What oil is best? and what ratio?

[mainer_in_ak]

Ran saber at 32:1 in the fleet of saws for about 18 months. Would never run saber in the oil injected snowmobiles because I was afraid it would strip out the plastic oil injection gears. It's too thick in the hard below zero temps. It won't pour from a bottle at 30 below zero.

The saber residual in the crankcase of 90 cc and 100+ cc chainsaws was so gummy in below zero temps, the saws were hard to start.

Have always ran the lucas 2 cycle in the snowmobiles because it pours at 30-40 below.

To simplify things, I have been running the lucas in everything: string trimmer, ice auger, brush cutter, snowmobile, and all the chainsaws. Switched in February 2024. No stabilizer in the lucas so have been adding 1 oz stabil marine per 5 gal jug.

Dunno if it's built up carbon or shortened lifespan of saws. One saw in particular: a cs 590 has been run only on lucas since new. I'll pull apart the saw in March post up pics of the cylinder at the 1 year mark of lucas.

30 below zero last February:

 

[PissRev]

Ran saber at 32:1 in the fleet of saws for about 18 months. Would never run saber in the oil injected snowmobiles because I was afraid it would strip out the plastic oil injection gears. It's too thick in the hard below zero temps. It won't pour from a bottle at 30 below zero.

The saber residual in the crankcase of 90 cc and 100+ cc chainsaws was so gummy in below zero temps, the saws were hard to start.

Have always ran the lucas 2 cycle in the snowmobiles because it pours at 30-40 below.

To simplify things, I have been running the lucas in everything: string trimmer, ice auger, brush cutter, snowmobile, and all the chainsaws. Switched in February 2024. No stabilizer in the lucas so have been adding 1 oz stabil marine per 5 gal jug.

Dunno if it's built up carbon or shortened lifespan of saws. One saw in particular: a cs 590 has been run only on lucas since new. I'll pull apart the saw in March post up pics of the cylinder at the 1 year mark of lucas.

30 below zero last February:

I'd definitely like to see what the Lucas looks in your saw.

 

[mainer_in_ak]

Yep me too!

One fk-up on my part:
Saw had some cackling and doggy throttle response. I had the saw tuned too lean. Bad combo with the ignition adavnaced.
I ran it like that for 2 paid jobs. Was a 2 day beetle-killed spruce thinning job and bucking everything into firewood. Other job was an alder thinning job along a road for about 5 days.

After the paid jobs, Finally put a tach on it and brought it back around 13k rpms. It was running 13,400 rpms.

So if the the piston/cylinder looks like *s-word, I wouldn't be surprised. At least 40 hours of run time with it running like sht! If it looks decent, the 32:1 protected the saw from a bad tune.

 

[Partner]

I always have a screwdriver with me even if I know that I have a well-tuned chainsaw / Although in newer designs you need 2 or 3 of them for one device

 

[bwalker]

Yep me too!

One fk-up on my part:
Saw had some cackling and doggy throttle response. I had the saw tuned too lean. Bad combo with the ignition adavnaced.
I ran it like that for 2 paid jobs. Was a 2 day beetle-killed spruce thinning job and bucking everything into firewood. Other job was an alder thinning job along a road for about 5 days.

After the paid jobs, Finally put a tach on it and brought it back around 13k rpms. It was running 13,400 rpms.

So if the the piston/cylinder looks like *s-word, I wouldn't be surprised. At least 40 hours of run time with it running like sht! If it looks decent, the 32:1 protected the saw from a bad tune.

400rpm differance isn't huge by any means.

 

[Partner]

I always have a screwdriver with me even if I know that I have a well-tuned chainsaw / Although in newer designs you need 2 or 3 of them for one device

All you need to do is refuel at another station or pour another oil, using the same proportion

 

[Nutball]

400rpm differance isn't huge by any means.

It is when it's the difference between too lean and not. It is when the rev limited is in the mix as well.

I had a stock 2188 sound smoother and run stronger on 93 octane instead of 87. Maybe it was that blend, maybe it was whatever oil I was using at the time, but I noticed a difference. It's the only saw I've noticed that with, but I also avoid low octane gas from then on.

 

[Hulsty]

I've got no particular recommendation, currently running Echo Red Armor at 40:1, starting to run low and came across this at the local tool shop, well priced too at AUD $14.

