What oil is best? and what ratio?

[bwalker]

Don't know about how large the affect is on 2 cycle engines, but in vehicle engines, viscosity can and does affect running temps.

There isnt alot of read across between the two given the vehicle engine has a pressurized lube system and plain bearings.
But what will make OPE run hotter or cooler is carb settings.

 

[bwalker]

Husky 550XP 3 gallons of Maxima K2 at mostly 32:1 with a few tanks at 40:1. And yes that is red residual oil. K2 doesnt have much color so I add some of the red dye pictured. Same stuff used to dye diesel fuel.
Clean exhaust port, clean piston, nice wash albeit the transfer flow is uneven, muffler is dry, plenty of residual oil and the ring area is bare metal. Perfect performance in this saw.

 

[bwalker]

Stihl MS 400c I am not sure on how much fuel I have ran through it. Maybe 5 gallons? Been ran on Echo Red Armor since new. Clean exhaust port, symmetrical wash, little thicker/darker carbon on piston, but by no means bad, shows slight coloration above top ring but nothing below, muffler is bone dry. Also very good performance, although probably not as clean as K2 long term.

 

[bwalker]

Husky/Redmax 580 BTS blower. This unit is 12-15 years old( I cant remember exactly)and has high hours. Has been ran commercially by my son and I used it commercial years ago when burning stump piles while clearing land. No idea on hours but alot. 1000 would not surprise me. It had a leaky base gasket maybe 5 years ago which I replaced. When I had the cylinder off I also cleaned the piston crown, which had some build up on it. Blowers are pretty low stress. Its been run lately on K2, before that Red Armor and before that Honda Hp2. This piston does show some ash build up, which is the crusty white stuff. Not supprising as its low stress and ran wide open for long periods of time blowing snow and leaves. It also run it intentionally rich this time of year as it might see -20 temps hence the ample wash. For summer I will tune it back to normal settings using the Redmax tuning reccomendations.

 

[bwalker]

The 580 BTS is soaking in Chevron Techron right now to see if it will remove the carbon from the piston as @lilspenny suggests.

 

[Duane(Pa)]

What happens to fuel in a plastic jug if you keep burping off the light ends over numerous heat cycles?
I had boiling fuel last summer in a saw with separate/detached tank/handle. Been trying to wrap my feeble mind around that ever since. That fuel was stored in a metal can, so it was good to go on low vapor pressure and it went...

 

[bwalker]

What happens to fuel in a plastic jug if you keep burping off the light ends over numerous heat cycles?
I had boiling fuel last summer in a saw with separate/detached tank/handle. Been trying to wrap my feeble mind around that ever since. That fuel was stored in a metal can, so it was good to go on low vapor pressure and it went...

Lose of octane, harder to start, runs leaner. In other words nothing good.

 

[Khntr85]

If it works well.for you why switch?

Well just like “do I need another chainsaw” lol….

I won’t switch to it completely just wanted to try it after hearing so many people sing its praises….

Do I think it’s better than red armor, well what’s better???

We are such a small amount of the general population of chainsaw users most people use Stihl ultra or whatever cheapest…

 

[Khntr85]

Stihl MS 400c I am not sure on how much fuel I have ran through it. Maybe 5 gallons? Been ran on Echo Red Armor since new. Clean exhaust port, symmetrical wash, little thicker/darker carbon on piston, but by no means bad, shows slight coloration above top ring but nothing below, muffler is bone dry. Also very good performance, although probably not as clean as K2 long term.
View attachment 485580

How many hours you got on it

 

[huskihl]

Well just like “do I need another chainsaw” lol….

I won’t switch to it completely just wanted to try it after hearing so many people sing its praises….

Do I think it’s better than red armor, well what’s better???

We are such a small amount of the general population of chainsaw users most people use Stihl ultra or whatever cheapest…

I would find one you like that is easily available and stick with it. Auto tune, Mtronic and injected stuff isn’t really a fan of being thrown different oils, fuels, and ratios all the time

 

[Khntr85]

I would find one you like that is easily available and stick with it. Auto tune, Mtronic and injected stuff isn’t really a fan of being thrown different oils, fuels, and ratios all the time

I only personally run red armor….trying out dominator cause some people say it’s liquid gold….using it in blower and trimmer…

But yes I’d agree with ya in general….

Luckily with the internet anything you want you can get!!!

 

[bwalker]

How many hours you got on it

No idea. I have had it for 4 years or so.

 

[bwalker]

I would find one you like that is easily available and stick with it. Auto tune, Mtronic and injected stuff isn’t really a fan of being thrown different oils, fuels, and ratios all the time

Sound advice.

 

[Khntr85]

No idea. I have had it for 4 years or so.

RA treating her right….what you mix it at??

My 261 2yeas old now it’s all it’s ever ran….popped muffler off while back looks brand new…don’t have to many hours I don’t think

 

[huskihl]

I only personally run red armor….trying out dominator cause some people say it’s liquid gold….using it in blower and trimmer…

But yes I’d agree with ya in general….

Luckily with the internet anything you want you can get!!!

Hard to be objective once you go too deep into the red armor rabbit hole. Most people skip dominator because they’re scared they might like it

 

[Squareground3691]

Hard to be objective once you go too deep into the red armor rabbit hole. Most people skip dominator because they’re scared they might like it

I ant scared lol , hey Kev

 

[Khntr85]

Hard to be objective once you go too deep into the red armor rabbit hole. Most people skip dominator because they’re scared they might like it

Don’t know what you mean about red armor rabbit hole….i think guys that actually tear down saws see that it does work good…

So I’m assuming you run dominator then???

 

[huskihl]

I ant scared lol , hey Kev

Hiya Wayne.
Things good? Better?

 

[Squareground3691]

Hiya Wayne.
Things good? Better?

Getting better and stronger every week,

 

[bwalker]

RA treating her right….what you mix it at??

My 261 2yeas old now it’s all it’s ever ran….popped muffler off while back looks brand new…don’t have to many hours I don’t think

40:1 mostly. Initially tried it at 32:1 and 50:1. Ended up splitting the differance.
RA is good oil but its not magic. K2 is a little cleaner and leaves just as much residual from what I can tell.
When I say K2 is a little cleaner look at the piston crown in my previous post and then look at the upper ring land in this photo. I like to see bare metal in this area.
Also notice the muffler is dry as it should be unlike those boat oils.