2 cycle gas mix ratio

[Bennyt]

I buy the canned quarts/ gallons from Lowe's, HD, WM. It is ethanol free and everything I put it in runs so much better. Easier starts, no run-on when shut down, and I haven't had to clean a carb since I started using it. If I could buy ethanol free gas near where I live I'd buy that and mix to save money but I only go through a few gallons a year. Wal-Mart and the others, but more frequently WM changes brands and sometimes I am able to buy it when it's 50% off. I buy everything they have and usually will try and hit 1-2 more stores when its clearanced out. About 15 years ago, there was a lawnmower shop near me and he had more business than he could handle with cleaning out ethanol contaminated equipment. My neighbor had a lawn business and he had 2-3 of each piece of equipment because it would break down so often with the ethanol fuels. Fortunately the manufacturers have addressed that and upgraded the rubber lines, etc.

 

[MikeB]

It's more a function of the oil than the engine. It's been 30 years, but we always used high quality, name brand oils mixed 32:1 on motocross bikes. Back then it would have been Bel-Ray or oil recommended by the bike manufacturer, such as Yamalube.

 

[squaredeal91]

Any body run the quart "canned " 40:1 or 50:1 gas in chain saws or other small mix engines?

mean the premixed stuff Like stihl motomix? That stuff is awesome! If you cut wood allot and go through gallons its not worth it but If you only use 1 or 2 gallons a year that motomix is totally worth it.

 

[Cemack]

I have an old Jiffy ice auger that has a mixture ratio of 24:1 on the fuel cap. There is info on the jiffy website that says I can now use 40:1 mixture ratio. It's because the oil quality is much better

 

[squaredeal91]

I worked at a sawshop for 5 years and got sent to different classes and I learned some about gas oil mixes. If using old school ash oil you should mix as recommended however if you are using the synthetic mix oil they say you can use the 50.1 safely in a 40.1 machine. I think Husqvarna is where I learned that. I think The reason being is because some of there older equipment used a 40.1
All that said, I like to mix it a little fat anyways depending on the machine

 

[Casca2525]

Is that due to higher viscosity? Just curiosu about the technicalities here.

if your worried that 50:1 is to thin, another common premix is 40:1 (at least in my region of Ontario Canada its more common to find it) but it doesn't go on sale as often

 

[Casca2525]

Any body run the quart "canned " 40:1 or 50:1 gas in chain saws or other small mix engines?

I run trufuel 40:1, I only have a weed whacker and small chainsaw, so a gallon lasts me 2 years or more, I buy it on sale and it outlasts pump gas w/stabilizer

 

[Ricko1966]

How much does a piston and cylinder and gaskets cost for a Honda hobbit? How much does a little extra oil and an occasional spark plug cost?. I wouldn't be trying to find the limit as to how lean I could go. Sure oil has changed,so has metallurgy and clearances and tolerances,ring tensions etc. Pic a mix somewhere in the middle.

 

[YakkoWarner]

I use the premix 40:1 in my chainsaw - has been really good. I also use ethanol-free on all my small engines that don't need premix - for as little consumption as they have the added expense is not worth it.

I'm not so sure at 90 MPG I'd try to save another 50-75 cents by running the oil mix low. If Honda specified 25:1 thats what I would go with just because they probably know a lot more about it than I do. A little smoke on a 2 stroke is normal (unless its an old 1960's British outboard boat moter in which case a lot of smoke is perfectly normal - the old Seagulls run 10:1 mix).

 

[AaronW]

All:

Saving money isn't my main objective here, since it's so cheap to run anyway. I just figured that as much as it smokes on startup, that I maybe should run a little leaner.

 

[Ricko1966]

All:

Saving money isn't my main objective here, since it's so cheap to run anyway. I just figured that as much as it smokes on startup, that I maybe should run a little leaner.

Does it foul plugs?

 

[AaronW]

Does it foul plugs?

Dunno yet. Just got it running.

 

[Ricko1966]

Dunno yet. Just got it running.

Well why dont you wait until you've put some miles on it and see if there are any problems,if you find a problem then we can look for a solution.

 

[mtbadbob]

Been running 2 strokes for 50 years. I used to run 50:1 with Av Gas in my quadracer without issues. I have about 10 different 2 strokes now, and I've always run 50:1. They run leaner, and don't foul $8 plugs neither. If it makes you sleep better, run 40:1, but unless you keep the little Honda pinned for a long duration, it should be just fine & definitely smoke less. I currently run water-cooled 2 stroke racing oil in everything. Always swirl your pre-mix can before fueling up though to make sure the oil isn't settled on the bottom. Bel-Ray MC1+ was always a great choice.

 

[mtbadbob]

Well why dont you wait until you've put some miles on it and see if there are any problems,if you find a problem then we can look for a solution.

You're thinking too hard on this one, Ricko....