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Echo 2 stroke oil recommendation?

19 years ago

Guys,

Do you recommend me sticking with Echo's own 2 stroke oil mix which is a synthetic or will plain dino 2 stroke work? what are pros and cons?

Is there another brand that's as good or tell me if Echo oil is either great or a rip. The ratio is 50:1 gas/oil.

What's your opinion?

Thanks in advance,

QuickRick

Comments (16)

  • 19 years ago

    Are you having trouble finding the Echo oil? It is an excellent semi synthetic. Other quality oils will work well too but do suggest staying away from the cheaper off brands sold at some hardware outlets and box stores. They tend to leave more ash which builds up in the engine and muffler.

  • 19 years ago

    Echo oil is a great oil. I'm using up some of my stock, then will be switching to a brand that I've used in years past in other 2 stroke engines. It's more of a "personal conviction" for me as to the switch. I'm not a big fan of the company that blends oil for Echo. Anyway, it's rated at ISO-L-EGD and FASO-FC which is a top rating in terms of engine cleanliness and lubrication. I personally mix this oil at 40:1 for all my 50:1 rated tools including my Echos. They don't smoke anymore or drip oil from the mufflers, but I know the engines are protected that much more due to the extra oil. Late last year I bought a NOS Echo unit right out of the box. I wanted to briefly run the engine to coat the inside/bearings due to the fact the engine was over 20 years old and never run. I had my 1st batch mixed at 50:1 and was really amazed how much clear residual oil was left on the piston dome and cylinder when I pulled the plug to have a look inside. It is a well lubricating oil at 50:1 or especially 40:1.

  • 19 years ago

    Canguy,

    Actually no problem finding it; I saw it in Home Depot the other day. A pint costs as much as a quart of Texaco's 2 stroke oil I'm currently using...it isn't supposed to ash up either is why I wonder.

    Thanks, QR

  • 19 years ago

    QR, look for the ratings I posted on the Texaco. If they're not there(not too fimiliar with their 2 stroke oil) but do like the 4 stroke stuff, then I'd use up what you have and switch over to Echo or another oil rated as such. If you want the best protection in all ways, then these kinds of oils are what you need to use.

  • 19 years ago

    I would definitely stick with synthetics. I used Echo oil for many years with great success, and consider it kind of a fool-proof recommendation for anyone with an air-cooled 2-stroke. There are a couple threads recently here about Mobil 2T and Torco GP-7, both of which are just fantastic. By other accounts from other sites they are at the top of the game in lubrication, and they produce virtually no smoke and much less odor and drippings than the Echo oil. I'm going to be using these from now on. Whichever you use, I would not recommend going to a cheaper oil in this case because for the little bit of gas that a residential or light commercial user would use, the cost difference is negligible and the benefits outweight the cost.

  • 19 years ago

    What matty said. Unless you are using a lot of oil, the difference in cost is negligible.

  • 19 years ago

    Guys,

    I get your drift, syn oil is worth it. I'll use Echo's semi-syn oil or maybe hunt for the Mobil 2T.
    You are not thinking or discussing Amsoil or Redline which I use in my Corvette. Both of these are top notch with Redline being an ester based oil. I won't preach to you, but ester based oils are the best and most pricy available. They are not dino oils and are truely man made. These are the only oils used in jet engines.....wonder why? QuickRick (forget the brand...find out about ester based oils)

  • 19 years ago

    Esther-based oils are true synths, yes. So are PAOs. I actually don't know which the Mobil and Torco use for a base. I know Mobil is full synth, though - not Group III "severely hydrocracked" mineral oil like many Syntec 4-stroke oils (those should not be called synthetics IMO). It's been a while since I've researched, and I've never really looked at the important test parameters for a 2-cycle oil (for instance, very high flash points are great for a 4-cycle oil but I'd think you'd want a low flash for an oil that is designed to burn in the chamber). But I do know that www.bobistheoilguy.com is the most comprehensive info site for oils, and Mobil and Torco are held in just about the highest esteem among 2-cycle oils there. Amsoil and Redline are generally very highly regarded for sure, and their 2-cycle oils could be just as good. Generally, though, these very small companies have to buy chemicals off the shelf from the very companies they compete against, like Mobil and Shell. So I think the biggest advantages the big boys can have is in the additive packages, and those make a _huge_ difference. With all this said, I'd just say check what they are saying about any given brand of real Group IV or V synthetic 2-cycle. If the test results there are good, then you can be sure you're getting a good oil.

  • 19 years ago

    Matt,

    I bought some All Sport 2 stroke oil today. I found that it meets all the required tests on the back of the bottle. Better yet, it is ashless, synthetic and very high power producing.
    Tell me how I did buying this at a car show today!

    QuickRick

    Here is a link that might be useful: Redline Oils

  • 19 years ago

    I use Mobil MX2T but I can't imagine Redline making a bad oil. You probably did fine.

    I sure wouldn't run cheap dino 2 stroke oil in an expensive Echo product. Save that stuff for the cheap Chinese go-kart engines. :-)

  • 19 years ago

    I used Red Line Smokeless for years in my Duraforce mower and my Shindaiwa and Maruyama equipment.

    It was outstanding in every way and I still use it. Highly recommended.

  • 19 years ago

    Thanks,

    I have had 3 Corvettes and used Redline ester based oils in all of them, I can't imagine also, them making a bad 2 stroke product.
    The bottle states: Exceeds ISI GD,JASO FC, API TC ratings.
    Claims are : Low Smoke, increased power,reduced wear, cleaner pisons and plugs, flows at -40 degrees and mixes with all petroleum and synthetics.
    I really like Redline stuff!

    QuickRick

  • 19 years ago

    Echo makes excellent two-cycle engines and markets excellent oil for them in their Power-Blend oil. You can use their oil and get the full life out of your engine. I usually recomend Mobil One Racing 2T fully Synthetic oil as that is all I will use in my fleet of two-cycle engines but it is so hard to find, you would think that Mobil doesn't want to sell it. Power-Blend is my no. 2 choice and I would use it with full confidence.

  • 19 years ago

    One has to wonder about Mobil marketing. The only places I've found MX2T, Racing 2T is at Autozone or http://avlube.com/

    They did the same with their 0W-30 M1R racing oil. Only one auto parts chain carried it along with avlube. No wonder they discontinued it for lack of sales...

  • 19 years ago

    Quickrick, Redline has a good reputation AFAIK. I've never used it. Let us know how it works for you so we another data point for it!

  • 19 years ago

    Matt/ Guys,

    Will let you know how it does!

    Thanks, QuickRick

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