What Octane for 2 Cycle's ?

[Mowman]

What octane do you guy's run in you 2 cycle mowers,trimmers,ect? I took in my Toro Pro-Line 21" for a banging and knocking noise. 2 weeks left on the warrenty. Toro is now telling the dealer that I was running the WRONG fuel in it. I've been running 89 Octane Shell. Still getting excess carbon build up. If Toro does not stand behind this I will never buy anything they sell, Toro, Exmark, ect.
I think the owners manual says to run 89 octane or higher. What should I do? Pay the bill or FIGHT them, show them the octane rating in the manual? Help me out here guy's as this could take a chunk out of the checkbook.
Thanks,
Mowman

[Eric ELM]

I run 87 octane in all my equipment that is gas, 2 and 4 cycle. From what I've read, air cooled gas engines are designed to run on 87 octane, so this is what I've run for 16 years.

[mdb landscaping]

i use 89octane texaco in my 2 cycle equipment

[rixtag]

I am reminded of a excerpt from my 2 stroke yamaha waverunner owner manual. Basically octane rating is irrelevant when used in a 2 stroke. Something to do with the flame and the oil negates the advantage of higher octane in gas/oil combination. Ever since reading that I have paid no attention to the octane. I buy the same for all equipment and vehicles. Here in UT, 85 octane works like a champ.

Rick

[Eric ELM]

rixtag, 85 octane? The lowest we have here is 87. I have not heard of 85 octane gas before. Are you sure on this?

[mowerman90]

I read an article years ago about a new trimmer seizing up after only a weeks work. It seems that the owner used reg 87 octane gas in it using the proper oil mix. The problem was caused by the fact that under federal law refineries can mix up to 10% alcohol in their gas blends and do not have to tell you this. Guess what, alcohol doesn't mix with gas!!!! I've always used PREMIUM gas in all my 2 cyl equipment for that reason. Alcohol blended gases cannot achieve 91 octane so you're assured that the premium is alcohol free. I call it cheap insurance, plus my stuff doesn't carbon up nearly as much.

[rixtag]

Eric, I am pretty sure but I will dbl check when I fill up today!

Mowerman, from Nov to Feb we have oxygenated fuel, up to 25% methanol and that wreaks havoc with 2 strokes. I am lucky because that is right in the middle of the off-season so i don't have to worry but alcohol will tear up a 2 stroke for sure.

Rick

[roscioli]

I use 87 octane in everything except my honda civic. High compression engines are to be run on high octane. MOWMAN- If it says 89 octane in the book, fight it till your death. Call toro, a head honcho, not some moron, and fight fight fight. mowERman-
IN mass we are lucky, its a state law that you have to post on the pump if the gas has alcohol in it, and only some cheap companies use it.

[Fallguy]

cleanliness of the fuel i think is more important than what octain fule used (i.g. that no water is in the fuel)- however there are some companies recomend a higher octain and will void your warranty if they find out you used otherwise

[Keith]

I use 87 octane.

[Esby]

87

[awm]

mowman you had some opinions from people i respect.
i will only tell you if you want running and cranking a 2 cycle to never bother you . follow proper cranking procedures and
use high octane and stihl or echo 50-1.also it ends the hard pulling, one lite pull on choke,half way over another lite pull and 9 out of 10 times you are running.if you run regular now i think you will notice a smoother run an marked difference in heat build up.
i use 6 different brands of 2 cycle and the all do the same after a couple tanks of this. later now and good luck.

[Avery]

89 octane and Amsoil mix.

[dhicks]

I like and use the 89 octane with Amsoil 100:1 mix. My mowers and the Z get 87. Personally, (just between us) I run great on 100 proof.:D

[GreenQuest Lawn]

Whatevers the cheapest :D

[EJK2352]

I have always run 87 octane & after looking at operators manuals
for all my equipment, I have found that all of them recommend a
minimum of 87 octane. EXCEPT for my Toro Proline which has no
octane listed but states "NEVER USE METHANOL, GASOLINE CONTAINING METHANOL, GASOHOL CONTAINING MORE THAN 10% ETHANOL, PREMIUM GASOLINE, OR WHITE GAS BECAUSE ENGINE FUEL SYSTEM DAMAGE COULD RESULT." Mowman: I would fight Toro all the way, 89 octane fuel isn't PREMIUM it's a MID- GRADE fuel. I have had warranty problems in the past that couldn't be resolved at the dealer level. I have called a few manufacturers and have had good luck resolving warranty issues to my satisfaction. Don't be afraid to call a manufacturer & plead your case w/ them. ED





























:)

[BobbyBcuttin]

Eric, my dad was in colarodo he seen gas as low as 81 octane made for higher altitude. He used 87 in my new van said it did fine at 13,000 feet. 87 in every thing but my kx 500 dirt bike.

[Fallguy]

a 36:1 ratio even in equipment that recomends a 50:1 ratio insures that i will get maximum life out of my 2 stroke engines - i know a guy that changed all his equipment over from 50:1 to 36:1 while they were new and hes had the same weedeaters and backpack blowers for 8 years - he stands by the fact that 2 strokes already do not recieve enough lubrication that the oil in the gas is there only lubrication - a mechanic told me there is no problem running 36:1 in something that recomends 50:1 (save having to clean plugs a little more often) its actually better for the equipment.

