50:1 fuel mix

Or was it emissions? The 16:1 chainsaws that I ran always were very smokey. My poulan at 50:1 barely smokes at all.

I have noticed that the chainsaw does smoke alot. Do you guys think it would be ok
to run 50:1 or should I stick with what the book says?

One of the factors driving the move to lower mix ratios WAS emissions and the gov't regulatory pressure to reduce them, along with complaints about the smoke and other problems that rich mixes caused (i.e. carbonned up exhaust systems, etc.) Some of it was basic technological progress - I remember when outboards were going from 25:1 to 50:1 blends; AFAIK there wasn't a regulation calling for it at the time, but it was being promoted as cleaner running / less smoke / etc... and was enough of a sales advantage that the industry switched over quite rapidly... It is also more profitable for the oil makers in some ways - that package that mixed with a can of gas still costs about the same, but now contains far less oil...

The leaner mixes definitely wll smoke much less in the same engine, or a rich mix will smoke more...

I've never tried running an older engine on a new mix, but according to at least some of the manufacturers oil sites, the new oils are good enough to run an older engine on a modern lean mix... I'd consider experimenting with going to at least a leaner mix, but ONLY with an oil that explicitly says it is OK to do so, and is listed for that specific type of application - for instance outboard motor oil is supposedly NOT the same as chainsaw oil... I'd look for an oil that was intended for chainsaw or other small, air-cooled OPE engine applications.

Gooserider

I use Mobil sythetic m2t motor bike oil mixed at 40 to 1. This is excellent oil and does not stink. I use a large plastic syringe to do the mix. I just use an on line mix calculator depending on whether I am doing 2 gallons or 5 gallons. It is MUCH cheaper to buy it this way and whle oil debates can rage on, it as good as anything else out there. Unfortunately when my supply is up I will have to find something new.

Oil is oil as far as I am concerned, but I know a lot of boaters that swear that OEM oil run better in their engines. I don't have enough 2 stroke experience to compare, but my saw and weedwacker (Stihl and Echo) will run fine on just about anything. As I recall, the Lawnboy wanted 32:1 but said you could mix it 40:1 if you used THEIR oil. I used to use a name brand oil at 40:1 and ran them for years without a problem. If anything, there was less carbon in the exhaust port and less smoke.

I just hate all the waste that all those little bottles creates. I like that syringe idea; very accurate and no waste!

Chris

cmonSTART said:

If the directions say one 2.6oz bottle of mix oil per 1.0 gallon of gas, they mean exactly one gallon of gas. Remember your one gallon gas can probably holds closer to 1.25 gallons of fuel if you filled it to the brim and doing so would give you an overly weak mix, which will most likely be the end of your saw eventually. When you mix your fuel, measure out 1.0 gallons (or whatever you mix) on the gas pump - not by when your can is full.

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I would just like to add that it's a good idea after you get your 1.00 gal to use some of it to rinse the premix oil bottle for the oil that remained in the bottle and add it back to the jug. Unless you're REALLY patient and wait for the last drop to come out.... :roll:

Redox said:

Oil is oil as far as I am concerned, but I know a lot of boaters that swear that OEM oil run better in their engines. I don't have enough 2 stroke experience to compare, but my saw and weedwacker (Stihl and Echo) will run fine on just about anything. As I recall, the Lawnboy wanted 32:1 but said you could mix it 40:1 if you used THEIR oil. I used to use a name brand oil at 40:1 and ran them for years without a problem. If anything, there was less carbon in the exhaust port and less smoke.

I just hate all the waste that all those little bottles creates. I like that syringe idea; very accurate and no waste!

Chris

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Within a given grade or classification of oil I tend to agree, that oil is oil, at least to the extent of using a "name brand" - however I do think it's important to run the classification that the manufacturer calls out. There are different specs for oils that are intended for different jobs, such as lubricity, being able to burn somewhat, the additives, how well it stays mixed, and so on - lots more stuff, but I'm not a petroleum engineer, so I don't know the details. Thus while I'd insist on using the appropriately rated oil (according to my Echo trimmer manual, ISO-L-EGD (ISO/CD 13738) and J.A.S.O. FC/FD) I agree that the label on the bottle isn't that critical...

As to the waste from the little bottles, I don't think it's that significant if you are like me, and only go through 3 - 4 gallons of mix per year - and the ease of use, accuracy, and reduced risk of dirt contamination, not to mention the convenience, makes up for it... If I were doing this stuff for a living, and going through higher volumes, I'd agree that the little bottles would be overly wasteful, but I'd be mixing more, and using a different approach... It's a tradeoff - I figure that if the one gallon premix bottles have about 2oz each, that's about 16 of the little bottles to equal one quart bottle of oil. I haven't done extensive measurement, but I'd estimate the amount of plastic in 16 of those little bottles to be about the same as whats in two, maybe 3 quart bottles - hardly a major waste issue IMHO, especially spread out over the 3 - 5 years it will take me to use that much...

Gooserider