 

[Partner]

I've got no particular recommendation, currently running Echo Red Armor at 40:1, starting to run low and came across this at the local tool shop, well priced too at AUD $14.

I used a lot of this oil. $7 used to be even cheaper

 

[Wilhelm]

I've got no particular recommendation, currently running Echo Red Armor at 40:1, starting to run low and came across this at the local tool shop, well priced too at AUD $14.

That Makita oil is what I have coming in next week.
Nearly a case full, or so I have been told.

I am currently on my last 2 liter bottles of the same from my previous case/dozen purchase.
My saws run on a dedicated diet of that oil.

 

[bwalker]

It is when it's the difference between too lean and not. It is when the rev limited is in the mix as well.

I had a stock 2188 sound smoother and run stronger on 93 octane instead of 87. Maybe it was that blend, maybe it was whatever oil I was using at the time, but I noticed a difference. It's the only saw I've noticed that with, but I also avoid low octane gas from then on.

400 rpm off factory no load specs isn't too lean. The factory specs are very conservative. With a rev limiter that's another can of worms, but not really applicable here.

 

[mainer_in_ak]

Im confused here, what is the hang up tuning my saw that was cackling and had doggy throttle response at 13400 rpms, until it was running perfectly at 13k?

Was about 1/4 turn on the the high jet.

Before I modified the carb with a walbro 86-578-1 fuel nozzle and advanced the ignition timing, it wouldn't even come close to 13k.

These modifications combined the base gasket deleted and the muffler opened up, now it's more finicky to tune. Is this surprising?

 

[Nutball]

Yep. Gas engine power output tanks fast when just a little too lean. Rpm gain may be minimal regardless of having a rev limiter considering the port timing on a 590, or most any Echo.

 

[mainer_in_ak]

Nutball, yep,. Both you and I have modified 590's and 620's. They're weird saws.

Even that freakishly long stroke changes how much rpms they want. They're just not screamers. Roughly the same piston diameter as an ms 261, with the stroke of 37.6 mm. That's .4 mm shy of the stroke of most 81 cc saws like the husq 181.

Since bwalker is clueless about almost any echo chainsaw I'll spell it out:

The piston velocity due that freakishly long stroke, 400 rpms was a significant enough difference from being too lean to running right. The stock upper transfers couldn't fuel the saw at those rpms.

BUT, the 620p will run slightly rich at 13500 rpms. Identical bore and stroke, different exhaust and upper transfer numbers. It's kind of like a ported cs 590.

I ran them both today, bucking about 2.5 cord of birch.

 

[Wilhelm]

My order came in around noon.
I have been told that these are the last bottles the Makita distributor will import due to no demand & Makita dropping combustion engine powered OPE.



Fine by me, I stocked up for years to come.



Also, I am fine with using any other/junk oil in my cheap supermarket weedeater.
That'll help extend my supply a bit.

 

[Woodwater]

You need snow in croatia.

 

[Wilhelm]

You need snow in croatia.

I fully agree, and least 10"!

Would help get all the lousy and "full of themselves" drivers in the ditches and off the roads!

 

[Wilhelm]

This is the little bit we had so far.

 

[PissRev]

My order came in around noon.
I have been told that these are the last bottles the Makita distributor will import due to no demand & Makita dropping combustion engine powered OPE.

View attachment 442564

Fine by me, I stocked up for years to come.

View attachment 442565

Also, I am fine with using any other/junk oil in my cheap supermarket weedeater.
That'll help extend my supply a bit.

Congratulations on getting your oil. I understand it could be hard getting good 2T oil because I have friends and family in the Philippines. The only fairly easy oil to find is Petron Powerburn FB oil. It doesn't have a dye but it is Cherry scented.

 

[Wilhelm]

Congratulations on getting your oil. I understand it could be hard getting good 2T oil because I have friends and family in the Philippines. The only fairly easy oil to find is Petron Powerburn FB oil. It doesn't have a dye but it is Cherry scented.

My last resort was ordering some from Germany, thankfully I didn't have to and saved 5€ per bottle.

As said, I am happy with my now 12 bottles/liters stash of this oil.

I have a hard time finding 2-stroke oil that meets my criteria.
Most cause me a painful burning sensation in nostrils and throat, burning eyes, mild to severe headaches.
Others just don't look right in the engines and mufflers.