There is equipment with a small engine, such as leaf blowers and weed trimmers (such as the Echo SRM-225). They have a small 2-cycle or 2-stroke engine. You can quickly identify it if it has a single fill port for the gas and the engine grease. This type needs a specific mix between gas and grease to perform correctly.
If you are reading this article, you likely want to know more about it. In the following sections, you will learn more about the 2-cycle engine grease stroke oil mix.
The best 2-cycle oil mix comes from either Echo or Pennzoil. The 50-to-1 fuel mix gallons chart we’ve included makes it easy to mix the fuel you need for your 2-cycle oil-requiring machines!
Summary
The best 2-cycle oil is the one from Pennzoil, as this company is known to make the best products in this industry. A 50 to 1 fuel mix chart expressed in both gallons and liters is also included in this article for your own convenience. Moreover, we also present a winner for each 2-cycle oil category:
- Best for infrequent use: Echo 6450001 Power Blend
- Best value option: Pennzoil Marine XLF
- Best bulk & convenient option: Echo Oil
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Table of Contents
- 2-cycle oil mix chart
- Best products to consider
- What Is 2-Stroke?
- Are All Brands The Same?
- When To Use It
- Can You Mix Synthetic With Regular?
- 2 vs. 4-Stroke
- What Happens If You Use the Wrong One?
- How do you mix 40:1?
2-cycle oil mix chart
All these ratios might get confusing over time. So we put up a chart for your easy reference. Do make sure you are using the right 2-stroke/2-cycle oil-to-gas ratio. You will not have to use a calculator to do the computations.
Other ratios are available, such as 30:1, 25:1, and 20:1, but those are less common. Take a look at the most common 50 to 1 fuel mix chart in gallons below to create your 2-cycle oil.
Mixing Ratio (Gas:Oil) | Gasoline (vol.) | 2-Cycle Oil (vol.) |
32:1 | 1 US gal. (128 oz) | 4 oz. |
32:1 | 1 liter | 31.25 ml |
40:1 | 1 US gal. (128 oz) | 3.2 oz. |
40:1 | 1 liter | 25 ml |
50:1 | 1 US gal. (128 oz) | 2.6 oz. |
50:1 | 1 liter | 20 ml |
For a 32:1 mixture, you need the following:
- 128 ounces of gasoline and 4 ounces of 2-cycle oil
- Or one-liter gasoline and 31.25 milliliters of oil.
For a 40:1 mixture, you need the following:
- 128 ounces of gasoline and 3.2 ounces of 2-cycle oil
- Or one-liter gasoline and 25 milliliters of oil.
For a 50:1 mixture, you need the following:
- 128 ounces of gasoline and 2.6 ounces of 2-cycle oil
- Or one-liter gasoline and 20 milliliters of oil.
Best products to consider
At this point, you will have enough knowledge about 2-stroke oil, including its uses. For the engine to function correctly, you must fill it with the correct two-stroke engine oil.
There are thousands of available choices in the market. We curated a list of the top engine greases to buy. The following were picked using three main factors:
The following are our recommendations for the best 2-stroke engine oils.
Briggs & Stratton
Our most recommended product is the Briggs & Stratton 2-Cycle Engine Oil. It is available in a 16-ounce package with several high ratings and good reviews.
Pros
- The price is affordable for a 16-ounce capacity.
- It contains a special formulation for high-temperature operation
- A 50:1 mix ratio makes ashless smokeless oil possible
- The fuel stabilizer will have minimal to no residue in the engine
- It prevents clogging and pungent odor.
Cons
- Some people have unfortunately received defective containers, although it’s not common.
- Make sure it works in the machine you’re using it for.
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Pennzoil Marine XLF
Pennzoil is a famous brand providing high-quality engine oil. The Marine XLF packs a robust solution, making it perfect for high-horsepower motors. It meets the requirements of several brands, such as Mercury Marine, Johnson, Yamaha, Mariner, Nissan, Suzuki, Evinrude, and Force/US Marine.
Pros
- The engine runs clean.
- It prevents piston scuffing.
- Maintains a clean exhaust port for an extended time
- Prevents danger as a result of engine deposits
- It stops carbon from building up in the combustion chamber
- It works well for oil-injection-type engine
- It keeps your vehicle running smoothly for many years.
