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

I'm told that my Ryobi seized up due to no oil in the fuel. I can't believe it. Is there a way I can check the fuel I have left to tell for sure?

Feel it. Put some on your hands. Gas will evaporate, as you know, gas with oil in it is real easy to tell. What that doesn't tell you though, is how much oil is in it.

Thanks for the advice. I was thinking of comparing raw gas with the suspect gas by putting each in a glass container and comparing color. I thought there might be some simple analysis tool that dealers might have.

The simple tool is a kleenex.

Sherri

Marshall's statement is correct. Please put some on your fingers, it should be easy to tell if there is oil in the gas.

I suggested the kleenex trick for a reason.  Guy/gal comes into repair shop (seen this happen many times) saw/trimmer won't start.  Upon tear down you find scored/scuffed/seized piston.  Guy/gal swears up and down that he/she was using mixed oil.  Dump the gas tank and sure enough - the gas is mixed.  But being the astute mechanic that you are you grab the screwdriver and head for the carb.  Since the machine would not run the only proof is going to be the gas left in that carb.  How to get it out with out wasting it?  Use a kleenex or paper towel.

Sherri

Sherri, What is the kleenex trick. What do I do and look for? Jonathan

Jonathon

pull the carb and dump any remaining fuel out onto a clean white tissue so you can see the color of the fuel to determine if it was indeed premix or straight gas. it wont tell if the premix was the right ratio, but at least will help determine if the fuel was mixed or straight gas

OK. Thanks alot.

Jonathan,
You can also use a piece of white paper too give you a comparative.
Put one drop of the mix you have in the unit on the paper.
Put one drop of "straight gas" next too that.
Put one drop of known good mix next too that.
Let them dry for a few minutes.....The darker the spots.....the more oil was present in the mix.
There are other reasons for seizures.

I used to have a ryobi trimmer and it did the same thing.  Sent it back to Ryobi to have it repaired under warranty and guess what, they told me the same thing.  IT was a bunch of garbage because I knew the gas had oil in it and it was the correct mix because I just made it that day.  After enough complaining I finally recieved a return phone call from one of the "VP's" of the department.  Acutally he was very nice and good to speak with.  He assured me that the problem would be taken care of and it was.  Within a week of speaking to him I recieved a new trimmer.  However, it took me a month before I spoke with him.  THis was several years ago.  Once I recieved my new trimmmer I promptly sold it and purchased a stihl.  If it is under warranty argue like crazy and don't stop until you become a pain in the a** and get someone to listen to you.  I know from personal esperience and from others who have owned Ryobi products that they always use that same excuse of no iol in the gas so they won't have to repair it.