Well I was almost out of chainsaw fuel so I decided to get some pictures of different brand oils and ratio's while getting it. Saber at about 64:1 and the Castrol snowmachine oil at 50:1 is what I've used for years. Hope more could share pictures of more different brands of 2 cycle oil .
Edit: The 75:1 is actually a 64:1 Saber mix.
Not sure what the pics show other than the diluted oil, or dye color?
The Forum has collectively came to the conclusion that straight 30 weight motor oil at about a 16:1 ratio is optimum.
And then the 'skeeters can't see you through the fog. ffcheesy
My chainsaws cost too much for me to experiment. I use the little "Ultra" silver Stihl bottle and mix one bottle per gallon as instructed. I also pour a bit of gas into the empty bottle and rinse it out. ffsmiley
#6 oil there BB, the secret is to use #6. ffcheesy But seriously - what would you run 75:1 in? Never heard of that.
I have to do a edit on the first post. The ratio I've used was 64:1 instead of 75:1. BTW I dont use the 100:1 mix!!! Just mixed it for visual purposes and then added more oil! The reason for 64:1 is because you measure an even 2 ounces of oil and was easy to figure and measure out. But that's only with Amsoil Saber I do that with!!!!!! Run it in my leaf blower, 026, 034 super, 036, and 044. Will run it in my ms260, ms290/390, and ms 440 after break in with the "orange" bottle stihl oil :-) hey if anyone has pictures of mixed fuel in a small glass jar it would be neat to compare. I know the oil subject is touchy but think it would be beneficial to actually see the oil ratio and possibly educate eyes to the right color so they don't accidentally use fuel that's too lean.
RedArmor oil is very red. I'm not sure what it would take to get me to mix different ratios for tools, but my current collection doesn't do it. I would find that highly annoying having to keep track of different jugs for different stuff. I do everything at ~40:1 and call it good. I also use some premix for my lesser used tools. I buy it as backup for my cornfree gas since it's a bit of a hike to get. That gets rotated out to my lesser used tools, and I buy more to keep on hand.
Are we talkin' #6 burner fuel, SS? If so, I'm game😁
I use the amsoil exclusively and have for 10-15 years I'd say. Never caused me any trouble at all. They say 100:1. I buy it in the same plastic bottle it looks like you have. You can dump one bottle in 6 gallon of gas. I mix it in 5 gallon gas can cause that's a normal size so I know I'm a little richer than 100:1. I also mix it in about 90 octane recreational gas (ethanol free). My small engine guy has a jug and piston from a saw I smashed laying in his shop. It's off a well used saw but looks perfect yet. He uses it to sell amsoil
I use the silver Stihl ultra, but to make 2.5 gallons at a time. :thumbsup:
I use the Amsoil Saber too, because it is the most economical quality synthetic oil I can get locally. There's no way I'll run 100:1 or even close to it. I mix it between 32:1 and 40:1. I'm not worried about scoring a piston, even if I was running 100:1 like recommended. I've had a few bearing failures over the years though. I'm more concerned about adequate oil I'm the bearings.
I'm running a jug of Klotz right now. This will be the last one probably I like it, it smells like fabric softener but it costs over 2X what I pay for the Amsoil
Honest truth - I run the Walmart outboard oil in the blue jug at 40:1 with the cheap pump gas and have for years. 372's have never had an issue with it.
also to be clear, I use the larger bottle of Stihl oil designed to make up 2.5 gallons of fuel instead of the 1-gallon size. I am not running at 100:1.
My mechanic that works on my saws and sells em is also an amsoil dealer. He says if I mix the amsoil 100:1 like it says there's no danger. If it wrecks a saw he'll give me a new one.
So if you lose a crank bearing, how are you going to determine if it was the oil mixture that caused the failure, so he can provide you a new saw?
That's an honest question- I think Amsoil has a similar guarantee. A guarantee is great but how are you going to establish "engine failure due to lubricant failure"?
I suspect that you would be accused of mixing it too thin.
You guys have it all wrong. Use chain oil 40:1. The tackifier in it will help it stick to the piston and bearings.
I may add that 50/50 with my 30 wt motor oil😁
I buy the Stihl pre-mix containers when the local co-op has a sale on the 6-pack, but most of the time I use an all-ratio synthetic product my local small-engine shop carries. It's what they use in their m-gas can at the shop since they never know what kind of machine is coming in to get serviced (100:1, 50:1, 36:1, etc..) The little plastic pouch costs $1.99 and works for all ratios when added to 1-gal gas. Easy enough even I can't screw it up! I don't use but maybe 6 or 7 gallons of mixed gas per year, so take the easy way.
I'm religious about it being no-ethanol gas, even though the Brigg's and Stratton on my mill says 10% is fine. All of my small engines get 100% saudi-arabian-dead-dinosaur 97 octane from the mobil station.
Quote from: donbj on May 13, 2024, 11:40:20 PMYou guys have it all wrong. Use chain oil 40:1. The tackifier in it will help it stick to the piston and bearings.
Yuks aside, have you seen the oil and crank-case additives sold under various brands? I swear.... it's bar and chain oil re-packaged at $10/quart. If I had an old beater I'd be tempted to try it.
