What's Your Favourite 2 Stroke Oil Mix Tool

[5030]

Generally I use Royal Purple 2 stroke oil.

Never heard of it before. Not sold around here that I know of.

 

[5030]

Just this spring I pulled the muffler off my Echo PAS266 Trimmer (7 years old) and Echo CS370 chainsaw (8± years old) that has been fed only Echo two stroke like in the pic. Not a spec of carbon in either.
I'm assuming part of the reason, other that using a good brand name oil, is that when they're running, they're run wide open when they're run, or not at all. Only time they're idling is just started cold or when they're cooling off from running.

Wide open in a cut is fine but wide open and free wheeling isn't good.

My ancient Stihl FS66 brush trimmer is also carbon free in the exhaust port and I've never had to roast the spark arrestor screen either.

I was always a Stihl person until I purchased my first Echo. from here on out, will only be Echo saws and possibly an Echo trimmer / brush cutter when my ancient FS66 craps out.

Stihl has basically priced themselves out of the consumer market plus Stihl has succumbed to the noise police. Every arborist I know, first thing they do with a new Stihl is open up the muffler, pop the limiter caps and tune them properly. I know all the professional arborists around here as I sharpen all their chipper knives for them and as late, been grinding loops for them as well. Quality loops are getting pretty expensive today. Back in the day when one of them rocked a loop, they'd take it off and put on a new one. Not any more. Makes better financial sense to regrind them now.

Just ground over 80 loops for one outfit, 325 chipper, 404 skip tooth and 025 Pico for their in tree saws, plus 40 sets of Bandit chipper knives and 4 anvils. Getting so I have to turn down work if they want it asap, just don't have the time.

 

[ultrarunner]

With all the new legal mandates hitting gas equipment I imagine Stihl sees this as a future growth segment.

 

[LightningCamaroGuy]

Never heard of it before. Not sold around here that I know of.

I generally buy it at O'Reilly's, but here's a link for it at Summit. Anywhere that sells RP either has it, or can get it. It's good oil, and is 100% synthetic. I use to use it in my 2 stroke dirt bikes when I rode, and I still use it in my chainsaws and weedeaters.

Royal Purple 01311 Royal Purple HP 2-C High Performance 2-Cycle Oil | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - Royal Purple HP 2-C High Performance 2-Cycle Oil with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Two Cycle Oils at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

 

[5030]

Both Stihl and Echo are slowly going battery powered saws and trimmers of which I don't want anyway. Stihl now has the M-Tronic saws with fuel injection again, something I'm not interested in. Like the new T4 tractors, they seem to have more than average issues.

Even though Echo lists their manufacturing facility as here in the states, all the saws are made in Japan and (I presume) final assembly is here only and the quality of them surpasses Stihl in my opinion. One of my arborist customers just purchased a top handle Stihl battery powered saw and he's not at all happy with it's performance.

When I can buy a new Echo 60cc saw for a couple hundred less than a comparable Stihl and the powerhead is lighter, it becomes a no brainer for me. Besides, Echo's are pretty easy to modify for more grunt.

 

[ultrarunner]

Always been a Echo Fan since first purchase SRM handle bar brush cutter 43 years ago.

The Stihl was back ordered and more expensive and I had fire suppression work that could not wait.

Took some ribbing for years about my purchase and later bought, string trimmer, pump, backpack blower etc…

All have exceeded expectation with no failures but my use is seasonal weekly for some and intense leading up to fire season…

That said the outright ban of gas power equipment under threat of fine had me invest heavily in the Stihl AP line and so far so good except for price…

I would like Stihl to make the AP battery more useful as a power supply like other manufacturers for charging/running lights, phones, computers…

 

[LightningCamaroGuy]

No, gotten to where I'll rock with battery powered hand tools. (Drills, weedeaters, impacts, chainsaws, hedge trimmers, etc) No pneumatic hoses to hassle with, no gas or premix to fill, no tuning necessary, no cords to pull, or plugs to foul. If the battery's charged just pull the trigger. They generally have strong torque, low weight, and little vibration. Plus they're quiet.

I'm 41 now, which means I'm older than petrified stinky, and I was out cutting old shrubbery that has gotten way overgrown off my wall today, and I was using my red Husqvarna (Jonsered) 372XP today, and my cheap HF Braun electric saw with only a 10" bar, and the electric saw was just way easier in this crazy heat. With that said my Jonsered needs its blade sharpened something desperately, but still. I tried my parents new Kobalt electric weedeater out a few months back, and that thing is easy peasy. The battery lasts for longer than my weedeaters gas tank, and it's pretty powerful and lightweight. Look, I have no desire for electric vehicles. I don't want a ZTR with a battery pack, or a fake Lightning truck that's electric, but when I'm having to expend energies, these battery powered tools are easy, and covenant, and don't tire you out as bad.

If I'm out sawing up some big oak tree or something, then yeah I'll take a powerful gas saw with a sharp chain.


EDIT: On top of all that these E-tools are pretty safe. You let go of the trigger, and they cut off. Not so much with a gas powered tool like a chainsaw.

 

[mrmikey]

Wide open in a cut is fine but wide open and free wheeling isn't good.

You're correct, I misspoke, wide open when cutting or trimming is what I was meaning.

