Okay, I am considering mixing VP 2 cycle and Red Armor for my br800. Why? Well VP runs cleaner in my blower than RA, and I feel that Red Armor has a certain tackiness and perhaps better lubrication than VP. Hoping to find the pot at the end of the rainbow. Your thoughts?
Conbining 2 stroke oils in ope...
- Thread starter lilspenny
- Start date
I've mixed oils for years in my snowmobiles and have never had an issue. Typically semi-synthetic or full synthetic, but never an issue. You will notice a change in exhaust smell though from time to time. LOL
That's funny!
I've heard that sometimes the oils can react with each other and turn to a weird gel in injection tanks. But I've mixed 2 or 3 in my Polaris 2 smoke ATV and never had trouble.
It's doubtful you will achieve any performance benefit my mixing oils, but it's unlikely to harm anything. Your rainbow pot experiences not withstanding. 
dang! I need that pot.It's doubtful you will achieve any performance benefit my mixing oils, but it's unlikely to harm anything. Your rainbow pot experiences not withstanding.
Just mix it 32:1 of whatever 2-cycle oil you have. No point in overthinking it
Thanks for the reply. I've been on a mission to stop carbon from building any more than it already has. Just this week, burning Amsoil Saber at 50:1 with a spark plug one level hotter than oem, carbon has increased even though the spark plug looks fantastic. Red Armor 50:1 with the standard plug was worse. This is all with mostly wide open throttle. No big deal, it's just that it's an interest of mine. I've had various handheld ope over the last 40 years and the Stihl 4-mix is definitely the cleanest I've had, but which oil runs the cleanest? So far it's VP 50:1, and it's not even close. I'm retired, so overthinking trivial things is a hobby. I'm just glad it's still warm enough for me to enjoy being outside without a coat. This weekend it's gonna be a motorcycle charity ride. Just enjoying piddling.
So, you are trying to dilute a bit the Red Armor with VP Racing?
Yes, they are very different viscosities, from their PSDs and oil analysis the Red Armor is about 12 cSt at 100°C and VP Racing is 8.5 cSt at 100°C.
At what ratio are you planing to mix the two - 50/50? It's something like mixing 50/50 SAE20 with SAE30 oil. The viscosity calculator displays 10 cSt at 100°C, which is still SAE30, but on the lower end.
https://www.widman.biz/English/Calculators/Mixtures.html
And then at what ratio with the gas are you planning to run the mix - 50:1?
I don't think those numbers are correct. I had seen that voa but that is not the oil that is pictured. I believe that must be one of the Powersports 2t oil's voa with the ope oil bottle. Not sure how that could have happened but I think something is amiss. But, to answer the question.... 50:1 RA & 45:1 VP. Oil pre-measured for total of 2 gallons 93 non-ethanol.So, you are trying to dilute a bit the Red Armor with VP Racing?
Yes, they are very different viscosities, from their PSDs and oil analysis the Red Armor is about 12 cSt at 100°C and VP Racing is 8.5 cSt at 100°C.
At what ratio are you planing to mix the two - 50/50? It's something like mixing 50/50 SAE20 with SAE30 oil. The viscosity calculator displays 10 cSt at 100°C, which is still SAE30, but on the lower end.
https://www.widman.biz/English/Calculators/Mixtures.html
And then at what ratio with the gas are you planning to run the mix - 50:1?
I had also seen the RA voa and chuckled because I think that one may be accurate despite Echo's numbers being so much thinner. But the ope VP is not as thick as that voa, in my seat of the pants opinion.So, you are trying to dilute a bit the Red Armor with VP Racing?
Yes, they are very different viscosities, from their PSDs and oil analysis the Red Armor is about 12 cSt at 100°C and VP Racing is 8.5 cSt at 100°C.
At what ratio are you planing to mix the two - 50/50? It's something like mixing 50/50 SAE20 with SAE30 oil. The viscosity calculator displays 10 cSt at 100°C, which is still SAE30, but on the lower end.
https://www.widman.biz/English/Calculators/Mixtures.html
And then at what ratio with the gas are you planning to run the mix - 50:1?
Gel can be an issue in oil injection systems in cold weather like in snowmobiles. Sleds need a cold weather rated oil, some boat oils may not be snowmobile approved. I've mixed brands in sleds that were snowmobile approved with no issues. As far as mixing directly into gas for OPE, I've never had an issue with gelling.
You already have your answer by running VP Racing at 50:1. By your own admission, using Echo Red Armor causes more carbon buildup, so blending it to VP will not decrease carbon at all. As you implied, running wide open throttle will do more to reduce carbon in the exhaust than using any VP/Red Armor blend.
Also, the degree of viscosity and so-called "tackiness" of a 2-cycle oil has zero bearing on the lubricity characteristics for this application. Once the oil is diluted to a 50:1 ratio with gasoline, the viscosity difference is essentially immeasurable in the final solution. Additionally, the lubrication value is also linked to the characteristics of the oil during combustion and the residual byproducts, not just prior to ignition.
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I guess mixinga synthetic + semi-synthetic = semi-synthetic.
Thanks for your reply and for sharing your knowledge.
lolI guess mixinga synthetic + semi-synthetic = semi-synthetic.
When I was in college, I owned 2ea 2 stroke motorcycles for transportation. Various modified RD350's, one of which I water cooled, and my trusty IT490 dirt bike with street legal kit. I mixed BelRay MC1 with Castrol 2 stroke oil. By that time, I had already been involved in 2 stroke engine testing and oil testing. My logic was to achieve a combination of properties, not the least of which was cost reduction.
The bottom line was that it worked very well. I modified the engines with race spec porting and was pushing the limits with regard to exhaust port size and the ability of the rings to bridge the gap. This results in high rates of ring wear above the exhaust port. The oil mixture really did seem to provide adequate protection, while allowing me to run 32 to 1 without fouling or other difficulties.
My bike was a white version of this one. I made my own fat expansion chambers and ran 202º of exhaust port timing! I eventually water-cooled the bike for more powa! Both of these bikes were a lot of fun, that's for sure. And yes, the 60HP IT490 was faster than the 350.
The bottom line was that it worked very well. I modified the engines with race spec porting and was pushing the limits with regard to exhaust port size and the ability of the rings to bridge the gap. This results in high rates of ring wear above the exhaust port. The oil mixture really did seem to provide adequate protection, while allowing me to run 32 to 1 without fouling or other difficulties.
My bike was a white version of this one. I made my own fat expansion chambers and ran 202º of exhaust port timing! I eventually water-cooled the bike for more powa! Both of these bikes were a lot of fun, that's for sure. And yes, the 60HP IT490 was faster than the 350.
2x on Bel Ray. It was the only oil I could run that stopped rings from sticking in a '76 440cc twin Polaris free air sled motor back in the '80's. It was race ported, stinger expansion chambers, 4mm oversized carbs (38mm), etc. Rings would stick in the pistons when it sat overnight so no compression in the morning. Converted me to synth. oil in everything.
I still remember my ears ringing after a long ride and the sounds of it. It was fast and fun. At least you had better muffs on the bike than I had room for in the sled.
I still remember my ears ringing after a long ride and the sounds of it. It was fast and fun. At least you had better muffs on the bike than I had room for in the sled.