OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Engines Questions On Victa Two Stroke Engines 2 Stroke Mix - Varies Widely... Why?

Can anybody explain to me why the 2 stroke mix for various 2 stroke engines
varies so widely from 25/1 to 50/1. There must be some logical explanation,
all these motors run similar type bearings that require lubrication

They run similar bearings but the difference as I understand it is in bore and ring material some having chromed bores and some having cast iron bores, same with ring material. The harder the two materials the lower the lubrication requirement.

I believe that it is mostly due the quaility of the oil used and therefore a larger amount was needed in older engines prior to the exist of synthetics oils. I am currently a Pro Mix synthetic oil that can used in anything that runs 16:1 to up a 50:1 ratio. This includes my antique Homelite XL chainsaws that originally required 16:1 fuel mix. This pro mix oil has cut down the of cans of wasted fuel that went bad for all my personal and shop needs. Now I have one 2 US gallon container of fuel that I was for everything except my for regular 4 cycle engines. Now this does related to my handhelds and larger equipment may still have different requirements.

Even current manufacturers still specify a range of different mixes from 25:1 to 40:1 and 50:1 AVB and it is mostly to do with metals used. Naturally if using a particularly good oil you can get away with different mixes but even with the I would still mix for mid range rather than run a 25:1 engine on a 50:1 mix especially on a chainsaw used on hard Aussie eucalyptus varieties such as Ironbark.

Trev and AVB, I have never bothered too much with all these ratios, at about 15 years old I was told when my parents got a new Victa toecutter that the mix was 1/3 of a pint to the gallon and I have always used that. Problem is I no longer have a 1 gallon container, all I can find is these 4 and 5 liter ones

It kinda strange how different parts of the world is doing things differently. Here all 2C is now 50:1; although, some users that use larger chainsaws in milling applications are preferring to use 40:1 mix. We still have older equipment that would require special mixes if using standard fuel oils.

So far the biggest problem have I cutting any wood here is keeping a correctly sharpen chain. I get customer's chain that look like were used to cut rocks. As for extremely hard wood and stone it is recommended to used carbide tip chain. The carbide is what a lot of the rescue personnel use when they need a saw to cut about anything in an emergency or go with gas powered circular saws. Both saws have their place in rescues.

Now NormK it not that hard figure the amount of need oil but it does takes a little math as I think your gallons and pints are imperial where ours is US so amount per gallon of fuel oil would be slightly different. Gallons would need to converted to ounces and liters to milliliters or centiliters depending what you have to measure with.

AVB, I sort of work it out and have been using 2 strokes all my life without ever having a problem with them. I guess I must be getting the mix somewhere about right even if the smoke is a bit thick at times. I have worked my Farm Boss hard over the years and never given the fuel for it much thought, just use the same can as for the old Victa mower that is about a 25:1 mix, never oils a plug or any problems. Keep the chain super sharp and it will cut any wood without any problems. I might try leaning them out to 30:1 and see if they make less smoke because the oils are certainly much more efficient these days