I run all my 2-stroke equipment at 50:1, using a good 2-stroke oil, obtainable anywhere that sells garden equipment, or at most motor factors (for use in 2-stroke motorcycles).
A lot of people on here have advised more oil in the mix than this - with modern oils there simply isn't any point. Ratios up to 16:1 have been advised - these applied when the only oil available was the same oil that went in your car.
Example - I have a 25 year old McCulloch chainsaw. For the first 10 years of it's life it ran on 25:1 mix (as per instructions) using good quality oil (Castrol GTX). It ran fine, but smokey, and ate spark plugs at the rate of about 1 per 10 hours use. For the last 15 years, it has had 50:1 on low-ash 2-stroke oil. It now goes like stink, and has enough power to cut through anything. As a bonus, it's almost smoke free, and has used 3 plugs in 15 years. This saw does serious work, it's not a twice-a-year tool!
phil_saunders@bigfoot.com
Phil Saunders, June 2008
