Is the VP Racing synthetic 2 stroke oil that is available at Wal-Mart a good oil?
I've been using the Stihl HP Ultra oil in my chainsaw, weedeater, and blower for several years now. I started using because my very first Stihl weedeater that I bought came with an extended warranty if you bought a 6 pack of the HP Ultra. I've seen some posts elsewhere online where the vast majority of people agreed that HP Ultra was a bad choice that causes carbon build-up. I do see a lot of carbon build-up on my Stihl weedeater and blower's muffler screen. I have to clean those at least every year. My chainsaw is a Husky 455 Rancher. I never have to clean the muffler screen on it. I checked it last year and it looked brand new and the saw is over 20 years. I've been running the HP Ultra in it for at least 10 years.
Anyway, the big consensus against HP Ultra in those posts got me thinking that maybe I should change oil. I just bought a brand new 572XP and just ran out of the pre-mixed Husky fuel that I bought with it for an extended warranty. That thing was expensive and I want to take care of it.
The VP racing and Amsoil Saber were the 2 big recommendations that I was seeing. The Amsoil is only available online in my area so that is why I was looking at the VP brand.
I don't know a thing about the VP Racing oil. I run Amsoil Saber at 40:1. I'm not an Amsoil fan boy, I find most of their products to be ridiculously overpriced. But Sabre is cheaper for me than other synthetic 2 stroke oils, it runs clean, no carbon, and I get it at the local Fleet store.
Aspen fuel is the best pre mix on the planet IMO. Nothing else really comes close.
Aspen Fuel?? Who carries it.??
I have easy access to non-ethanol high octane, so I like to mix my own.
One of the man things with aspen fuel in a can is it can sit longer in a saw without causing problems , lots of guys here run it but if you do not run your saw all the time and saw sits its a good fuel
I have not tried the VP synthetic 2 stroke oil myself, since no one in my area seems to carry it (not even the folks who carry the VP premix fuel). I have heard good things about it on a couple of the chainsaw forums/Facebook groups.
I've also heard good things about the Husqvarna XP+ synthetic oil, and had good luck with it myself.
Quote from: John Mc on January 25, 2025, 06:32:51 PMI have not tried the VP synthetic 2 stroke oil myself, since no one in my area seems to carry it (not even the folks who carry the VP premix fuel). I have heard good things about it on a couple of the chainsaw forums/Facebook groups.
I've also heard good things about the Husqvarna XP+ synthetic oil, and had good luck with it myself.
Wal-mart and Tractor Supply carry the VP oil.
Quote from: blackhawk on January 27, 2025, 08:45:05 AMQuote from: John Mc on January 25, 2025, 06:32:51 PMI have not tried the VP synthetic 2 stroke oil myself, since no one in my area seems to carry it (not even the folks who carry the VP premix fuel). I have heard good things about it on a couple of the chainsaw forums/Facebook groups.
I've also heard good things about the Husqvarna XP+ synthetic oil, and had good luck with it myself.
Wal-mart and Tractor Supply carry the VP oil.
Yeah, both a half hour from me in a direction I rarely travel. Since the Husqvarna oil is locally available, and I try to make a point of supporting local stores when a quality product is available, I've been sticking with the Husqvarna oil.
I faithfully used Stihl Ultra oil in all my Stihl tools (261 026 backpack 800x and 56 Kombi unit) and it served me well - but especially when using the trimmer and pole saw attachment unit - they often started having issues from plugged up arrestor screens just when I most needed them to run well.. like up a scaffold or in the midst of a large clean up - without any tools or torch handy to get them off and cleaned up..
Additionally, all the local dealers were starting to have trouble stocking the Ultra oil, to the point where here now all they now sell is the regular 'orange cap' Stihl mix oil, and can't even bring in the Ultra for some reason.
That led me a year and half ago to start looking for an alternative - which led me to Amsoil Saber synthetic.
The way I figured - if they will warranty your tools with an oil that claims to do the job of protecting your small engines at 100:1 ratio and with me mixing it at 45:1 - how wrong could I ever get it?
I found saber does smoke a lot less than Ultra - I've had no need to clean or worry about arrestor screens needing to be cleaned since, and get a lot less oil splatter near the exhaust outlets of all of my small engines since the change.. all with I assume, better than double the protection against engine problems/wear it is pretty much a no-brainer and all around improvement.
All told - it is the same or cheaper than what I was paying for Ultra to boot.. so overall it seems like a win!
I've used it for years. No problems at all. And I run my saws a lot.
Quote from: Bert on January 27, 2025, 03:15:40 PMI've used it for years. No problems at all. And I run my saws a lot.
Which product are you using?
The VP racing full synthetic 2 stroke oil. I think its a 16oz container. Not a pre-mix.
I use it in my saws ( used all the time) but also the seasonal stuff like leaf blowers. No problems.
I think the only VP product I've ever bought was a 5 gallon bucket full of light weight hydraulic oil and it was on sale because of Farm and Fleet being sold out .As far as gasoline and mix oil it's just standard pump gas and whatever oil is on sale at the time .Right now it's Briggs and Statton 32 to 1 .Old school works for me . :wink_2:
I am firm believer now that what ever you start with for oil brand just stick with it for that particular piece of equipment. I was given cases of amsoil 2 stroke oil because the company had replaced all there 2 strokes with 4 strokes. They had good luck with it. I switched from quicksilver that I ran it since new . 1 month with amsoil it blew up. Weather it was gonna go or not. I gave it away and now just stick to the same brand oil. I have owned 2 stroke dirt bikes, marine motors and All sorts of 2 stroke power equipment. That was the only thing that blew up on me in 40 years.
I am looking for something that smokes less.
My lungs are not the best and summer time cutting can be hard on the lungs.
Some days, in the summer, I just can not use my saw due to the smoke.
What I noticed is VP offers synthetic blend and full synthetic for air cooled two cycles. And most of these high end oils are made in the USA. Looks like about five major refineries. And I see some full synthetic house brands of 2 cycle oil that are 1/3rd the cost. The FVP brand seems very low cost compared to Wal Mart prices on the VP brand. I would say we all have our preferred oils and fuels and most will be hard to change our minds on what we think is the best combination. Most important, don't forget to add the oil, and keep on cutting.
I switch oils frequently and it's never caused me an issue.
Ray, the Amsoil Saber doesn't smoke much even at the 32/1 to 40/1 ratio I run it at.
I would be mixing it 40:1.
There is a garage I deliver parts to that is a dealer and I asked him about Saber.
He's never had no one ask him to get any before.
I suppose he would have to get a case and that would be a deal breaker for me. I told him I don't need that much at one time.
Im sure you could find some online. I buy the quart bottles, which typically last me forever😊
I have never used VP 2 stroke oil but I am sure its very good oil cause VP does not make junk, I use lots of their racing fuels like nitro methane and methanol , its not cheap but at least you know what your getting