2-Stroke oil & Gasoline | Can they Separate once Mixed? Lets See! (by Craig Kirkman)

[@redmesa2975]

Many years ago, I worked on small engines for an excavating construction company. My boss decided to bulk mix a 100 gallon tank, mounted high on a stand. The idea was to eliminate the crews from mixing fuel and the damage that occurs. At first, we had spark plug fouling. Then about a month later, we started seeing engines seize, about 1 a day. Got rid of the bulk mix, went back to letting the crews mix their own gas. Basically, the mix was oil rich the first few weeks, then became very lean after the oil was depleted.

[@todaubin3166]

At times I would shake the mix, I looked inside the can and saw that the fuel/oil mixture didn’t separate. Thanks Craig for the experiment and confirmation.

[@normm7764]

Nicely done. From my experience, separation is only a real risk with petrol containing ethanol. Most 2 stroke engines now warn against using an ethanol based fuel and state to use only full mineral based fuels. Years ago, there were some unexplained seizures - this is thought to relate to separation with ethanol based fuels.

[@tomnekuda3818]

I would like to see this test expanded to include castor bean oil lube and non-synthetic 2-stroke. I have a need for that info, too. I would like to know the reasons 4-stroke oil cannot be substituted for 2-stroke. Good Job.

[@arthurfricchione8119]

Craig thanks for sharing your knowledge and videos. I look forward to seeing them. Thanks buddy Artie 😊

[@antoniofdez620]

vey good channel it deserves a lot more views and suscribers. I don't think you were necessarely wrong abot the 4 stroke oil, maybe this particular oil didn't separate but maybe other 4 stroke oils do separate.

[@billybowen3023]

Amazing, sounds silly but really valuable information!thank you great work.

[@andrewmantle7627]

I shake mine out of habit, but because of ethanol.

[@patrickvennard838]

I think i will always give my petrol a shake I love your really informative videos.

[@stephenparchewski1998]

Now, regarding your comment about how gas should be used within a 6 week period…it’s amazing how the quality of pump gas has gone down over the years. I have a modified chainsaw that runs off of VP Racing C-12 race fuel and Torco/Amsoil 2 stroke oil. I finished off my last can of gas a couple of days ago and had to get another. That can was opened and mixed with oil 13 years ago, and the fuel mix is still fine. C-12 is non-oxygenated (no ethanol) and contains lead. Great fuel, but 5 gallons costs over $200.

[@themowerman]

Good one. So question.. why do we find oil with in the 2 Stroke carbs.. probably because it's left for a longer time like over the winter.. good video

[@MartyInTheWoods]

yes, the fuel evaporates and the oil is left.

[@UncalBertExcretes]

They both got dug out the same hole and were refined from the same fermented dinosaur juices so its easy to see why they would mix together very well.

[@Rudabaugh]

Great experiment, thanks for the vid. Puts the mind at ease haha

[@slikballa]

Great experiment

[@feez357]

What king of gas did you use for this experiment ?

[@johnclarke6647]

I have always shook my gas containers of two stroke gas before filling any piece of two cycle equipment. Just out of an over abundance of caution. I have never used Oregons two stroke oil. I have felt that Echo Red armor oil does get syrupy when mixed with premium non-ethanol gas. There is nothing that I can prove with this statement. Except to say it blocked up the fuel filter in my 026 Pro after sitting for two months. It did not seem to affect my Husqvarna 455 over the same timeframe.

[@briannegele7691]

It my be the climate or type of 2 stroke oil I use but if I pour the stored fuel out before shaking it's a light color blue. After a vigorous shaking and repouring there is a distinct color change in the fuel, it's noticably darker. For year's I have also noticed when my small fuel container is near empty and using a flash light you can see the pool of oil on the bottom of the container. So end of story, I buy and use the oil of my liking. I know it separates but as mentioned in the video it's not the end of the world and I don't mind to spend 10 seconds or so shaking my mix. Now with my all that said, I will pour some in a glass jar and see clearly what happens in the jar compared to my real world experience. Oh, btw I mostly use 10% ethanol unleaded fuel. What did you use in you experiment??

[@MountainManKm]

I had bucket when I was kid and when I was learning how to build dirt bikes, I had 5 gallon bucket i would pour my messed up fuel mixes in and over time the buckets gas and oil mix would get lower. I think the gas would evaporate from the oil, I'd love to know if the oil would be reusable for a mix.

[@01Autentic]

Please corect the title! Stroke not storke. Salutari din Romania! I learned a lot from you!

