Smoke from snowblower muffler

most newer 2 cycles call fro 50:1. That's so the environmental people smile a little. Do yourself a favor, make the ratio 40:1 and the saw will outlive you

Try running it for a while, also check the oil level and make sure it is not overfilled. If it is a 2 cycle make sure the oil and gas mixture is correct, most are 50/1 ratio. That is to say 50 parts gas and one part oil.

There is no reason why you cannot run any two stroke on todays two stroke oils ( its not like four stroke engines where you use different oils dependent on the age ) however i am not sure i would run it at 50-1 i would be more inclined to run it at 25-1 as it is an old engine.

The way to tell if it's 2 or 4 stroke is, if it has seperate tanks for the oil and petrol then it would be 4 stroke. I know that's not entirely true in today's world but up to recently it was. If it's 2 stroke then you need to mix the petrol with 2 stroke oil. Unless someone knows the right mix ratio I would start off with a rich mixture of 25:1 and see how it goes. If it's giving off a lot of smoke I'd reduce the oil a little to 30:1. It should be ok with this ratio. Use good quality 2 stroke oil e.g. Husqvarna or Stihl as some of the cheaper oils available at car service stations are not as good at protecting machinery.

Generally 2-cycle engines use ratios of 32:1 to 50:1. As a rule if you start with 40:1 you should be O.K. If your concerned that it might be to lean then start with 32:1 and if it smokes too much add 25% more gas to make it a 40:1 ratio.

Use 50:1 gas/oil with a GOOD QUALITY 2-cycle low-ash synthetic oil.

Remove the muffler and check the spark arrestor isn't partially blocked.

With a clear muffler, and the mix as described, there will be hardly any smoke at all.

"Learn to like smoke for awhile. Smell the aroma". Pardon the humor. I couldn't resist. Chances are there is oil built up in the crankcase. It is going to take some time for the oil to dissipate. How long? I don't know. It all depends on how much is in there. Cleaning the muffler is no help since the oil burning is coming from the crank not the muffler. If you are careful, and keep a vigilant eye, you could cut the gas/oil mix in half to 64 to 1 instead of the normal 32 to 1. That would mean only 2 ounces of oil per gallon instead of the normal 4 ounces. Let the crank add the rest. This will help burn the crank oil excess, but BE CAREFUL. When the crank drys up you had best not ride until more oil is added to the gas.

A “very helpful” rating for this answer? Thanks!

Hello mcguilmd:

>>All Two Stroke Engines will use a 50 to 1 Ratio using Today's Two Stroke Oils. I once had an Old Chainsaw probably from the 1950s, maybe Earlier 70s that had a sticker on it that said to use a 25 to 1 Fuel/Oil Ratio, but that would have been using Two Stroke Oils of the Time Period the Chainsaw was Manufactured. I was having a Problem with Oil Coming Out of the Muffler and Started Decreasing the Oil in the Gas. I Reduced the Oil Until it was a t a 45:1 Ratio and Decided to be Safe, I would Use a 40:1 Ratio Mix. In that Chainsaw I used 50 to 1 Ratio with no problems. Today's Two Stroke Oils compared to Yesteryears are more Efficient at Lubricating. It is like comparing Today's Synthetic Motor Oil to Motor Oils of Decades ago. All the Equipment I use in Landscaping, anything from a Weed Eater, Leaf Blower, Chainsaw, Hedge Trimmer, use 40 to 1 ratio, and I use all types of makes and models, Stihl, Homelite, Husqvarna, Shindaiwa, and Echo, Sears. I mix up a 5 Gallon Fuel can and use it in all of the Equipment for my Customers and for my Landscaping. I like my Fuel/Oil Ratio a Little Heavy, so I use a 40:1 Ratio. The Following was Copied and Pasted here from and MTD E-mail to me when I Asked for the OEMs Suggested Mixture for this Unit. The mixture, as described by the engine manufacturer, is a 50:1 ratio when using the approved types of 2-cycle engine oils.
50:1 ratio is a mix consisting of 2.5 ounces of 2-cycle oil per 1 gallon of gasoline.
The 2-cycle oil used should be approved and have one or more of the following specification titles: NMMA TC-WII, TC-W3, JASO FB, or JASO FC. NOTE: If unsure of the 2-cycle oil specifications, or the oil is not approved, use a 32:1 fuel to oil ratio. This ratio consists of 4 ounces of oil per one gallon of fuel.
NOTE: Always mix 2-cycle fuel oil and fuel in an approved gasoline safe container prior to filling the engine. Make sure to use a separate gas can for this 2-cycle fuel mixture and label it accordingly. Keep in mind that the fuel capacity of these engines normally is less than a gallon, therefore you will have to use this extra oil mixture for multiple fuel fills. Adding a fuel stabilizer will also help to increase the shelf life of fuel.
>>I Suggest Using a 40:1 Ratio and if Oil Starts Coming Out the Muffler then go to a 50:1 Ratio.
Please, Do Not Hesitate, If I Missed Something or you Hit a Snag or this Does Not Correct the Problem, I am Here if You Require More Assistance.
Hope this Helps. Let me Know What Happens, Please. May the All Mighty Bless You and Yours. Be Safe and Be Happy. Thanks.

Good Luck

Respectfully

jbridger (John)

20:1 gas to oil is a good place to start. Some mowers thin down to 80:1. If you can tell me the model of the mower I can be more specific, but starting at 20:1 will assure you have adequate protection for the engine. If it's exhausting lots of oil smoke after it has warmed up; you can cut back a little each time until you have minor oil smoke.

at 20:1 you need to add 6.4 ounces of oil to one gallon of gas.

Here's a nifty calculator for various ratios:

http://www.csgnetwork.com/oilfuelcalc.html

Enter 1 gallon of gas, then change the ratio number and then press calculate and the number of ounces per gallon will be displayed.