Oil for Toro Two Cycle

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I own a Toro 221QE and two other older two cycle single stage snow blowers powered by Tecumseh two cycle engines. I have over-ridden the governors on the Tecumseh engines to get more power out of the engines. Normally they're set to run around 3600 - 4000 rpm. I have them cranked up to 6500 rpm. Let me tell you, at those speeds, these cheap little SS machine can really throw snow! I'm purposely flogging them just to see how long they'll last. I used one of them all last winter and worked it hard at 6000+ rpm most of the time it was running. It doesn't seem to mind the high revs and only stops when it's out of fuel. The Toro 221QE is set to run around 4000 rpm. It makes pretty good power at that speed and is a very respectable snow mover simply by design. In addition to the above, I have probably 20 more machines with two cycle engines. From chainsaws to water pump, grass trimmers, leaf blower, ice auger, snowmobiles and several restored vintage Yamaha RD motorcycles. All engines run well, make respectable power and are in very good condition. Compression, even on the oldest engines (some well over 30 years old) is still at or near factory spec. I have used, almost exclusively for well over 25 years, nothing but Canadian Tire Brand Motomaster TC-3 two cycle oil in air cooled engines and TCW-3 in liquid cooled engines. It's a very good oil for a very good price. I just bought several gallons of it (yes gallons) for around $13.00/gal. So, one must ask why would anyone pay $10.75 for one quart of Amsoil when a gallon of excellent oil can be had for a mere $2.25 more? My experience with numerous two cycle engines has taught me that there are very good oils available for a great deal less money. Paying more for any particular brand of oil will not necessarily provide your engine with any clear cut advantage. Sure their ads will promise the world but in reality, much less expensive oil will deliver the same protection at a fraction of the cost.
 
Originally Posted By: boraticus
So, one must ask why would anyone pay $10.75 for one quart of Amsoil when a gallon of excellent oil can be had for a mere $2.25 more?
some people have the money and many don't burn more than a gallon per year anyway.
 
Originally Posted By: BTLew81
Thinking of using Amsoil Saber Professional this winter. Thoughts?
I'm sure it would do fine, but why not try and find somethng better. Remember, oil is cheap engines are not.... LOL
 
Is your Toro the Suzuki 2-cycle powered mower? How's it holding up? Those engines are no longer in production, but the individual parts are readily available through partstree at a premium price.
 
Being familiar with the Toro SS machines, I know they used a Suzuki two cycle engine in some of their SS machines. None of their single stage machines had four cycle engines until recently, three years maybe. Now they've phased out the two cycle engines and are using mostly, if not all Chinese Loncin four cycle engines. From what I've read, people are quite happy with them. The Suzuki two cycle engine is stone axe reliable, very durable and quite powerful for it's size. Keep the carb clean and it will perform admirably for many, many years.
 
Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
Is your Toro the Suzuki 2-cycle powered mower? How's it holding up? Those engines are no longer in production, but the individual parts are readily available through partstree at a premium price.
Toro use the Briggs and Stratton R-tek two cycle engine in 221 series and others as well.
 
Originally Posted By: boraticus
I have probably 20 more machines with two cycle engines. From chainsaws to water pump, grass trimmers, leaf blower, ice auger, snowmobiles and several restored vintage Yamaha RD motorcycles.
That is certainly an impressive collection of two smokes. Cheers2 Do you have any pics to share? Specifically the RD's. Coffee
 
Yeah I've posted a couple RD pics before. Got a 350, 400 and 200. I'll post some pics later. Working on one of my snow machines and I'm just in for lunch.
 
Originally Posted By: Bluestream
Originally Posted By: BTLew81
Thinking of using Amsoil Saber Professional this winter. Thoughts?
I'm sure it would do fine, but why not try and find somethng better. Remember, oil is cheap engines are not.... LOL
How does one determine that a particular oil is doing better? Do you take the engine apart and measure cylinder wear? Do you think you might "feel" more power? Maybe I am just not an "engine whisperer"....able to read my engine's little nuances. shrug Generally, I cannot tell any differences in oil type used. Maybe it smokes less or has less muffler buildup, but that might not relate to cylinder or bearing wear.
 
Originally Posted By: bigdreama
Originally Posted By: boraticus
I have probably 20 more machines with two cycle engines. From chainsaws to water pump, grass trimmers, leaf blower, ice auger, snowmobiles and several restored vintage Yamaha RD motorcycles.
That is certainly an impressive collection of two smokes. Cheers2 Do you have any pics to share? Specifically the RD's. Coffee
RD200 - stock RD350 - modified RD400 - modified
 
Originally Posted By: doitmyself
Originally Posted By: Bluestream
Originally Posted By: BTLew81
Thinking of using Amsoil Saber Professional this winter. Thoughts?
I'm sure it would do fine, but why not try and find somethng better. Remember, oil is cheap engines are not.... LOL
How does one determine that a particular oil is doing better? Do you take the engine apart and measure cylinder wear? Do you think you might "feel" more power? Maybe I am just not an "engine whisperer"....able to read my engine's little nuances. shrug Generally, I cannot tell any differences in oil type used. Maybe it smokes less or has less muffler buildup, but that might not relate to cylinder or bearing wear.
I think most brand loyalists who make unsupported claims about how wonderful a product is really don't have a clue of whether it's really any better than anything else. It's usually seat of the pants impressions of the machine's performance rather than scientific analysis bolstered by the fact that they spent much more money for their brand compared to other products. It's the old "I paid more for it so it's got to be better" syndrome. I don't fall for the hype nor do I pay the big bucks. I've been using conventional two cycle oil in all of my machines for many years. I'm not claiming it's better than anything else. However, I do claim that in the decades that I've been using it, I've never had an engine failure nor any mechanical complications cause by my choice of oil. It's inexpensive and apparently quite effective at what it's supposed to do. What more does one need?
 
Originally Posted By: BTLew81
Thinking of using Amsoil Saber Professional this winter. Thoughts?
Again - posters trying to talk you out of a high quality oil. There is NOTHING wrong with Saber. It's truly a great oil.
 
Originally Posted By: Pablo
Originally Posted By: BTLew81
Thinking of using Amsoil Saber Professional this winter. Thoughts?
Again - posters trying to talk you out of a high quality oil. There is NOTHING wrong with Saber. It's truly a great oil.
Pablo: If you were a Shell or Delvac or Castrol or Redline or Motul salesman, would you be advising the OP to buy Amsoil? People can decide to buy what they want. Forums are places to go to find out what other people use/recommend. No one is telling him that he shouldn't buy Amsoil. However, due to the fact that there are more than a few very suitable/effective oils available for a fraction of the cost, it incumbent upon those of us who know so, to advise others accordingly.
 
Originally Posted By: boraticus
People can decide to buy what they want.
That's exactly right. People can and should be able to make up their own minds.
Originally Posted By: boraticus
No one is telling him that he shouldn't buy Amsoil.
You just did.
 
Originally Posted By: Pablo
Originally Posted By: boraticus
You just did.
How? By suggesting that there are excellent oils available for much less money? There's a difference between informing someone of a better opportunity and outright telling them not to buy a particular product. I challenge the cost/benefit ratio of Amsoil. The benefits neither outweigh nor meet the cost. Hence my preference for much less costly yet capable oils. If people aren't interested in cost/benefit analysis and want to spend their money needlessly that's their choice. If a person can buy a product that will do the same job for a fraction of the cost, why shouldn't they?
 
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