bigwow
Well-Known Member
I bought a couple of cans of petrol for the outboard a few weeks ago and now cannot remember if I added the two stroke oil or not, is there any way I can confirm ether way?
Did I put oil in the two stroke petrol?
- Thread starter bigwow
- Start date
Woodlouse
Well-Known Member
Stick it in the outboard and run it hard for a couple of hours. If it seizes up then you probably forgot.
Rigger Mortice
N/A
Run the engine and, one way or another, you'll find out.
Alternatively, just put more oil into the petrol.
Alternatively, just put more oil into the petrol.
Vitesse
Well-Known Member
Petrol usually looks different once the oil is added.
Lakesailor
Well-Known Member
Get some on your fingers. It will feel greasy between finger and thumb.
It should have a green or a pink tinge. Compare with unadulterated petrol if you are not sure.
It should have a green or a pink tinge. Compare with unadulterated petrol if you are not sure.
Burnham Bob
Well-Known Member
all the 2 stroke oil i used had a dye in it - coloured the petrol quite markedly
No Regrets
Well-Known Member
+1. Petrol soon evaporates, two stroke mix leaves an oily feel.
superheat6k
Well-Known Member
Most state they require 50:1 but will function fine on 100:1. Most users tend to put too much in.
If it were me and I couldn't tell by the colour I would fill the tank almost full, add the correct amount for the added fuel volume at 50:1, then add extra for the remaining volume already in the tank at 100:1. This way your fuel will overall be either just over or just under its correct ratio, subject to how much fresh you added.
If it were me and I couldn't tell by the colour I would fill the tank almost full, add the correct amount for the added fuel volume at 50:1, then add extra for the remaining volume already in the tank at 100:1. This way your fuel will overall be either just over or just under its correct ratio, subject to how much fresh you added.
l'escargot
Well-Known Member
Stick some more in - running the engine on 25:1 instead of 50:1 will do far less damage than running it with no oil.
Gwylan
Well-Known Member
Having been through this dilema.
Short term I put half the necessary amount of oil in the the can and with a small amount in the o/b tank watched the billowing smoke from the o/b. Then topped up the o/b tank with neat petrol and topped up the can with fresh petrol.
Then got a bit of old sail tie, wrote "Oil Added" in big felt tip and attach this to the can as I add the petrol. That way I can have a can of un-oiled petrol and another of oiled 2 stroke ready petrol in the locker and tell the difference.
Short term I put half the necessary amount of oil in the the can and with a small amount in the o/b tank watched the billowing smoke from the o/b. Then topped up the o/b tank with neat petrol and topped up the can with fresh petrol.
Then got a bit of old sail tie, wrote "Oil Added" in big felt tip and attach this to the can as I add the petrol. That way I can have a can of un-oiled petrol and another of oiled 2 stroke ready petrol in the locker and tell the difference.
Seajet
...
I have been through this dilemna too; nowadays I add the oil as soon as any fuel comes onto the boat, ' all fuel aboard is oiled '.
I found a couple of small bottles each of which when filled ( 1 spare ) with oil give the 50:1 mix per gallon with 2 doses, or 1 for the 100:1 2hp tender outboard.
It does require a bit of discipline, putting oil in each can as soon as it comes aboard.
I found a couple of small bottles each of which when filled ( 1 spare ) with oil give the 50:1 mix per gallon with 2 doses, or 1 for the 100:1 2hp tender outboard.
It does require a bit of discipline, putting oil in each can as soon as it comes aboard.
jwilson
Well-Known Member
Agreed - commercial users who expect to get a lot of hard hours running out of two-stroke outboards normally run them on an oil-rich mix - many 100:1 outboards were specified to use 50:1 for commercial use. Just don't dawdle at low throttle for hours or you might foul the spark plug - easy to fix even if you do.
doug748
Well-Known Member
Put the suspect petrol into a 4 stroke lawnmower.
If it performs normally - there is no oil in it.
If the back garden starts to look like the Battle of Jutland - it's 2 stoke mixture.
(No need to ask how I know this)
If it performs normally - there is no oil in it.
If the back garden starts to look like the Battle of Jutland - it's 2 stoke mixture.
(No need to ask how I know this)
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Seajet
...
I always put my remaining 50:1 2 stroke fuel from the boat into the 4 stroke Hayter lawnmower after the boat comes ashore; doesn't harm the mower, I think helps lubricate it, and I start the sailing season with fresh non - jellied petrol.
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Jamesuk
Well-Known Member
Dont take the risk just buy new fuel
fergie_mac66
Well-Known Member
+1 put petrol in car with a full tank.If oil will diluted by a large amount if no oil then whats it matter
Lakesailor
Well-Known Member
There is no risk. It's easy to tell. If you can't, go out tomorrow and try the test I suggested so that you will have acquired a new skill.
If you find you can't differentiate, think seriously about giving up boating.
If you find you can't differentiate, think seriously about giving up boating.
Andrew G
Well-Known Member
I would NOT put suspect fuel in my car - too expensive to fix the various catalitic converters etc (old fasioned cars no problem). Mower yes (I do)! No problem to add extra oil - but only once.
I carry 20 litres of neat petrol in a red can and 2 litre and 5 litre (for taking on excursions) cans each clearly marked that is is 2-stroke only - oil goes in first then I decant from the big can. Any diesel cans are black. Petrol should be used ashore each year as it goes "off" when kept too long (another learning experiece miles from nowhere). Andrew
I carry 20 litres of neat petrol in a red can and 2 litre and 5 litre (for taking on excursions) cans each clearly marked that is is 2-stroke only - oil goes in first then I decant from the big can. Any diesel cans are black. Petrol should be used ashore each year as it goes "off" when kept too long (another learning experiece miles from nowhere). Andrew
Seajet
...
I have found the 2 stroke 50:1 fuel from the last season, put in the car that Autumn, gives me quite a few ' free ' miles without hiccups to the injectors or catalytic converter, though I might not fill the whole tank with the stuff.
macd
Well-Known Member
You're probably not going to tell by simply peering into the can or tank, since they 'colour' the fuel's appearance.
All readily available two-stroke oils contain marker dyes: blue, green, red (but rarely Gingham). Presumably you have some of your oil left, which will tell you what colour. So...pour some of your mystery fuel into a clear glass. If it's tinted as you'd expect from the oil, then there's oil in it. If you're still not sure, buy some more petrol, put that into a glass and compare.
The 'rub between fingers' test also works, although if you've not done it before it helps if your have a 'control'.
