2-Cycle Oil

[TMonter]

I picked up some Stihl synthetic after reading this.

I also found a seller of straight gas, but closed at the weekend. I think ethanol may have caused my Subaru Robin to run badly, added Seafoam. Now much better.

I noticed on the UK board that they have access to a product called Aspen, I have a a feeling that a lot of issues can be put down to stale fuel.

This is one of the reasons I've switched to AV gas for all of my yard equipment the past couple years. I haven't had an issue with equipment working in the spring and having to rebuild carburetors since I have. One of the other great things about AV Gas is how it evaporates and doesn't leave a obvious residue which I love. AV gas is required to be "shelf stable" for up to two years because they use it in remote fuel dumps in places like Alaska.

 

[MasterMech]

The dealer is selling it for $1.75 a bottle, enough to mix a gallon of 50:1. I haven't been able to match that online.

Get the 8 oz bottles and it's $.86 a gallon, (80:1, which I prefer to 100:1)

http://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-product/motor-oil/2-stroke/saber-professional/

Get's even cheaper if you sign on for a "Preferred Customer" membership. (Makes the most sense if you spend over $100 a year with them.)

 

[MasterMech]

This is one of the reasons I've switched to AV gas for all of my yard equipment the past couple years. I haven't had an issue with equipment working in the spring and having to rebuild carburetors since I have. One of the other great things about AV Gas is how it evaporates and doesn't leave a obvious residue which I love. AV gas is required to be "shelf stable" for up to two years because they use it in remote fuel dumps in places like Alaska.

While it is indeed designed to be storable for much longer periods than regular automotive fuel, 100LL AvGas also contains two to six times the TEL (Lead) that 60's automotive fuel had in it. Something to think about when the equipment burning it exhausts within 3 ft of your nose.

I haven't had any time/luck to research this but I was wondering if any of the racing fuel companies made an unleaded race fuel that was ethanol free, relatively stable, and significantly cheaper than SEF. (Small Engine Fuel, which is wicked $$) Perhaps whatever it is NASCAR Cup cars are burning these days.

 

[TMonter]

Get the 8 oz bottles and it's $.86 a gallon, (80:1, which I prefer to 100:1)

http://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-product/motor-oil/2-stroke/saber-professional/

Get's even cheaper if you sign on for a "Preferred Customer" membership. (Makes the most sense if you spend over $100 a year with them.)

I don't know that I would ever consider mixing at such a low amount of oil. The risks of a problem in jetting or air density causing a oil lean condition are just too high IMO. I've mixed M2T at 50:1 for several years on my 372XP and broke it down for a mild port earlier this year and found no carbon buildup on either the piston or jug.

 

[TMonter]

While it is indeed designed to be storable for much longer periods than regular automotive fuel, 100LL AvGas also contains two to six times the TEL (Lead) that 60's automotive fuel had in it. Something to think about when the equipment burning it exhausts within 3 ft of your nose.

I haven't had any time/luck to research this but I was wondering if any of the racing fuel companies made an unleaded race fuel that was ethanol free, relatively stable, and significantly cheaper than SEF. (Small Engine Fuel, which is wicked $$) Perhaps whatever it is NASCAR Cup cars are burning these days.

If I were using the saw on a daily basis I would agree, but as an occasional user I'm sure my exposure to other sources of lead is much much higher.

 

[ewdudley]

While it is indeed designed to be storable for much longer periods than regular automotive fuel, 100LL AvGas also contains two to six times the TEL (Lead) that 60's automotive fuel had in it. Something to think about when the equipment burning it exhausts within 3 ft of your nose.

I haven't had any time/luck to research this but I was wondering if any of the racing fuel companies made an unleaded race fuel that was ethanol free, relatively stable, and significantly cheaper than SEF. (Small Engine Fuel, which is wicked $$) Perhaps whatever it is NASCAR Cup cars are burning these days.

Sunoco sells a bewildering variety of pump racing fuel nearby to many tracks, many of which are ethanol free, probably fairly pricey as well:

(broken link removed)

Johnson Fuel
285 Springtown Road, New Paltz, NY 12561
Fuels: Standard, Supreme, 260 GTX in stock,
Phone: 845-256-0209
Notes:
Has all fuels available, please call for more options

 

[Jacktheknife]

While it is indeed designed to be storable for much longer periods than regular automotive fuel, 100LL AvGas also contains two to six times the TEL (Lead) that 60's automotive fuel had in it. Something to think about when the equipment burning it exhausts within 3 ft of your nose.