Cons
- The bottle was not sealed.
- There are occasional issues with shipping.
- It’s better to buy a small container if that’s all you need.
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Husqvarna
Husqvarna is a Swedish company that goes back to 1903. Their bottle of 2-stroke oil comes in a pack of six. Each bottle is 2.6 ounces, making it great for shelf life and storage.
Name | 2-Stroke Oil 2.6 oz. Bottle |
Brand | Husqvarna |
Features | Extends engine life |
Number of bottles | 12 |
Product Dimensions | 7 x 7 x 7 inches |
Pros
- It is a semi-synthetic variety.
- For better performance, make a 50:1 ratio.
- Premium additives allow for better cleaning performance
- Low smoke formulation
- The formula is Jaso-FD certified
- It reduces the risk of engine failure because the oil contains a fuel stabilizer.
Cons
- It’s not great for bulk use.
- There are cheaper options if you need bulk material.
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Some of these brands offer a 5 gallons option if you want to purchase in bulk. It should save you more money, assuming you can use it as soon as possible.
Type of Oil
The three types are synthetic, semi-synthetic, and mineral. Synthetic oils are the best type available, but they cost the most. It is not the most common choice for gardening equipment and old bicycles. The mineral type is a more common choice for this equipment.
Emission
All oil types will produce smoke on combustion. The difference lies in the amount of smoke it dispurses.
Some types excrete more smoke than others, while some produce less. Certain brands advertise their product to be low in smoke emissions.
Cleaning and Lubrication
2-stroke engine oils are capable of lubricating and cleaning your engine. Certain brands would have superior clean properties over other brands, allowing for more effective performance. We recommend choosing one with the best value for money.
What Is 2-Stroke?
A 2-stroke oil, which some also refer to as 2T, 2-cycle, or two-cycle, is a type of motor grease. People use it for crankcase compression of two-stroke engines, typically small gasoline-powered ones.
A four-stroke has a closed crankcase except for the ventilation system. On the other hand, a two-stroke leverages the crankcase for the induction tract, allowing the grease to mix with the gasoline before it lubricates the entire engine. We call it petrol or premix. Ultimately, the grease burns along with the fuel.
Synthetic grease, castor, semi-synthetic, and petroleum are some choices to mix with gasoline. The fuel-to-oil ratio ranges from 16:1 to 100:1.
You should not use a 4-stroke oil in a 2-stroke engine or vice versa because it will disrupt combustion, causing degradation and smoke formation. It would not be healthy for your vehicle and may cause it to malfunction.
Are All Brands The Same?
If you are looking for a 2-stroke oil for your unit, you may get caught in the middle of several brands or manufacturers. So it is natural to ask yourself if all these are the same. Do you think one brand is superior, or are all essentially the same?
The truth here is that all of them are the same. Performance-wise, these will provide the same protection and lubrication for your two-stroke. Although all are functionally the same, there are three kinds – full synthetic, semi-synthetic, and mineral.
The purpose of these is to apply lubrication to the crankcase compression. You do not have to worry about anything because you can use any of these three interchangeably. For example, you can mix a semi-synthetic with mineral grease and load it into your engine without issues.
When To Use It
A ratio represents the proportions of gasoline and grease in the mixture. In the equipment operator’s manual or the engine label, you can find the required gas oil ratio for the 2-cycle oil mix for your engine.
If you cannot find either but are aware of the equipment’s age, most portable devices built before 2003 need a 32:1 ratio, whereas those manufactured after 2002 utilize a 40:1 or 50:1 ratio. The majority of outboard motors need a 50:1 ratio.
Follow this ratio for all 2-cycle grease mixtures to get optimal results. Here are a few warnings to always keep in mind:
- Avoid automobile motor grease containing non-combustible additives because they will damage the engine. Use only a 2-cycle engine grease for this application.
- Avoid using gasoline containing more than 10% ethanol. It attracts moisture, causing gasoline to break down. Eventually, it will lead to permanent damage.
- Avoid approximating or guessing your mixtures. Always use the proper measuring tools. An engine requires the exact mix of lubrication and fuel to run without issues.