[awm]

there are problems running higher oil concentrations but id rather not get into it. if it works for you ,thats all that matters.
later

[Fallguy]

im curious as to what could be the problem with higher concentrations of oil - especially one as miniscule as using 36:1 instead of 50:1 ratio:confused:

[jason2]

Eric,

Montana's lowest octane fuel is 85.5. Bordering states like ND, and Idaho use 87 as the lowest octane, as well as WA. Not sure about the rest of the country. This is just what I have observed. :)

[TLS]

36:1 will not give you as much power and will carbon up or even gunk up quicker than 50:1. Why not go with what the manufacturer recommends? As for the octane rating. Octane ratings denote the fuels ability to prolong detonation until sparked. In other words, high octane is less combustable. If your compression ratios/cylinder pressures are high and you experience pre-ignition then you need high octane fuel. If not, you dont. However the alcohol content is another story. It does affect its ability to sustain a suspended solution.

I personally have always run 89 octane in all equipment, but this year dropped down to 87 with no ill effects. Now prices are dropping and I may go back to 89 for the 2 cycle stuff. Without super accurate tachometers and pyrometers, we dont really know if there are any positive effects of premium fuel in these small engines. I have a 21 yea-old Poulan Chainsaw that recommends 16:1, well for the last 5 years it has run fine on my 50:1 Echo fuel. Smokes a lot less, thats for sure!

[EJK2352]

Oil quality has improved greatly since 21 yrs. ago and is probably why dixie1 is able to use 50:1 mix in that old saw that called for 16:1. I mix my 2 stroke fuel at 32:1 and have no problems at all.
I use Husquvarna oil and I don't seem to get any excessive carbon build-up in exhaust ports either. I feel a good quality oil is the key to long 2 stroke engine life.:) ED

[Keith]

Originally posted by Fallguy
im curious as to what could be the problem with higher concentrations of oil - especially one as miniscule as using 36:1 instead of 50:1 ratio:confused:

Ok, here goes.

1. Increased 2 cycle oil usage = $$$$$
2. More frequently fouled plugs = $$$$
3. More carbon buildup = Labor to clean = $$$$
4. More smoke
5. Less power than one mixed at optimal ratio


I run Amsoil 2 Cycle oil at 80:1 in everything and have ran it as lean as 120:1.

[Island Lawn]

87 octane is as low as it goes here. I use it in everything!

Sthil 2-cycle oil 40:1

[Island Lawn]

On another thread,
MOW ED mentions that he has used synthetic 2-cycle oil for years with no prob.
Anybody else got opinions on the synthetic stuff?

[roscioli]

dixie is right on.

and i say: higher concentrations of oil wont burn the oil out, leaving carbon buildup that not only fouls plugs, but can actually harm your valves if left long enough. I use exactly what the manufacture says, some 40:1, some are 50:1.

[Craig Jones]

We have two Toro Prolines that are 21". The older one, model 22030 (85) says in the owners manual to use regular gas, 5o:1 mixture. I have my son looking for the manual for the newer 22040 (96). He thinks they call for 89 octane. We do not have the knocking noise in our old mower but we do have it in the new one. We use Stihl 50:1 oil and 89 octane gas since we use the same gas for the trimmers and blowers which call for it. I am curious on the outcome on this since I have been running 89 octane and could save some money if I could run regular gas in this equipment. The manual did say like you said no methanol, gasahol, etc. I think during the winter they put some of this stuff in the fuel and I guess this can cause problems. We also have to use oxyeganted fuel due to the metro location we live in. I hope this does not have an adverse effect as well.

Anyway, I will check with my dealer and see what he says about it. I have had good luck in emailing the Toro folks directly in the past, I believe I met them at the Expo back in 1999 in Baltimore. The reps were very helpful.

Good luck. Our mower did not do this until last year, so we had a couple of years on it before this surfaced.

[Island Lawn]

Ok, I'm confused.
All my two cycles are Stihl.
I get 2-cycle Stihl oil, by the box, in the orange mini-bottle for mixing one gal at a time.
The label says 40:1

But you guys are talking Stihl 50:1
My manuals call for 50:1

Why would Stihl sell me a mini-bottle for mixing with one gal of gas with a 40:1???:confused:

[Keith]

Originally posted by Island Lawn
On another thread,
MOW ED mentions that he has used synthetic 2-cycle oil for years with no prob.
Anybody else got opinions on the synthetic stuff?

I've been using it for 8 years without any problems.

[Craig Jones]

We buy the Stihl mix by the case and we have to mix it with 2. 5 gallons to get the 50:1 mix if this answers your question.

[Mark]

I use 32/1 mixture and 89 octane in my Robin 2 cycle,i use lawnboy oil. In the trimmers and blowers 89 octane and Echo 2cycle oil. My 52" walkbehinds and Z-Master always 89. Marks Mowing Service

[slabpile]

36:1

you can clog the carb, fowl the plug. adn all the oil ends up running out some where on the trimmer or mower, not sure if there are more things.