Page 1 of 3

Fuel mixing - who's right?

Posted: 12:37 pm Aug 05 2010
by turtle
Yes, I am still a newbie. Our four wheelers are 2 stroke but they are injected, so ...

I saw somewhere on line (this site, maybe) that you should mix fuel according to the oil maker's recommendations and not what Kaw says. I bought some Amsoil 2-stroke oil and it says 50:1 :shock:. Seems a little lean to me.

What is the correct approach with mixing up your fuel? The Gas Oil Mixture Ratio Calculator on this site is pretty cool, BTW.

Thanks.
turtle

Posted: 01:03 pm Aug 05 2010
by Indawoods
Actually... that would make it rich. I run 50:1 Amsoil... no problems.

Posted: 01:34 pm Aug 05 2010
by turtle
OK, now I am definitely confused, Inda. It probably is because of how I used the term "lean". I meant lean on oil. I thought 50:1 meant 50 parts fuel to 1 part oil, so 50:1 would be a leaner *oil* mixture than 32:1 (or richer on fuel). Looking at your Gas Oil Mixture Ratio Calculator, if I use 5 gallons fuel, I need 20 oz oil for 32:1. For 50:1, I need 12.8 oz per your calculator. So I think this supports my understanding. So, am I right or off by a country mile?

Anyway, bottom line is my concern is that 50:1 would be too little amount of oil when Kaw calls for 32:1 or 40:1. Your suggestion is to go ahead and mix it at 50:1 as I understand it.

Thanks for educating me.

Posted: 01:53 pm Aug 05 2010
by johnyblaze
I don't like the idea of going 50:1 just due to the possible outcome if it's not OK. Hey, I feel pretty comfy at 40:1 and don't feel like I'm wasting oil being too careful.

More importantly, my bike's jetted at 40:1 so I'm keeping it.

Posted: 03:25 pm Aug 05 2010
by bcdonyo
>|<>QBB<
johnyblaze wrote:I don't like the idea of going 50:1 just due to the possible outcome if it's not OK. Hey, I feel pretty comfy at 40:1 and don't feel like I'm wasting oil being too careful.

More importantly, my bike's jetted at 40:1 so I'm keeping it.
+1, I've run 40:1 in my smokers for years with no problems. May have gotten the same results with 50:1, but it would make me nervous. :rolleyes:

Posted: 03:45 pm Aug 05 2010
by Julien D
You can run just about whatever mix you want as long as you jet for it. If you don't feel like jetting the bike, then run what Kawi suggests. 32:1 I think.

What Inda meant was that adding more oil does not make a richer mix. Lean / rich refers to air / fuel mixture, not oil content. More oil = less fuel, so the air to fuel ratio becomes leaner. Make sense?

Posted: 06:28 pm Aug 05 2010
by ihatefalling
>|<>QBB<
Indawoods wrote:Actually... that would make it rich. I run 50:1 Amsoil... no problems.
+ 1

Posted: 08:00 am Aug 06 2010
by turtle
>|<>QBB<
juliend wrote:You can run just about whatever mix you want as long as you jet for it. If you don't feel like jetting the bike, then run what Kawi suggests. 32:1 I think.

What Inda meant was that adding more oil does not make a richer mix. Lean / rich refers to air / fuel mixture, not oil content. More oil = less fuel, so the air to fuel ratio becomes leaner. Make sense?
It sure does. Thanks.

Posted: 04:04 pm Aug 06 2010
by ogri
have yet to meet a two-stroke owner this side of the pond who mixes anything other than 50:1

fully synthetic of course.

Posted: 06:18 pm Aug 06 2010
by Julien D
40:1 for me. Works good and makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Posted: 06:41 pm Aug 06 2010
by David_L6
We run Klotz and AV gas at 32:1.

I'm of the "oil is cheaper than parts" line of thinking.... I guess that comes from 30 years of racing outboard hydros where some of us take motors that were designed to turn 5500 RPMs at full throttle and wind them up to 8500+ RPMs.

The extra oil makes those bearings smile and doesn't hurt the ring sealing a bit either. :shh:

Posted: 07:00 pm Aug 06 2010
by Tedh98
I was starting to think I was the only one here running 32:1. I do it mostly out of convenience though. My kids need to run 32:1 in their engines and I don't want to deal with having 2 gas cans or mixing things up and putting 40:1+ in their engines by mistake.

Posted: 08:48 pm Aug 06 2010
by Mr. Wibbens
50:1 here, my bike feels a lot more Zippy

Run the same in all my power equipment

Posted: 08:56 pm Aug 11 2010
by rbates9
So, I was just about to mix up some fresh gas and for the first time read the bottle. I use golden spectro oil, the bottle said to mix one 12 oz. bottle with five gallons of gas to get 53/1. The bottle claims that it is "special" oil that can part the seas and make you walk on water. I have been running the same oil at 32/1 and am getting sick of the spooge all over everything so I was going to bump it up to 40/1 but after reading the bottle I wasn't sure if I might as well go to the 53/1 that they say. Has any body tried this before? What the hell could it hurt? Other then the complete top end? :?

Posted: 09:07 pm Aug 11 2010
by Mr. Wibbens
aint gonna help your spooge problem

Posted: 09:10 pm Aug 11 2010
by rbates9
>|<>QBB<
Mr. Wibbens wrote:aint gonna help your spooge problem
So what would? It's not just a little around the pipe, it's all over.

Posted: 09:18 pm Aug 11 2010
by Mr. Wibbens
Jet your bike properly

And repack your s/a if it's aftermarket

Posted: 09:24 pm Aug 11 2010
by rbates9
I went thru the jetting thing and went down to 155 and 42 with no decrease in spooge. that was also with a fresh repack. Plug looks good and it has been running good.

Posted: 09:32 pm Aug 11 2010
by kdxmaniac
you need to check your silencer...... my ktm 300 was was spooging bad......repacked the silencer{fmf} and all good now.

Posted: 09:33 pm Aug 11 2010
by Indawoods
Are you running fuel with ethanol in it? ... a mechanic should be asking these questions!