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

Can't recall whether I already mixed in the oil in my 2-stroke gas can. Doh! It doesn't have that blue hue to the gas. Any harm to adding another shot of oil, say at 100:1?

One way to check for oil is to stick your finger in it or dribble some on your arm or some other surface. Let the gas evaporate, and see what's left. If it basically evaporates to nothing, it's probably straight gas. If it evaporates and leaves an oil film, there's at least some oil in it.

Personally, I've heard that running mixed gas in a car can be bad for the emissions equipment. Maybe run it through the lawn mower or some other 4-stroke, if you really want to get rid of it that way. If I were going to assume it had no oil, and was going to mix it, I'd go 50:1 if I was using good oil (my synthetic Stihl Ultra suggests 50:1 anyhow). Or maybe just your normal ratio. At 100:1, if you assume it's currently straight gas, that's going to be awfully light in the oil department. Better too much than too little, I'd say. If it smokes like a chimney, you could always add a bit of straight gas to dilute it, if you really wanted. But scoring up the engine from too little oil would be a shame.

Gas is cheap compared to a new engine (or a rebuild). If you're not sure, dump it into a 5 gallon gas can that has about 4 gallons of straight gas in it (assuming you have less than a gallon of 2 stroke brew). Once diluted, it won't be a problem in your 4 stoke OPE. Like Red said, I'd be leary of putting into your auto gas tank for fear of emissions issues/problems.

I added oil at a 50:1 ratio and it ran fine. I suspect it was straight gas to begin with.

i forgot if i put oil in my gas once for my outboard.i dumped the gas out on a white paper towel.if it didn't have the grey color it was pure gas.evinrude oil is colored enough it will show if it's mixed in the gas.

I use the little bottles that are good for a gallon each at 50:1. I put two of them in the back with the 2 gallon can and mix it at the pump. It's super convenient and I never have to remember to measure and mix. You know how it is, you get home and lunch is ready or something else distracts you and later you're all "?? did I ??". To me it's worth spending the extra $4/yr for the little bottles instead of a bigger, cheaper one.

I use a 6.4 oz. bottle of Home Depot Power Care synthetic oil (stabilizer included) which is good for 2.5 gallons (128 + 128 + 64 = 320 oz.) at 50:1.  Interestingly, I did the dab on a paper towel test before and after mixing and could not tell the difference.

dumping a little more oil in some older unknown  gas makes little sense to me. Too much not enough? I would have put the old gas in the car dosnt matter if oil in or not at that ratio added to more in a car tank. 2 stroker oil is meant to burn. No cost envolved as you added oil anyways. I have on hand sometimes several types of gas/oil mixtures and straight gas for generator and such. What i do is when I mix gas put a piece of tape on the can telling what it is and what date you did it. And yes all unused gas after seasons I dump in the truck

FullThrottle wrote:
I like that idea with the tape. I have a dedicated gas can for the 2-cycle mix and I label it as such "2-cycle mix only".  I usually put the oil in right before I add the gas so that I know it is ready to go when I need it.  In this case I was filling the tank of the snow blower and the fuel color didn't look right to me; I could not remember adding oil.  That and the oil I had was still in a sealed, unopened bottle.

Anyway, the tape idea with the date and ratio is foolproof, provided you update the label every time you fill it.

Yeah, I especially like the idea of putting the date on the tape. I add the oil right at the pump, before filling the can, and I have the different ratios written on my 2-stroke gas cans. But the date is good, at least then I'd also know how old it is.

Don't buy two cycle oil that isn't coloured.

Use dyed oil and mix small batches.