One Solution for Different Two-Stroke Mix Ratios?

Two-stroke engines derive lubrication from the oil mixed directly into the gasoline, unlike your car engine, which lubricates itself with oil housed in an oil sump and circulated by an oil pump. Read more about the differences between two- and four-stroke engines.

Untangling different mix ratio recommendations and mixing multiple containers of fuel is a hassle, particularly for professionals who run several different pieces of equipment. What if there was one solution for different two-stroke oil mix ratios that worked in all your equipment?

The mix ratio is the proportion of gas to oil, expressed as a ratio. For example, 50:1 means 50 parts gas to 1 part oil.

Oil mix ratios explained

If your manufacturer recommends a 50:1 fuel/oil mix, it means you need 50 parts of gas to one part two-stroke oil. To mix one gallon of fuel at 50:1, add 2.6 ounces of two-stroke oil to one gallon of gas, as shown in the chart below. Don’t worry, we’re going to eliminate the need for a metric chart shortly.

Different mix ratios create confusion

Different equipment manufacturers recommend different oil mix ratios, complicating matters. Most modern chainsaws, string trimmers, leaf blowers and other small-engine two-stroke equipment recommend a 50:1 oil mix ratio, but some recommend 40:1 and older two-stroke equipment might even call for 32:1. Multiple pieces of equipment with different mix ratios would traditionally require mixing and storing multiple cans of fuel. That’s not only a hassle, but it’s also a recipe for misapplication.

This scenario can be a big problem for landscapers and other professionals who operate multiple pieces of equipment under heavy use. But plenty of homeowners also maintain older equipment that call for a richer fuel mixture. It would be so much easier if every manufacturer recommended the same mix ratio…

One two-stroke mix ratio for all equipment

SABER Professional Synthetic 2-Stroke Oil has been thoroughly tested on two-stroke engines at any mix ratio up to 100:1. That means you can mix one can of fuel and use it in all your two-stroke equipment, regardless of the recommended mix ratio. You can still mix SABER Professional at a lower ratio, but for the best value, we recommend 100:1. It also makes metric calculations even easier, simply mix 10ml of SABER Professional per liter of fuel. Problem solved.

Even more benefits

The convenience of using one mix ratio for all your equipment means you’ll spend less on oil, reduce overall operational costs and help the environment. Older two-stroke engines were designed to run on the conventional oil with very few additives that was available decades ago, often at a 20:1 ratio, meaning 5% of your fuel was oil! AMSOIL SABER Professional Synthetic 2-Stroke Oil burns cleaner and better than oils made decades ago, so engines require less oil to generate combustion while maintaining lubrication, seal integrity and drastically reducing dirty oil-burning byproducts.

SABER Professional also delivers improved cleanliness mixed at 100:1 compared to other oils mixed at a conventional 50:1 ratio. For example, the spark-arrestor screen is especially prone to deposits since it’s positioned in the exhaust stream. Heavy deposits choke off airflow and lead to hard starting, rough running and power loss. As shown in the images above, equipment using SABER Professional remained 96% carbon-free based on spark-arrestor testing.

Check out this technical study that shows how SABER Professional performed against a competitor’s oil in ECHO string trimmers. As the testing shows, it’s one of the best two-stroke oils available to protect your equipment. Still don’t believe it? Watch the following video from professionals in the field: