Adding 2 stroke oil to fuel

[Bluebonnet]

Hi - I have a string trimmer which uses gas for fuel (so not electric). I've never used a device where I was told to add oil directly to the fuel but whatever. I had it set up a couple of months ago but winter got bad so I haven't used it yet. The gas that is in it now was put in at the shop who showed me how to use it. Since then I have bought a new gas can to keep separate from my other gas can as I've been instructed to add 2 stroke engine oil directly to the gas.

Ok so I'm good w that even tho it's something I'm not familiar with. Now winter is gone and I want to use the trimmer. So I have a separate gas can which I have filled w non-ethanol gas BUT this was a couple months ago and I don't recall if I put the 2 engine oil it it yet or not. I can't find the original container of oil that came w the trimmer but that might have been left at the shop (in fact I'm pretty sure it was). I found an almost-empty container of 2 stroke oil - which I would not have used in any other machines as again, this is the 1st device that's required it.

My Q: Is there a way to determine if the gas in the designated can I will be using has the oil in it already? That is, if I put it in there is there a way to tell that or not? I'm thinking it's not a good idea to add more oil to it if it's already in there.

Thanks!

 

[Rand]

The oil adds color to the gas.

Green, red etc.

If its clear like normal gas.. it probably doesnt have oil.

Also if its a few months old its winter gas.

If in doubt just burn it in your car and get fresh gas and start over.
I'm assuming its a 1gallon gas can.

 

[Rogueman2016s]

Dump that old fuel out don’t run it. Go get yourself ready to use fuel 40/50:1

 

[Bluebonnet]

Yes it's a 1 gallon but it's actually a lot of trouble to go get gas, especially the ethanol-free gas, as this is a rural area.

I could maybe pour some in a glass jar then and look at it. Then compare to some gas from the regular can I use for other machines.

 

[Bluebonnet]

also not that old maybe only 2 months tops

 

[Rand]

Oh did you move from the Bronx?

 

[Bluebonnet]

yep. 2020.

 

[Rand]

yep. 2020.

What 2 cycle oil were you using. If its ethanol free.. its not that old.
the color of the 2 cycle oil should be readily apparent in the gas.. fill up the string trimmer.. if it looks clear dump it back in can and add 2 cycle oil.

 

[Elkins45]

As others have said, 2 cycle oil has dye added so your gas should be colored. Truth be told it wouldn’t be the end of the world if you added too much oil for just a gallon or so of fuel. My old Lawn Boy mower specified a 16:1 mix.

 

[oldhp]

Last year I gave in and bought VP 50 : 1 fuel for my new leaf blower. Yes it is $$$$$, but leaf blower starts right up. Yes it's new. I filled my 4 stroke lawn mower with the 50 : 1 fuel just to see what would happen after 3 months of sitting. To my surprise it fired right up on it's usual 2 pulls. I only buy VP 50 : 1 for the leaf blower and only now buy 1 gal at a time for the lawn mower.

 

[Rogueman2016s]

Last year I gave in and bought VP 50 : 1 fuel for my new leaf blower. Yes it is $$$$$, but leaf blower starts right up. Yes it's new. I filled my 4 stroke lawn mower with the 50 : 1 fuel just to see what would happen after 3 months of sitting. To my surprise it fired right up on its usual 2 pulls. I only buy VP 50 : 1 for the leaf blower and only now buy 1 gal at a time for the lawn mower.

When I was at NAPA picking up a plug for my poulan blower a little over a year ago I tried trufuel 50:1 made such a difference. throttle response and return to idle was improved along with easier starts.. probably all in my head but to me it felt like the engine rev’d much higher and put out more power. I had gone back to mixing my own 50:1 with 89 when I realized I only used about half a gallon last year I’m back to and will stick with the engineered fuel. I’m going to use super tech 40/50:1 this go around.

 

[wpod]

Dump the gas you have in your car and go get another can of gas it doesn't have to be ethanol free,,, this isn't 20 years ago. buy some quality 2 stroke oil for air cooled engines and mix is a 32 or 40 to 1. fill the gas can half way with gas and add the proper amount of oil needed for the amount of gas. Put on the cap tight and shake the can. then add the rest on the gas. The gas shoulh have the tint from the dye in the 2 cycle oil used.

 

[Speedbird001]

If you are in a rural area in the USA there is certainly a Sthil dealer within a reasonable distance. Pick-up a gallon of their "Motomix" top shelf pre-mix.... residential use weed eater cannot really use that much, 1 Gal probably last a whole season (Shelf life = 2 years once opened)

Until you get a chance to get to the store, do the glass jar check and add if needed, heck, a 2T weed-eater, even if you double dose, a couple tanks at 25:1 it won't really care. (I think my old Kawasaki was like 20:1)

 

[KrisZ]

The gas in a closed container will be fine, just shake it a bit to mix everything again. I had very little grass when I lived in California and a gallon of premix would last me two years. The trimmer and the blower worked normally on that gas.

Someone mentioned trufuel, stay away from that overpriced junk. They can’t even get the proper mix ratio as printed on the packaging.
If you don’t want to mix your own gas, get an electric trimmer and sell this one on Facebook marketplace. You will not loose too much money on it.

 

[cedarpangolin]

Judging by t

Oh did you move from the Bronx?

Judging by the location in bio I’d say they’re near me somewhere spitting distance from Canada, lol.

 

[Rand]

Judging by t

Judging by the location in bio I’d say they’re near me somewhere spitting distance from Canada, lol.

He updated it between posts.