I know that mine is mixed a bit rich because the jug is never completely empty and to keep from overfilling, I doubt that I ever fill it completely to the top.
Quote from: barbender on May 13, 2024, 10:00:35 PMSo if you lose a crank bearing, how are you going to determine if it was the oil mixture that caused the failure, so he can provide you a new saw?
That's an honest question- I think Amsoil has a similar guarantee. A guarantee is great but how are you going to establish "engine failure due to lubricant failure"?
The mechanic is a neighbor and friend so I'd trust him real far. Now my son even works for him so I'd believe what he says. I've never lost a crank bearing since switching to anmsoil and I log full time with my saws. When I first switched to amsoil there was a NOTICEABLE power difference.
I see the great oil debate still has some life left in it.From Amsoil to bunker oil ,100 to 1 or 10 to 1 ratio depending on the tides caused by the phases of the moon .Go get-em ,stand your ground . ffcheesy Now don't forget premixed fuel at the country club if you are a member for around 20 bucks a gallon .Highly recommended for those $1000 pretty chainsaws used to cut firewood for the fire ring on the patio .
It just won't go away, Al😂
I am running the Stihl in the orange bottle after many years of running Amsoil Saber. The Stihl orange stuff smokes a lot more . I'm going back to Amsoil. There is not even all that much difference in price . I run 50/1 in everything.
I use Amsoil Saber at 50 to 1 in my 372 on my firewood processer . In the cut every 9 seconds up to 20 inch wood . I go through a lot of gas . The 372 is in its second rebuild the last time it lost a wrist pin bearing and we could have saved the jug . I said after a hundred gallon of gas it deserved a new jug and piston .
I run gulf Western at the moment but no matter what oil always 25/1 and am yet to foul a plug.
Cheers Jack jr
Quote from: Magicman on May 12, 2024, 08:56:35 AMAnd then the 'skeeters can't see you through the fog. ffcheesy
My chainsaws cost too much for me to experiment. I use the little "Ultra" silver Stihl bottle and mix one bottle per gallon as instructed. I also pour a bit of gas into the empty bottle and rinse it out. ffsmiley
Ditto
C'mon Gearbox, live on the edge and go to 100:1!😁
My switch to RedArmor has been positive so far. I was using Stihl Ultra, but it was really burning my eyes, and the fumes smelled bad. My eyes don't really burn with the RedArmor, and it smells better burning. It makes up for that a bit by stinking in unburned form. Smells kind of fishy, but I only notice that when mixing. Too soon to say if the saws like it any better, but everything runs fine.
Amsoil smells pleasant. I ordered some Klotz Techniplate. That smells like fabric softener. Good stuff. It costs about 2x the Amsoil for the same amount though, so I'll go back to the Amsoil.
I'm running Cotton Picker Spindle Oil. It works great for everything.
Quote from: barbender on September 09, 2024, 06:50:22 PMC'mon Gearbox, live on the edge and go to 100:1!😁
I don't think so .Jim Detlof would kick my butt
How about used fry oil from fast food restaurant. then the saw will smell like French fries! ffcheesy smiley_beertoast food3
Have at it, Doc! The only question I have is, what mix ratio?
40:1, extra salt! ffcheesy
I wonder how many of these companies manufacture their own motor oils verses just having them bottled and packaged by a oil company. I'm thinking Amsoil, Mobil, Lucas, Valvoline and Pennzoil are manufacturing and blending their own product. But Stihl, Husqvarna, O'reilly, FMP, and a host of store brands are repackaged products or maybe made to order based on requirements from the company wanting to sell the oil under their brand name. I think back to products by Yamaha, Honda, Mercury, Johnson and Evinrude. All were repackaged products from major oil companies.
Yea, it would be interesting for sure to know who makes what. I find it hard to believe a tool company would refine and blend their own fuels/oils.
I think Red Armor is made by the Phillips 66 corporation. And has been sold by two chainsaw brands. Tag with the names of Echo and Shindaiwa, at different times. Oils today seem to be very high quality, and we have plenty of options. Most important is to remember to use the stuff!
I've run Saber since trying it at 100-1 in our race sled in 1977. No longer running the lean mixes, but never had a failure. With over 100 2 stroke engines of various age and designs, they all get Saber and E-free gas at 32-1.
RedArmmor 50/1 in all my STHIL Chain Saws and other 2stroke machines.
It has really kept the fuel systems clean, and has done a great job of keeping all machines running.
up here in Canada I run Maple Syrup.....it smells really mapilie....
I run RedArmor oil in all my chainsaws and all my two stroke lawn care machines, and it has really inproved their operation and it really has kept their fuel systems clean. :sunny:
Quote from: doc henderson on September 10, 2024, 06:44:28 AMHow about used fry oil from fast food restaurant. then the saw will smell like French fries! ffcheesy smiley_beertoast food3
DUDE !! That is for baiting the bears!
Speaking of bears,glad I didn't miss it .The good old time honored great oil debate once again gets discussed not to be confused with cussed .Let the games be revisted . ffcool