2 Stroke oil Mix question

[clemsonfor]

I don't know if the additives (such as they were in the '60s) would degrade over time, but if it was me, I'd go ahead and step up to 21st century technology, and run my favorite synthetic at 50:1.

I promise i wouldnt be using them. Id either sell them or keep them. Most guys on the Iboats forum i belong to with the onld evinrudes and johnsons back that far even modern ones swear by the walmart outboard oil. I run it when i dont get it bulk from the dealer for about $20/gallon. I run it in my premix boats and the oil injection motor as well. As far as i know noone on that site using it has ever had a failure that they tribute to it. And there are a ton of folks racking up all kinds of hours with it. Some of the main members who are the experts in the OMC forum are using it.

Not preaching just passing my experience and what i have read other places.


On there a guy whos friend works at a major oil company said that walmart gets their oil from left over batches. So this could mean that after penzoil fills 5000 bottles of their oil, and have 1200 gallons left over they will fill Supertech bottles with it as its not a complete lot for them. In other cases it is said to be just put in a transfer tank then moved to another location and added to other leftovers, say castrol, or whoever makes OMC oil or Merc oil. This always changes so your never sure of what your getting, but it all is name brand stuff.

 

[clemsonfor]

The big thing I've learned here on this topic, is that just about anything works, according to your various testimonys!! Oils have one big thing in common, they all lubricate. My son-in-law has 4 Stihl saws, all larger models and he really uses those saws hard. For over 10 years, he has used Chevron TCW-3, oil designed for water cooled boat motors, and it says on the bottles not for saws. Recently, a saw did blow a head gasket and was sent to the Stihl dealer. He commented to the SIL that the cylinder was just like new, looked to him like it was unused, after several years of that saw being used a lot. He goes 40:1.

Why run tcw-3 oil in a 800-$1000 saw? Regardless of your experience or his or past history, air cooled oil is just as cheap if bought in larger bottles. This just doesent make sense to me?

 

[silvertramp]

I have been running my Stihl 038 @ 32:1 for 25+ years. The manual says 50:1 for Stihl oil... 32:1 for others. No problems yet. Amazing saw.

 

[oldmech]

Hi! When I was young Professional sawmen use only 6 ounces of oil by gallon gas (a small CoKe) Me I was using 10 ounces They not burnt their chainsaws. Important! If you want burnt a two stroke engine More easy with change fuel and air ratio mixture. You close or screw the high speed needle on carburator So less fuel and more air engine run lean or poor with more oxygen. over speed.this overheat burnt piston ring and cylinder. On new two stroke no more adjustable high speed screw. So With less oil Old engine can turn faster just unscrew high speed needle more rich and your engine can run at right speed and mixture. Good luck! Oldmech

 

[LD1]

On new two stroke no more adjustable high speed screw.

They are still adjustable, they just have limiter caps. All they are is a plastic cap limiting how far you can adjust. They are easy to pop out, but will void warrenty.

They are actually a good thing for the MFG. Because too many "backyard mechanic wannabe saw tuners" not knowing what they were doing were leaning out saws too much and burning them up. Sure, they cut like a raped ape and had gobs of power, but did not last.

 

[brucew44guns]

Why run tcw-3 oil in a 800-$1000 saw? Regardless of your experience or his or past history, air cooled oil is just as cheap if bought in larger bottles. This just doesent make sense to me?

Agree with you totally. He bought a case of quarts of that TCW-3 years ago, used it and likded it. Just kept using it. He has a big Stihl 660, it's ran very well for 3 or 4 years now. Just hard to convince him to do different.

 

[MacLawn]

I have a 1977 Homelite that says to use 16:1 gas/oil ratio, but a few years ago, I was in a Stihl shop and the man told me I could use Stihl 50/1 oil in it. I thought, well, it is so old I'll try it, if it blows up I've gotten my money out of it - lo and behold, he was right! It runs better now than ever with the Stihl oil!

That was over 6 years ago, and I use Stihl oil in all my stuff now, except outboard motor.

BTW - jonyyuma, one of my best friends took that photo in your avatar! You would never guess where that is...

 

[LD1]

I have a 1977 Homelite that says to use 16:1 gas/oil ratio, but a few years ago, I was in a Stihl shop and the man told me I could use Stihl 50/1 oil in it. I thought, well, it is so old I'll try it, if it blows up I've gotten my money out of it - lo and behold, he was right! It runs better now than ever with the Stihl oil!

That was over 6 years ago, and I use Stihl oil in all my stuff now, except outboard motor.

BTW - jonyyuma, one of my best friends took that photo in your avatar! You would never guess where that is...

What model was that.

We have done the same in the ol' blue c-51 homelite and havent had any problems. And it says 16:1 on the cap.

 

[MacLawn]

LD, that old Homelite is the XL 10" bar model. I have always been careful in mixing the oil/gas ratio, but other than that, this thing has been used hard. I put a longer bar on it many years ago (14" or maybe 16" - whichever is the biggest it will take). I am very pleased with the way the 50/1 Stihl oil works. Like I said, it is all I use now, except in outboard. I have read the difference is air vs. water cooled engines, so I only use OMC oil in my outboard. Other than that, all my 2 cycle engines are getting the 50/1 Stihl no matter what is recommended, even the old 16/1 Homelite!

 

[Tollster]

I run 50:1 in performance machines that are intended for high RPM, chainsaws, dirtbikes ect. and 32:1 on other machines that are intened to operate at low to high RPM's such as leaf blowers, and weedwackers. I have never listened to the manufacturer only for the ratio's, and have tuned each item for the intended use, after the break in period.
Much of my two stroke history began with northeast hare scrambles in the early 70's, and also included using aviation fuel.
Lean ratios tend to be harder on the rings due to the high temps and less oil, so the thin film is easily burned off the cylinder wall. This is the reason you do not hear of anyone running 60:1, simply because you are at the limits of lubrication.
Additionally, if you can afford it, two strokes run optimumly with high octane fuels. Before you deviate from any given ratios excluding octane, ya need to learn to read the plug for tuning purposes.