Gas Oil Mix for Old Saws

g_man · June 01, 2025, 06:59:33 PM

Rainy dreary day yesterday looking to keep occupied I pulled out my old Homelite Super XL which I haven't touched in years - decades actually. According to the receipt I bought it in 1978. Put in some 50:1 gas and bar oil and it ran after 8 or 10 pulls. Thought I would be tinkering all day. Anyway the old manual says to use 32:1 gas oil mix with premium Homelite napthalenic based oil or 16:1 with regular Homelite or other 2 cycle oil. If I wanted to run this thing for fun and cut some wood what should I use for a mix with a modern oil like Stihl Premium 50:1 mix ?? I guess my question is which is more important, the oil quality or the mix ratio. Thanks

gg

thecfarm · June 01, 2025, 08:56:05 PM

That Al guy will like this post.

DHansen · June 01, 2025, 09:47:21 PM

I personally would run it at 32:1 with the best oil I have or my favorite oil. My reasoning is the saw is old, and I would want to preserve the saw the best that I could. Running it heavy on oil will help with bearings, crank and piston walls. Using good quality oil will keep it clean. Just my two cents. You will get lots of opinions.

Ianab · June 02, 2025, 06:20:54 AM

Old saws called for 16:1 ratios because the oil at the time was questionable, just basic 30W engine oil, and new spark plugs were cheap when they inevitably fouled up. It also kept the mosquitoes away.

I'd have no worries running then 32:1 or similar with modern oil, but of course tune the carb to the mix / altitude / time of year / phase of the moon etc.

Al_Smith · June 02, 2025, 06:43:13 AM

Quote from: thecfarm on June 01, 2025, 08:56:05 PMThat Al guy will like this post.

Yes I do

Mean while I'll just sit on the side lines waiting for the Amsoil crowd .I have no doubt they will take the opinion that heavy oil-gas ratios cause a lean run condition .I will take the opinion it was that 32 to 1 ratio is why that old Homey is still running today .

Ianab · June 02, 2025, 06:55:23 AM

Quote from: Al_Smith on June 02, 2025, 06:43:13 AMI will take the opinion it was that 32 to 1 ratio is why that old Homey is still running today .

Because you know how to tune a saw, and old saws had fully adjustable carbs.

g_man · June 02, 2025, 12:03:20 PM

Thanks all- that all makes good sense.

gg

barbender · June 02, 2025, 03:06:20 PM

I don't run even my new saws at 50:1. 40:1 and error on the side of rich, with good quality oil.

thecfarm · June 02, 2025, 05:39:15 PM

I run 40:1 also.
I have a new trimmer that I bought last August that is getting the 40:1 treatment.

Magicman · June 02, 2025, 05:44:21 PM

My saw gas jug also tends to get a bit rich because I seldom actually empty it, but rather top it off when it gets down to an inch or so remaining. It it smokes I know to let it get lower next time. I use the little silver bottles that mix one gallon.

Al_Smith · June 02, 2025, 06:15:00 PM

I would have no idea how to tune a computor controlled carb and with any luck I'll never need to know how .These things are getting as bad as a 57 Chevy compaired to a modern fuel injected automobile .I cut my teeth on those old Chevy 283 V8's and old McCulloch chainsaws .To do any work on a more modern automobile I have to get on You Tube .Kind of hard to teach an old dog a new trick .

Spike60 · June 05, 2025, 03:32:28 PM

I'm with BB running everything at 40:1. As already posted, modern oils are engineered to protect at leaner ratios.

What I'm curious about from that 1978 receipt is, what was the price?