2-cycle oil ratios?

[ultrarunner]

Just went through all of my 2-cycle equipment...

I have the following ratios:

16 to 1

20 to 1

32 to 1

40 to 1

50 to 1

Hoping not to have to keep 5 cans of different mix on hand... the store bought pre mix that is alcohol free is 50 to 1

Never had a piston seize so I must be doing something right and yet, I hear people say the premium 50 to 1 can be used in 32 and 40 to 1 ratios...

Do you keep different mixes for all your 2 cycles?

 

[buickanddeere]

There is such a thing as too much and too little. Odds are your 16.20 and 32 to 1 equipment is vintage. Back when non detergent motor oil was the recommended mix with gasoline for lube.
50 to 1 will do just fine.
That said two stroke oil for a chainsaw, an outboard motor and an injected snowmobile are three different formulas.

 

[KubotaToy]

I have been using stihl 50:1 oil for years in all my 2 cycle, including one older 16:1 chainsaw, granted most of my stuff is stihl but I only keep one jug at 50:1. No problems yet.

 

[ultrarunner]

The 16 to 1 ratio is for the old outboard evinrude circa 1958, a 1939 97cc motorcycle and a very old craftsman chain saw.

The Echo Brush Cutter circa 1982 is 20 to 1 and all the other stuff is much newer.

Without thinking today I ran about 1/2 a tank of 50 to 1 Stihl mix in the 20 to 1 Echo Brush Cutter... seemed to work fine.

 

[jeff9366]

I'll just note that a lot of Stihl equipment uses 50:1 but also specs 84 octane, mid-grade gasoline over 82 octane regular.

 

[ultrarunner]

The only fuel available here has 10% alcohol and in grades 87, 89 and 91...

I draw from my truck tank with a pump set up and my truck likes running on 89...

 

[Sysop]

Lowest octane available here is 87.

I was always told the mix of oil to fuel was based upon the manufacturing tolerances inside the engine and shouldn't be varied much. Running them with too much fuel makes them run hot and shortens lifespan, running too much oil makes them gum up and increases maintenance.

I've always mixed fresh with a little bit too much oil and then just added a bit of fresh gas to the mix each time I use it. Gas cans always leak off excess pressure as the gas evaporates and I tend to stay just a bit on the oily side. I'd rather tear stuff apart and clean it up every 5 years than replace it every 7 or 8. My Husqvarna weedeater is just under ten years old and runs like new. I've had it apart twice to clean it.

I remember a couple times seeing old timers strip down a clogged up chainsaw and just toss the entire engine in kerosene, slosh it around a couple times a day for a couple weeks and take it out, drain it, and put it back together and it'd run like new.

 

[ultrarunner]

The 1939 motorcycle is original... it smokes some and runs strong... not bad for something so old and original!

 

[KiotiKowboy]

I was told that professional lawncare services, likely having a plethora of mix requirements, just keep a jug of 32:1 for all of it. Don't know if this is/was true.

 

[TomSeller]

I have been using stihl 50:1 oil for years in all my 2 cycle, including one older 16:1 chainsaw, granted most of my stuff is stihl but I only keep one jug at 50:1. No problems yet.

Ditto. But I don't have any 2strokes that old. Maybe 15 years. All Stihl except for one Homelite.