Small Engine Oil - 2 Cycle Oil

In this article, I will talk in terms of outdoor power equipment, small 2 cycle engine oil.

Lubrication reduces friction, which in turn reduces wear on the internal engine parts. Engines that have separate oil containers, like cars, need oil changes periodically. In the case of two stroke engines, a small engine oil change isn't necessary. The 2 cycle oil mix is right in the gas.

Two cycle engine oil must be mixed with the gasoline in 2-stroke engines in order for them to stay cool during operation. See what I did there? I used the word cycle and stroke interchangeably in the same sentence.

A cycle or stroke of an engine is
the piston traveling from the top dead center to the bottom dead center of its cylinder or from bottom to top dead center of the cylinder. The two words, 'cycle' and 'stroke', have the same meaning. A "2 cycle" or "2 stroke" means that there are 2 full movements that the piston makes per fire: up and down.

2 stroke marine oil

Is one two stroke engine the same as another, and therefor the oil is the same? No, TCW3 2 stroke marine oil is formulated for water cooled engines. They do not run as hot as air cooled, outdoor power tool small engines. Power equipment needs oil for hotter temperature - air cooled engines.

Furthermore, one 2 cycle engine might ask for different ratios of oil mix than another, but every 2-cycle engine is lubricated through its fuel system. You have to use 2 cycle engine oil. You have to use the right 2 cycle engine oil mix.

2 cycle oil mix

What happens when fuel with no 2 cycle oil mixed into it, gets used in power equipment? If straight gas, or too weak of a 2 cycle gas mix is poured into outdoor power equipment, the piston rubs hard against the cylinder. The resulting friction causes excessive heat which seizes the engine. The proper 2 cycle oil mix is necessary to lubricate the cylinder and piston.  You have to use the proper ratio or mix of oil to gas in two cycle engines. There is a 2 cycle oil mix chart below for the mixture so you can follow it to ensure the proper amount of oil in your gas canister before pouring it into the tool.

For safety sake, it is better to mix more oil than less oil if you're unsure of the ratio or of the amount of gas that you have.

2 cycle oil mix ratio

Since a 50:1 gas to oil mixture takes 2.6 ounces of 2-cycle oil per gallon of gasoline, here are the calculations for mixing 2.6 ounces of 2 stroke engine oil into different amounts of gas.

2.6 ounce bottles of oil with gas for older tools:

40:1 Mixture Measurements:

2.6 ounces of 2-cycle oil / 0.8 gallons (approx. 103 ounces) of gasoline

32:1 Mixture Measurements:

2.6 ounces of 2-cycle oil / 0.65 gallons (approx. 84 ounces) of gasoline

Every 2-cycle engine has a specific gas/oil mixture ratio, and most 2-cycle tools display the correct gas/oil ratio somewhere on the tool, usually the engine housing. Regardless, you can count on the owner manual having the ratio information. A 50:1 gas to oil ratio is very common in today's outdoor power equipment, but check yours individually. Older tools tended to use more oil in their mixture.

The 50:1 gas to oil ratio is much cleaner burning combustion. In retail outlets, a common bottle size of oil is 2.6 ounces, suitable for adding to a 1-gallon container for 50:1 mixtures. Before you mix the oil into the gas, ensure it is the right amount per gallon for your tool. Of course you have to know how much gas is in your canister first. If you have multiple tools requiring different ratios, then label each gallon gas container as to what ratio of oil was added so that you don't later use the wrong mixture in the wrong tool.

Sometimes a 2 cycle engine oil manufacturer will specify their own mix ratio to use instead of whatever the power equipment manufacturer specifies.

2 Stroke Oil Performance

The 2 stroke oil you choose, should burn cleanly, control friction and help prevent wear, plug fouling, ring sticking and exhaust port blocking with anti-rust formulation. A smokeless formulated synthetic 2 stroke oil or blend will burn cleaner. Some will stipulate what oil mix they're good for, i.e. a label may state, "up to 50:1 2 cycle oil mix" or "up to 100:1 2 stroke mix." This Amsoil SABER Professional is tested and proven at 100:1 mixture ratio.

Amsoil SABER® Professional Synthetic 2-Stroke Oil
One Oil Covers All Mix Ratios
While two-stroke engines are widely used in handheld power equipment due to their high power-to-weight ratio, equipment owners and operators are faced with exhaust smoke, the task of properly mixing oil and gas for different equipment manufacturers, and premature wear and engine failure. AMSOIL SABER® Professional Synthetic 2-Stroke Oil effectively addresses these issues and more. Specially formulated for pre-mix, air-cooled applications, it withstands high heat and stress to protect engines against wear and harmful deposits. SABER Professional offers outstanding protection and performance at lean mix ratios referred to as the SABER Ratio™. Using the SABER Ratio eliminates the need for mixing different ratios for different equipment, while smoke is virtually undetectable. With AMSOIL SABER Professional, there is no compromise. It saves time and money while delivering the ultimate convenience and engine protection.

AMSOIL Synthetic 2-Stroke Oil has been providing improved performance and protection in two-stroke engines since 1973. Trust the extensive experience of AMSOIL, The First in Synthetics®, to do the best job protecting your engine.

Engine Protection
SABER Professional has been tested and proven to provide premium protection and performance at 100:1 mix ratios. It is recommended for any mix ratio up to 100:1. When tested at half the treat rate for conventional oils (100:1 vs. 50:1), SABER Professional easily passed the industry-standard lubricity test. SABER Professional is designed for hot-operating two-stroke engines, effectively fighting carbon/deposit formation and preventing ring sticking.

Smokeless Operation
SABER Professional’s synthetic formulation burns clean, passing the industry-standard smoke test at the standard rich mix ratio. When mixed at the SABER Ratio, smoke is virtually undetectable. Equipment operators subjected to smoke and fumes benefit from these low-emission properties.

Fuel Stabilization
SABER Professional provides the additional benefit of fuel stabilization to help prevent fuel from deteriorating during storage and causing poor engine performance. There is no need to add an additional fuel stabilizer when putting equipment into seasonal storage.

Lucas 2-Cycle Oil
The Lucas 2-Cycle Oil at HL Supply, is an advanced technology smokeless 2-stroke oil formulated from a special blend of mineral oil, synthetic oil and a low ash additive package containing fortified dispersant inhibitors. The end result is a more thorough burning of the fuel resulting in more power and fewer emissions for a safe operator environment. User can expect less fuel consumption and no more filter clogging! The special lubricants in the Lucas 2-stroke oil allow for a much easier piston travel; this condition allows for more net power and less ring and cylinder wear.

Shop for Oils & Lubes at HL Supply.