least noxious 2cycle lube?

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pybyr

Minister of Fire
Jun 3, 2008
2,300
Adamant, VT 05640
Even though I am using the same lube as in the past (Stihl synthetic) and in the same ratio (as recommended on the product) I have recently noticed a much stronger smell, much more irritated eyes, and almost a bit of a monoxide malaise after running a saw for many hours.

For background, I am way-far from being persnickety about exhaust smells or fumes. I have been fooling with engines since about age 8 (now in my mid-40s) and still have nostalgic associations about the nitrogen oxide sting in my nostrils from the exhaust out of a friend's heavily-built and maximum-feasible-street-compression Chevy V8 or when I catch a whiff of exhaust from such an engine. I drive an old-tech diesel truck and never mind the smell of either fuel or exhaust.

I remember the old days of 2cycle 16:1 ratios in old Lawn Boy mowers or my dad's ancient Homelite chainsaw, - stinky, smoggy, acrid exhaust - and what I am experiencing this season (with any of several saws that I have been using) has way too much deja-vu of that for my liking- no visible cloud, but the same irritation and malaise.

I am wondering if Stihl changed formulas, I got a crummy batch, or what?

Can people fill me in on what you use and what you have found is least noxious?

Thanks!

Trevor
 
I would think the amsoil 100:1 would be the direction for you.
 
Is it just 2-stroke that bothers you more, or do other smells now seem stronger to you?

I used Amsoil Dominator @ 40:1 until recently. I am switching over to Amsoil Saber@50:1 as soon as the Dominator is gone. Even at 40:1 the Dominator never smokes that bad. Saber is supposed to be mixed @ 100:1, but I'm too chicken to try that in one of my saws. You might consider that if you are having problems.
 
I like the smell of the old caster oil for 2 cycle, not sure you can still get it though. My regular STIHL mix doesn't seem all bad.... I wonder what it is making it irritating to you?
 
I run Sabre at 50:1 and 49:1 in my ported saws. (I'm also not brave enough to run it 50:1). Definitely a different smell than Ultra.

I've got a friend who runs Blue Marble and that DEFINITELY smells different, very sweet.
 
wendell said:
I run Sabre at 50:1 and 49:1 in my ported saws. (I'm also not brave enough to run it 50:1). Definitely a different smell than Ultra.

I've got a friend who runs Blue Marble and that DEFINITELY smells different, very sweet.
Click to expand...
wendell you are pretty damned accurate if you can get it to 49 to 1. I like math but that is getting pretty extreme.
 
Be accurate or go home!

40:1 would be what I meant to say. :red:
 
[quote author="wendell" date="1310966933"]Be accurate or go home!

40:1 would be what I meant to say. :red:[/quote


(I’m also not brave enough to run it 50:1). ;-)




Ok should that last one be 100:1 :cheese:
 
pybyr said:
Even though I am using the same lube as in the past (Stihl synthetic) and in the same ratio (as recommended on the product) I have recently noticed a much stronger smell, much more irritated eyes, and almost a bit of a monoxide malaise after running a saw for many hours.

For background, I am way-far from being persnickety about exhaust smells or fumes. I have been fooling with engines since about age 8 (now in my mid-40s) and still have nostalgic associations about the nitrogen oxide sting in my nostrils from the exhaust out of a friend's heavily-built and maximum-feasible-street-compression Chevy V8 or when I catch a whiff of exhaust from such an engine. I drive an old-tech diesel truck and never mind the smell of either fuel or exhaust.

I remember the old days of 2cycle 16:1 ratios in old Lawn Boy mowers or my dad's ancient Homelite chainsaw, - stinky, smoggy, acrid exhaust - and what I am experiencing this season (with any of several saws that I have been using) has way too much deja-vu of that for my liking- no visible cloud, but the same irritation and malaise.

I am wondering if Stihl changed formulas, I got a crummy batch, or what?

Can people fill me in on what you use and what you have found is least noxious?

Thanks!

Trevor
Click to expand...

A few thoughts -

1) Stihl does not own or operate a refinery. It sells the rights to it's name to whomever puts it in the bottle, so a formula change would be SOP.

2) Air cooled 2 strokes are not picky about premix oil. Any premix will do. There's nothing magical about premix that has a chainsaw on the bottle.

3) It's just as likely that the smell is from the gasoline. You might have got an old batch of winter formula or a new batch of summer formula, or the station you bought it from changed distributers or whatever

4) I'm currently running Royal Purple TC-W3 at 40:1 in 100LL AvGas. It smells great.
 
+1 on the Klotz, my dad runs Klotz in all is two stroke motorcycles. Keeps trying to get me to switch but to expensive for my taste.
 
Thanks everyone- at least now I know that the sudden change in what I am breathing and how I am reacting to it is not a figment of my imagination...

I'll have to look into getting and trying some of the other options mentioned above- and greatly appreciate folks' ideas/ experience.
 
Best two stroke oil I have ever smelled was some synthetic stuff used by Polaris for their snowmobiles. My brother in law used to buy it. I swear . . . it smelled just like bubblegum or cotton candy!
 
As mentioned above, try 100 LL av gas if you've got a small airport nearby. Today's gas smells, & burns differently than "real" gas. Without a catalytic converter to change the exhaust gases, it is very potent, & noxious. A C
 
What are you paying for the av gas? Is the 100LL is an octane rating?
 
Yes, 100 Low Lead
 
How much is it selling for?
 
Whts the diffrance from fs and ss?
 
The only thing I can think of is that one is the slow pump (about twice as fast as s regular gas pump) and one is a fast pump (super fast). They're the same price at my local air port.
 
Bigg_Redd said:
The only thing I can think of is that one is the slow pump (about twice as fast as s regular gas pump) and one is a fast pump (super fast). They're the same price at my local air port.
Click to expand...


5 gallons I will take the slow pump..lol
 
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