[@TheRepairSpecialist]

Oh no! Thank you for informing me 👍👍

[@johnpaulkelly6860]

Anytime I add my 2 stroke oil to my petrol but it doesn't go red just a dark green ? With the correct amount of petrol and oil

[@justharryjohnson7250]

Very interesting 👌

[@gunatillekaleslie3521]

Great. Keep it up

[@SeeMooreVids]

Good video. What happens to my mix over time that makes it no good to use? I keep three gallons through winter as emergency fuel in case trees come down which has paid off. Thanks.

[@jamese9283]

Gasoline becomes less volatile over time. It has to vaporize and mix with air to burn.

[@probegt75]

I can assure you that castor based 2 stroke oil does indeed separate in the bowl of a carburetor especially in cold temperatures. It will become cloudy and when you start the motor it will rev up like you're holding the throttle wide open. You should slways drain the bowl and shake the crap out of the fuel and the bike will run normal.

[@TheRepairSpecialist]

Hi. Firstly, I do actually agree with you. Some oils can separate and that's what I included as information in my original video. I have seen, in the past, separated oil from fuel, at the bottom of fuel tanks. In all fairness though, the ones iv'e seen had been standing for years probably. However, I got so much backlash from people when I said about this. I had one person indicate that they were a professional engineer, and that oil could only be separated from petrol if it had been through a rigorous type of distillation process. Others just plainly saying i was talking junk!!! This is why I put the one-month strategy to the test, in this video, to see. At one month anyway, it seemed these people were correct, and this is why i published this result. Again, this was only my case, with my type of oil. Like you, I do believe there would be a separation depending on the type of oil and the time period of testing. Maybe I should have kept the test running for a year or something, and tried different oils. Thank you for your feedback, and, again, I agree with you!! Craig

[@EzRay11]

Hey Craig Greetings from Niagara Falls Canada. Good experiment. I thought it would separate. Question: Yesterday I mixed some fresh fuel for a chainsaw. 20 minutes later I had to empty the chainsaw again. All my waste containers for fuel were full. Without giving it much thought I poured the fuel mix back into my 10 litre gas can full of fresh fuel. Will that small amount, 6ml of oil, have any effect on the fresh fuel? Thanks for all your content.

[@bubbafudpucker397]

I burn old mix gas in my 4 stroke machines fairly often with no problems.

[@EzRay11]

@@bubbafudpucker397 Good to know. Cheers Bubba

[@slikballa]

That smAll amount will just cause a lil smoke

[@melacamento857]

What is the name of that white

[@verybigkittens7550]

Well I mixed some today in a special mixing container 50 to one, and it separated virtually straight away, I wonder if the petrol is duff over 6 weeks old. You are English and calling petrol gasaline

[@paulmelanson1527]

Can using a 4 stroke oil in a 2 stroke engine cause damage to the engine.

[@ATFisGay]

Yes. 4 stroke oil will leave lots of carbon behind. It isn't designed to be burned.

[@veryberry-]

Maybe separation was normal back in the days of non synthetic oils?

[@TheRepairSpecialist]

Maybe 🤔. I suppose the only way to find out is to re test with mineral oil

[@TheTallRaver]

Thank you!

[@TheRepairSpecialist]

You're welcome!

[@riofernandes2626]

Good to know

[@damnthiccassboye7138]

My gas evaporated so the mix became rich and my bike only started using choke

[@TheZigZiggy]

You must have some poor fuel if it only lasts for 6 weeks. I regularly keep and use fuel well over a year or more with no problems. Maybe that would be a good experiment.

[@bubbafudpucker397]

TarylFixesAll is almost a year into his real time test.

[@TheRepairSpecialist]

Yes I agree. That's what I said in the video. I said It would be interesting to do an actual test to find this out. But yes. Tarylfixesall is doing one now. It might be worth taking a look. I don't have the actual link but a search will find him if you haven't seen him before. I think that fuel will last quite a long time if kept well, away from heat etc. Thanks

[@bubbafudpucker397]

@@TheRepairSpecialist I think the biggest problem now is folks storing fuel in cans that aren't completely airtight allowing the alcohol to draw moisture from the air.

[@TheRepairSpecialist]

@@bubbafudpucker397 I think that could be a big contributor to the problem, yes 👍

[@alext8828]

Who said the separated oil would go to the bottom? Did you check the top? Aha!

[@TheRepairSpecialist]

Oil is thicker and sinks in gas. I’ve tried pouring it in and it sinks. Try it and you will see

[@alext8828]

@@TheRepairSpecialist Oil is thicker than water but it floats on top. If the oil goes to the bottom, it's not because it's thicker. It's because it's heavier. Viscosity has nothing to do with density but you know all this. I was just reminding you, sort of. Great videos, all. Thank you.