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Add more 2-cycle oil?

fingers | Posted in Tools for Home Building on June 17, 2009 09:50am

I’ve got a stupid question.  I got a gallon of gas for the weed whacker (a $300+ Stihl)and just as I was adding the 50/1 Stihl oil I got called away.  Anyway now it’s three days later and I can’t remember if the oil actually made it into the gas.

1)  Should I assume it didn’t and just add 1 small bottle of 50/1 oil? 

2)  If I actually did already add it three days ago and add another bottle of oil it’ll now be in a 25/1 ratio, would that hurt the weed whacker?

3)  Does anyone else out there do dumba$$ed things like this?  Because I’ve been doing them all my life.

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Replies

  1. pixburd | Jun 17, 2009 10:01pm | #1

    Check the color. Gas is clear. Oil/gas mixed is bluish/black.

    Too much oil is bad for the environment. Too little oil is bad for your motor.

    Final question: happens all the time.

  2. User avater
    Luka | Jun 17, 2009 10:02pm | #2

    It'll smoke more.

    But otherwise shouldn't hurt it.

    Go ahead and run it, and if it becomes obvious you have twice as much oil as needed, cut the remainder in the gas can, half and half, with new gas.

    ..

    Something is only impossible... Until it isn't...You are always welcome at Quittintime

  3. User avater
    maddog3 | Jun 17, 2009 10:03pm | #3

    oil tints the gas green or blue ...!

    that should help

    .

    .

    .

    . . . . . . . .

  4. User avater
    popawheelie | Jun 17, 2009 10:21pm | #4

    I had the same problem recently. I couldn't remember if I had added the oil.

    I'm going to put the gas in the truck and get another gallon. This time I'm going to make sure I add the oil and do something so I know. Maybe a sticker with the date?

    "There are three kinds of men: The one that learns by reading, the few who learn by observation and the rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves."
    Will Rogers
    1. FastEddie | Jun 18, 2009 02:31am | #6

      Ditto popa.  Burn it in the truck.  Worst case you're going to waste the $3 oil in the truck.  Best case you keep from seizing the little motor.

      When I mix gas, I put the oil in the empty container then add the gas, and that helps mix it together."Put your creed in your deed."   Emerson

      "When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it."  T. Roosevelt

  5. YesMaam27577 | Jun 17, 2009 11:59pm | #5

    As others have noted, oil tints the gas. A lot.

    But do not take any chances, and do not double-up the oil in the mix. If you do, it will not just smoke some. It will change the temperature at which the mix burns.

    And Stihl two-cycle engines are VERY picky about that aspect. In fact, if you read your owner's manual, it will probably tell you that you must use 89-octane gas, for this specific reason.

    Politics is the antithesis of problem solving.
    1. Proclive | Jun 18, 2009 08:20am | #7

      I would like to reiterate that my Stihl dealer has advocated the use of premium only gas for his customers. They have had many problems with the new ethanol blends.

  6. Piffin | Jun 18, 2009 01:01pm | #8

    Put the gas in your truck and start over

     

     

    Welcome to the
    Taunton University of
    Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
     where ...
    Excellence is its own reward!

  7. USAnigel | Jun 18, 2009 02:00pm | #9

    Where's the oil container if you used a "one shot" per gal bottle?

    1. fingers | Jun 18, 2009 02:22pm | #10

      I couldn't find the little bottle, which makes me think I did add it three (now four) days ago and discarded the bottle.
      I tried it in the weed whacker. It seems to work fine, but I think I'll follow everyone's advice and pour it in my truck. Thank you for all your responses.

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