Do 2-Stroke oil brands really make a difference?

[Alan]

Okay, so I've noticed everyone's got different ideas about this and I wanted to get your take, do you think there's a real difference between 2-stroke oil brands or is it pretty much the same stuff?

What have you guys seen?

 

[Old Kiwi]

All chainsaw premix oils should jasco FD specification or at a pinch FC
synthetic oils provide more protection against seizure and extend engine life
do not use outboard engine 2 stroke oil it is made for cooler running engines
Some saw manufactures will recommend 25 to 1 ratios this is for crap oil (chinese saws for example) real old saws might recommend 8 to 1 this is for non detergent 30 wt engine oil
a good quality oil will be ok at 50 to 1 mix ratio
Do not use crap oil
I recommend a synthetic or synthetic blend Jasco FD at 50 to 1 mix ratio

 

[STIHLTECH]

OH NO, not another oil thread

 

[Paul]

Right on , TECH
Why not just use the oil that the manufacturer recommends
Same with premix
There are a lot of premixes that are deadly to saw.

 

[Rich]

Three ounces of whatever 2-stroke oil is around to a gallon of gas. Never lost an engine in 40 some years.

 

[Paul]

I once had a pulp mill that ran SXL 922 homelite saws. They got a deal on a certain brand of 2 cycle oil. The rod needle bearings ended sticking out of the top of the piston. Happened to 3 saws almost simultaneously.

 

[Gee Willikers]

I remember in the 50s when people had strong preferences for the brand of gasoline they used. Whether it was fuel, oil, or a particular manufacturer's equipment, everyone had their own opinion. If something is important to someone, why dismiss or find ill humor in their choices?

While it’s valuable to warn others about real and verified threats, we should also allow people to enjoy their decisions and contributions. Just my opinion....

 

[Alan]

For sure, everyone has their own reasons for their beliefs and being open to new ideas is what really makes these conversations interesting. I appreciate you all for sharing your insights.

 

[CaptTurbo]

I think the one important point to be aware of concerning two stroke oil is to be sure whatever brand you you are buying for your chainsaw or other outdoor equipment is formulated for air cooled engines. Marine two stroke oils are formulated for water cooled outboards and they two types of oils have very different flash points.

 

[Alan]

Yeah, good point. It's easy to forget the difference between air-cooled and water-cooled systems but it's actually pretty important.

 

[Leon Couper]

I am 78 now and when I was sixteen worked in a sawmill way before twostroke oil
was invented. Used 30 grade car oil and anything up to half to three quarters of
a pint per gallon. That was in thee old homelite xl12's and iel pioneers and disston
2 man saws.
The good thing about that is you new you had plenty of oil because you could not see
the guy on the other end of the 2 man saw for smoke. Look I use a good stihl or husky oil
and run 40to1 in most of my saw and have not had any trouble yet. All saw manufacturers in the
day all had different mix's some 40to1 plus 32to1 and way down to about 10to1 for my old IEL super Pioneer
but with todays oils I run her on 20to1 and it is still smokey as hell.

 

[Alan]

Yeah that's some cool history! It's wild to see how much better oils and fuel mixtures are now compared to those old smoky times.

 

[Rich]

Primarily out of curiosity, I bought a Supmix 60cc +/- saw. According to it's instructions it's supposed to have 25:1. I did that for the first 10 smokey tanks; it did keep the bugs at bay. Now, for better or worse, it gets 50:1. I doubt it will blow up, we'll see.

 

[Alan]

That sounds pretty typical they tend to smoke like crazy at 25:1. Switching to 50:1 should work just fine and it might actually perform better. I’m interested to see how long it lasts.