Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

Well, after trolling for some feedback on a new trimmer and visiting a number of dealers, I have kind of settled in on the Echo PAS 260 head unit with the rapid load trimmer and the edger attachment.  No one has had anything bad to say about Echo.  When I pick it up, it feels right - good balance, not too heavy, and offers some flexibility.  I'll probably pick it up next week.

So what about oil?  Synthetic or stick with the Echo or Stihl 50:1.  I have two other pieces of 2 cycle OPE (a  Weedeater brand leaf blower and edger about 12 years old) that use a 40:1 mix.  I'm not crazy about having another fuel container with yet another type of fuel in it.  Can I use the 50:1 Echo or Stihl for all my 2 cycle OPE?  Does the Echo/Stihl 50:1 have adequate lubrication qualities for the older 40:1 equipment?  Or go with synthetic for everything, which I believe is 100:1.   Anyone know if the warrranty is affected if you use synthetic at 100:1?

i use stihl 50:1 oil in every 2 stroke ive got (ranging from an 70s era poulan 3300 saw, to a more recent stihl, 2 trimmers & a blower) with no problems. Ive even got a really old 10 hp merc tolling motor (anyone remember when mercury painted they'er motors white?) that i run 50:1 outboard oil in and it runs like a champ.

its the lubricating qualities of the oil that allow for the leaner oil/fuel mix, so find an oil you like using and is readily available and you should have no problems.

I use this Mixmizer  http://www.autobarn.net/mix2cycfuelm.html    I got it at Walmart.

It is great!     Take an empty 1 Quart oil container to mix up two tanks of fuel for chian saw or leaf blower and inject the proper amount of 2cycle oil by reading the scale on the side of it.   50:1   32:1    100:1  40:1 and others too!

OR there is also another scale for 1 pint ( ½ quart) mixing which is just right for one tankfull of mix in a chian saw(50:1) or leaf blower(32:1).

Doing this makes one little 2.6 oz container for oil last a long time for little jobs. 

 I just grab fresh gas,oil container, oil, and Mixmizer and shake up a fresh pint-then dump what i don't use into the car's gas tank when I'm done. 

 So easy to use that I don"t try and guess if I am going to use these tools within a week or dump the gas-----just dump it and keep the tools empty.

                                    18 degrees

Good advice by 18 Degrees.  After reading his post, I realized that I have an unused MixMizer  "turkey baster" sitting on a shelf in the garage.  Will have to put it into service & give it a fair test.

I have a 32 oz. Pyrex measuring cup that I purchased at Walmart for $4-$5 for mixing individual tanks, or smaller than a gallon quantities.  Due to the gas in the Milwaukee/Chicago area being an RFG with ethanol, I really try to mix up only the amount of 2 cycle gas that I need for that day or weekend.

Terp---I know it is always best to follow manufacturer,s recommendations but over the years I have saws and weedeaters, etc, that vary from 32:1 and 40:1.  I usually mix the 40:1 mix and run it in all---Never had a problem with any.  Don,t have enough nerve to try some of the 100:1 mixtures of the synthetic,s but I venture to say they would do the job also.   ----Will

I don't know about these small hp motors but on our Yamaha outboard we use Ring Free, which is an additive designed to prevent the rings from sticking. Supposedly the new fuels make this more likely. It may not be necessary in yard equipment - I subscribe to the "small boat, large ocean" theory, though and don't take chances.