My Stihl trimmer takes 50:1 mix and I'm using Stihl's synthetic oil with stabilizer.

Last weekend I picked up a WeedEater leaf blower for $10 at an auction. It calls for 40:1 mix.

I put enough 50:1 in it to start it and it runs OK, just won't rev past low speed stop on throttle bar- soon as you move it to medium it stalls right out. I figure whoever had it probably never ran it faster than low speed, and a new airfilter and a little carb cleaner ought to help that.

Question is can I run this thing on synthetic 50:1? I don't want to have to keep two gas cans around. Googling gets results all over- some say yes, others say it will run too hot from running lean mix.

Anyone here have real-world experience with this? I had planned to buy a Stihl blower this year, but for $10 if the WeedEater hadn't run at all I wasn't out much, and if it can run on 50:1, mo' better.

 

Yes...I have for years with no issues.

 

This will always start a 2-stroke debate, but more oil is actually "leaner". As in more oil equals less fuel. Less fuel is leaner.
Less oil is thinner, not leaner. More oil is thicker, and only leads to fouled plugs, and extra smoke. If you go to extremes, too much oil can cause dieseling in a hot engine, which can lead piston failure. Of course, if you go beyond that extreme, with too much oil, it simply will not start. The oil in a 2-stroke is present for the lower end bearings.
But yes, you will be fine at 40:1 or 50:1. Enough oil is enough oil, but too much oil has no added benefit.

 

The reason the engine won't rev past low speed is the high speed jet is probably plugged from bad gas. It seams weed eaters have the smallest of jets and plug easily.

I think the theory of the over heat comes from back in the day when we mixed gas at 25 to 1 and carbon build up would occur. If switched to a much higher ratio of gas to oil this could cause a hot spot on the piston from carbon and a burnt piston could occur. Doubtful if a switch to 50 to 1 from 40 to1 would make any difference at all.... Tedd

 

A little off topic, but I have a Ryobi string trimmer that won't run worth a darn on ethanol blend fuel, but runs like a champ on non-E. Can one of the gang explain this?

 

You can probably "get by" with the 50:1. I've used a synthetic oil at the richer 40:1 mix with non-ethanol fuel for all the tools, and a little Sta-bil so I don't have to drain everything at the end of the season. So far, I can't see excess carbon on the plugs of the 50:1 tools. The cost of the slightly extra oil is minimal and provides more peace of mind for me.

 

I tend to use both mixes and have 2 cans. Ethanol is rough on 2 cycles. Always use the syn. oil in my Stihls. Use Klotz oil in the others. Never use stabilizer. Just leave the old fuel in and have no problems with them sitting between seasons. They just run a little rough until the fresh fuel washes through them. Maybe I'm just lucky.

 

Same here about leaving the old fuel in. I have an old Craftsman snow blower that uses the 2 stroke oil. What I do is I save an empty gallon of windshield washer fluid bottle and pour 1 can of 2 stroke oil and mix it with 1 gal of gas. I can leave it till the next winter and she will start right up without using the stabilizer.

 

ethanol is crap don't use it in anything period.

 

I have also gotten lazy in my old age on seasonal use engines but down times are short in TX. I just let the tanks get low and then refill with fresh gas when time to use them. May sound strange, but I use a siphon pump the get gas out of the Cutlass so I don't have to take jugs to a gas station. 2 cycle yard equipment from various manufacturers get any name brand 50:1 synthetic. Also have a couple of older SeaDoo 2 strokes that do get their brand of dino oil, not worth cheaping out since a gallon pretty much covers all season.

 

They have some stuff now thats supposedly safe for all mixes. It comes in a couple ounce packet and you mix with a 2 gallon tank. Can't remember who makes it but I've used it in weed wackers to outboards with no problems.

 

I understand your sentiment but in some areas of the country (such as where I live) 10% ethanol is the ONLY gasoline available. I'm not gonna quit driving, mowing the grass, taking the boat out, etc. just because the fuel has some alcohol in it.

 

If it has the exhaust screen in the muffler and it is plugged it wont run or may not even start. Pull the screen out and burn it off with a bernzomatic reinstall then put in a new plug.
Thanks for the education twintracks. And I thought I was well versed on 2 stroke. Of course weedeaters are not the same as a twin blown & turboed Detroit 16V149! Dont put any gasoline in that!

 

I'm not sure this has a spark arrestor screen though it probably does. I'll check into it deeper if I ever get any meaningful time off (more than 10 hours overnight each day...). Thanks to all for the input! I've never owned much 2-cycle equipment so not really familiar with it, especially newer stuff.

Just realised who twintracks is. Been reading about their Great Race adventures in the club magazines.

 

Thank you stellar!

 

Why is this old thread back up?

 

Because someone pulled it up from a search. Happens all the time and it makes me feel good that I haven't changed my opinion in two years.

As long as there is good information on a post I have no problem with a old post coming to the top again, someone will get good use from it. It's when we are trying to answer someones unique problem and they haven' been around for five or six years then it becomes a waste of time and effort.... Tedd