seize it. 50:1 and 40:1 is an insignificant amount less gas in the engines air to fuel ratio. If tuned that lean, I personally would have enriched it a bit anyway. Those old 16:1 engines, rarely seen anymore, would concern me more actually if someone was running their 50:1 or 100:1 engine on 16:1 mix. For 15 years I ran a Yamaha outboard that specified a 100:1 mix, in my head that bothered me, so for peace of mind I ran it at 80:1. Did it actually make any difference? Maybe, maybe not, but my mechanic brain however small it is, just felt better knowing that there was a wee bit more oil in the gas. Yes, I really am a mechanic (Automotive Technician)by profession. While I specialize in cars and pickups, I have been working on everything from dirt bikes to loaders since I was a kid, the pitfalls of being a mechanics son, I just grew up around working on things. I apprenticed at an auto dealership, then went to work at another dealer, moved to an independent all brands shop, and am now a shop owner, that also sells parts and tires. Grew it to where I went from a 2 bay shop, to a 4 bay, and currently a 7 bay building. Lately I turn wrenches less, do more Administration and customer service, but I still spend time in the shop at work and home. My wonderful staff mean that I can relax more as of late, and the manager I have is incredible, so looking forward to boating more than ever this summer. Yes where I live, the lakes are seasonal for boating, or snowmobiling on.

 

[racerone]

In the 1950's engines ran with 24:1.---Many of them still running like new.-Then one company started touting that their engines were better designed and could run at 50:1.----The other company ( board room ) at the time followed suit and said ours can run at 50:1 too.----Folks will just accept more wear and motor replacement.----I shudder to think what the first scheduled service on a 600 HP Mercury will cost.-----But folks who own 3 or 4 of them need not worry about $1000 service on these.

 

[bigdee]

The public today assumes that there must be something " inferior " on a motor where you have to mix gas and oil and it smokes !!-----Many older Evinrudes / Johnsons will be running long after the modern 4 strokes are gone.-----It all comes down to your budget I guess.

Yup, and back in those days there was no TW3 2 cycle oil. You just dumped a quart of 30 wt motor oil in with 6 gallons of gas!

 

[dwco5051]

Yup, and back in those days there was no TW3 2 cycle oil. You just dumped a quart of 30 wt motor oil in with 6 gallons of gas!n

I remember those days well. My dad used to by 30w Gulf oil by the case. When we would go up to Canada he would always remind me to add one quart to 4 gallons instead of the US 5 gallons. I still have a 1948 Elgin that we used as a kicker that we ran for forty years with only an few carb cleanings. Every fisherman back in those days however had a least one set of spare spark plugs in their tackle box.

 

[matt167]

A friend of mine was gifted a Poulan Predator chainsaw he wanted to give to his wife later that day. I cleaned it up for him and repaired the recoil, then we realized he was out of 2 stroke oil. I mixed up some 5w30 and gas at 16:1, and that's all she ever ran through it after that point. He didn't even know that was possible