- Using a clean container, combine your grease and gas before pouring it into the engine. Never combine these directly because it will cause permanent damage. Make sure the container is clean and free from foreign substances or particles. Pat dry with a paper towel when rinsing the container with water.
- Check the fuel level to ensure the mixture has not deteriorated if your engine has been idle for more than a month, such as when removing it from winter storage.
These are some of the most basic knowledge you should know. You will learn the rest through experience as you do maintenance on your vehicle.
Can You Mix Synthetic With Regular?
You may have several questions about synthetic and regular greases for your vehicle. Can you mix these two? Yes, you can do it occasionally, as it should not damage your engine. Its viscosity or weight should be within the owner manual’s recommendation.
However, we do not recommend mixing these in regularly and should not become a regular practice to avoid problems. You might be wondering why that is the case. Let us take a better look at motor grease and its design.
It goes around your motor, lubricating the moving parts. This process reduces friction and serves as a prevention of overheating components. The same can sweep up contaminants and deposits, filtering them out. This process should keep your engine running clean and smooth, effectively extending its lifespan.
As discussed in one of the previous sections, there are three varieties of motor grease. These involved thorough scientific research. Mixing them up and hoping for better efficiency and performance is irrelevant. It is only a waste of your money if that is an issue. Here is a good illustration for your reference:
- Mixing regular and synthetic grease will not improve the efficiency and performance of regular grease.
- Mixing synthetic and regular grease may dilute the benefits of synthetic, which is more expensive.
In reality, synthetic costs more than conventional or regular. Mixing these is a waste of money, and you are only diluting the advantages of synthetic.
However, mixing these two for a short-term fix, such as when the only available option is to mix them, is okay. It is not the best approach and should not become a habit.
Since we are on the topic of mixing grease, what about combining the same variety across different brands? It should not cause any issues because, chemically, they are the same.
What about switching between varieties of motor oils? Can customers do that without encountering issues? Yes, you can change to a different variety anytime you wish. These are some questions to keep in mind before switching types:
- Do you drive in a traffic location?
- Do you drive in extreme temperatures?
- Do you drive at high speed for an extended period?
- Do you take multiple trips per day, totaling a length of 5 to 10 miles?
- Do you haul heavy loads?
- Do you drive in harsh, muddy conditions?
- Do you drive in mountainous terrain?
Here is a high-level overview of how to change oil:
- Carefully remove and safely dispose of the used grease
- Replace it with a new one, ensuring it meets manufacturer specifications, such as volume, weight, and type
- Inspect the filter and replace it with a clean one
- Refill other fluids, such as washer, transfer case, power steering, and transmission fluid
- Clean interior and exterior of the vehicle
2 vs. 4-Stroke
You may often hear these two terms, but what are the differences? The former mixes well with fuel and burns it in the engine’s combustion chamber. The latter protects the valve train against wear and tear while keeping it clean.
Some top companies selling these products are Amsoil, Repsol, Mobil 1, Briggs & Stratton, Pennzoil, and Husqvarna.
What Happens If You Use the Wrong One?
There will not be any significant damage to your engine if you use 2-stroke grease in a 4-stroke engine. However, some common side effects users encounter are a rise in pipe exhaustion and engine overheating.
If you have questions you can go to a shop like Home Depot. They can often provide the support you’re looking for so you don’t put something in the fuel tank that shouldn’t be there.
In a recent study, there were no metal contaminations, no real damage to the engine, no compression loss, and no lubrication loss.
How do you mix 40:1?
A chainsaw typically needs a 40:1 ratio. For safety, we recommend you check the product manual for the specifications and instructions. For starters, you need to perform this in a well-ventilated area.
- Gather all the materials you need.
- UL or FM-approved container
- One gallon of gasoline
- Three ounces of 2-cycle grease
- Chainsaw
- Open the UL or FM-approved container and pour 1/2 gallon of the gasoline.
- Pour all the grease and close the approved container. Shake it for ten to fifteen seconds. We avoid you using a cup, tablespoon, or teaspoon to mix it. It needs to be properly mixed.
- Open the container and pour in the other half of the gasoline. Close it again and shake it for another ten to fifteen seconds.
- Uncap the chainsaw’s tank and pour the mixture up to 80% of the tank capacity.
- Tighten the cap and wipe off any spills.