I haven't had any time/luck to research this but I was wondering if any of the racing fuel companies made an unleaded race fuel that was ethanol free, relatively stable, and significantly cheaper than SEF. (Small Engine Fuel, which is wicked $$) Perhaps whatever it is NASCAR Cup cars are burning these days.

NASCAR is burning ethanol now.

 

[Bigg_Redd]

While it is indeed designed to be storable for much longer periods than regular automotive fuel, 100LL AvGas also contains two to six times the TEL (Lead) that 60's automotive fuel had in it. Something to think about when the equipment burning it exhausts within 3 ft of your nose.

I haven't had any time/luck to research this but I was wondering if any of the racing fuel companies made an unleaded race fuel that was ethanol free, relatively stable, and significantly cheaper than SEF. (Small Engine Fuel, which is wicked $$) Perhaps whatever it is NASCAR Cup cars are burning these days.

Yup. It smells like winning.

 

[evilgriff]

I bought a couple of cases of this stuff at a motorcycle dealership closing 10 years ago or more, for pennies on the dollar. Been mixing it 50:1. Never an issue with Stihl, Husky, or Echo items I have owned. The major problem I have is I am down to 2 bottles now.

(broken link removed to http://www.spectro-oils.com/golden-spectro-two-cycle-pre-mix-blend/)

 

[Como]

If lead is an issue it is too late for me.

I looked it up, what you need is alkylate gas (petrol), but as far as I can see it is not sold in the US but is widely available in the UK and Europe.

 

[Pallet Pete]

I bought a couple of cases of this stuff at a motorcycle dealership closing 10 years ago or more, for pennies on the dollar. Been mixing it 50:1. Never an issue with Stihl, Husky, or Echo items I have owned. The major problem I have is I am down to 2 bottles now.

(broken link removed to http://www.spectro-oils.com/golden-spectro-two-cycle-pre-mix-blend/)

I also ran Spectro for a couple seasons that stuff is as good as Amsoil in my opinion. Amsoil is readily available around here the Spectro I brought back with me from California when I was discharged.

Pete

 

[MasterMech]

NASCAR is burning ethanol now.

Hmm, E15 it seems, cross that one off the list. E15 won't be any good for todays or yesterdays equipment.

 

[MasterMech]

A quick look around and the cheapest unleaded ethanol free fuel I could find was VP Racing T4 @ $12 a gallon if you buy a 54 gallon drum of it.
Their website claims SEF gets much more economical in large containers but I would have to track my actual fuel usage to see if I could justify keeping a 55 gallon drum around.

Or maybe I could just keep to my recommendation of running pump gas treated with Star-tron and keeping a 30-day or less supply around. Been working so far.

 

[basod]

A quick look around and the cheapest unleaded ethanol free fuel I could find was VP Racing T4 @ $12 a gallon if you buy a 54 gallon drum of it.
Their website claims SEF gets much more economical in large containers but I would have to track my actual fuel usage to see if I could justify keeping a 55 gallon drum around.

Or maybe I could just keep to my recommendation of running pump gas treated with Star-tron and keeping a 30-day or less supply around. Been working so far.

You don't have lake/marina around?
The gas stations over by the lake near me sell it at the pump about 30cents more a gallon.
They advertise its ethanol free anyways

 

[MasterMech]

You don't have lake/marina around?
The gas stations over by the lake near me sell it at the pump about 30cents more a gallon.
They advertise its ethanol free anyways

E10 everywhere I look here. Nearest marina is 45 minutes out and I use way too much fuel to make that practical, even if it was ethanol free.

I burn my 13.5 gallon fuel supply every 2 weeks, sometimes faster. Recently expanded to 26 gallons but not sure if I want to keep using the old cans. (They SUCK. )

 

[Como]

I picked up 5 gallons of Ethanol free 91 this morning,the Race fuel was 112 and 110 Octane!

I pay just under $3 for regular, about $3.30 for Ethanol 91 and just over $4 for this.