 

[John0829]

I am a firm believer in Stihl, for me they just last. Over the past 2 years I have been using their AK series home owner line of battery operated equipment and it is so much easier on me because of the difference in weights. For example it takes me 4 hours to trim most everything to 6+ hours to trim EVERYTHING. At 70, how did I get this old, there is a world of difference between packing the FS110 gas trimmer and the battery trimmer for that length of time especially on the road banks and ditch line. Something that 10 even 5 years ago I would not have paid much if any attention to.

There are trade offs between using gas or battery and I still use my gas powered tools but as time goes on I am firmly moving into the battery operated camp.

It has been years since I owned any Echo or any other brand of equipment and I am sure things have changed but I just could not get the life out of them like the, yes more expensive, Stihl.

 

[notaz3]

I bought a six pack of the little bottles when I bought my chainsaw. Once they were used I simply hold onto them until I get back to the shop and refill them for next use.

 

[ruffdog]

Ratio-rite is what I've been using since 70/80s.?

 

[boatmoter]

I pay a little extra for the oil for my chain saw & weedeater, I buy quality brand oil in 1 shot bottle that will mix 1 gallon of gas,I don't need in bulk as often as I use mine, I will buy 2-3 bottles at a time from Amazon,this way my mix is perfect.

 

[ray rug]

West Marine offers a wide selection of measurers....the old 2-cycle outboards came in all different HP and gas tank size varied greatly, so measuring for them will fit your needs for liters vs. gals.

 

[ruffdog]

I'm still using up a old bottle of Bel Ray synthetic.

 

[wojofam7431]

As far as oem oils that you seem to dislike and say are not that great, I have a Stihl Farm Boss chain saw that has had nothing but Stihl Ultra oil in it for going on 15 years with zero problems and it still runs like new. Starts with 3 pulls cold 1 pull warmed up. Just sayin

 

[TxSteveS]

I use the squeeze measuring cut attached to the Echo Red Armor oil.

Close enough. Round up if you're concerned.

​

 

[MSST8DOG]

As I buy my 2 stroke oil in "bulk" (relatively speaking, as I buy it in 1 quart containers) and need to measure it out to mix with gas, I'm trying, with not a lot of luck, to find the ideal tool to suit my needs.

Typically I mix my 2 stroke fuel in 5 liter (approx. 1.3 gal) jugs as I find this the ideal deal size for lugging around with the chainsaw, etc. and also for not having it go stale over periods of low use. I may mix a few at a time if I'm expecting to use a lot between the chainsaws, backpack blowers, various Stihl Kombi powerhead attachments, etc.. Invariably, I stick with 50:1 and have had little to no fuel related problems over the years of fairly heavy duty use in a wide range of temperature extremes. I do the occasional 40:1 mix for one the the kids small dirt bikes. I've tried a few types of high end synthetics over the years and right now I've been sticking with Amsoil Sabre.

Years ago I use to buy the small bottles sized perfectly for my gas can (Stihl or Husky) but figured it wasn't that cost effective and don't believe the OEM oils are all that great anyway. I bought them the few times I bought a new Stihl tool for the warranty extension they offered for doing so. Full synthetic OEM oil doesn't seem that easy to come by in that format locally, if they even offer it (Don't think Husky has a full synthetic?). I don't see a time where I'll ever make the switch to pre-mixed fuel, although the ethanol mandates here in Canada may make that a consideration in the future.

For the last few years, I've been re-using a Motul motocross oil container that has a built-in measurer, but that's less than ideal.

I'm looking for something that is precise, suitable for smaller quantities (i.e. 5 liters) and has graduations for liters, ideally even ones. Many of the bottles etc. that I've found are geared more to gallons or quarts so the liter graduations are not even, and I'm trying to avoid math during the process. I also want something that is purpose built, and not just a generic measuring device. I don't consider myself a lazy person, just looking for an efficient and fool-proof solution that will avoid any mistakes.


I see plenty of this type out there, but they're oversized for my application and don't have even liter markings.

View attachment 809763


I thought something like this would be good, but it's actually a bit small, as it is meant to measure out for a liter/quart at a time.

View attachment 809764

Somebody must make the ultimate tool for my application? I'm not coming up with much on Google that fits all my criteria.

You may want to use one of the dispensers restaurants use for ketchup and mustard. They have caps and are cheap. I use one to add hydraulic oil to my boat steering reservoir because it is a pain to get a funnel to. Easy to use and you could add measuring make to it to match your particular size container.

 

[5030]

For all you 'only Stihl' will do, I'm here to tell you that the quality has went down and the price has went up, way up and today there is more plastic in a Stihl too. The older Stihl's (I have 3 and all 3 are over 40 years old don't even compare favorably to the new ones. My last 2 new saws are Echo. 1/2 to 2/3rds the price of a comparable Stihl and high quality made in Japan saws with Oregon bars and Oregon chain and a superior guarantee as well. Echo's are unconditionally guaranteed for homeowner use for 5 years against any defects in workmanship or failure.

 

[John_Mc]

I generally mix a gallon at a time, and would love to get away from the single use containers, but like the OP, I have yet to find the ideal measuring container. I tried the Ratio-rite cup, but it really seems aimed at mixing much larger quantities. The 50:1 mark for 1 gallon of fuel is near the bottom of their gauge, so the cup is large and bulky for my needs.

I just use the built in measuring tool that comes with the 2 stroke oil container. I happen to use Husqvarna but pretty much every brand uses the container.

View attachment 809902

I'd love to find one of these (or rather, one like that but callibrated for gallons rather than liters), but no one sells that style bottle in my area.

 

[aircommuter]

I also use the ratio- rite. Rinse it with gas and turn it over.