Two stroke oil colour

[openspaceman]

1 hour ago, Peter 1955 said:

That's two of us. For one thing, it's far easier to see at 50:1. When I started using both 2 stroke mix and neat in various machines, I was using red Stihl oil, so I put the mix in red cans, and neat in green. Unfortunately, I was then told that the 4mix Stihl engines needed low ash Super, which is green. I now have green mix in red cans, and neat in green cans. I daren't change over, as I would get mixed up at some point.                               The mate who has started helping me is red/green colour blind, and I have to tell him to use the tall cans for the mowers, and the square ones for all the others. 😕

I still use green cans for neat and red for 2t, and yes red 2t oil because it is more visible.

 

I don't have 4 mix engines but it was my understanding they need higher specification and lower ash.

 

What I don't understand is how Stihl HP is red and to Jaso FB , suitable for most saws, HP super 2 is green and to Jaso FD, suitable for 4 mix saws too but a couple of quid more expensive and HP Ultra 2 is green, fully synthetic but only Jaso FB plus twice the cost.

 

It's weather like now that stresses the lubrication more than winter but I don't know whether Jaso FB has any less lubricity than Jaso FD because the main difference is in the detergent effects, i.e Jaso FD should keep the engine cleaner.

 

[maybelateron]

I just use Aspen 2, nothing else goes in the combicans. The older backup saws I have kept run on forecourt petrol with Stihl 2 stroke oil added, and this goes in a small black 2L container on the van, or a 5L normal fuel can at base, never in a combican. Neat E5 petrol goes in steel 20L jerrycan, and diesel in black 20L plastic jerrycan.

 

With my climbing rope and 2 strops, each one has different coloured karabiners from the others.

 

Now some may say I have OCD, but I agree to disagree!

[Stubby]

I agree with Mick re the combi can . As for 2 stroke oil Red Line Racing . The best 2t oil you can get  IMHO and its red .  

[Whoppa Choppa]

6 hours ago, kram said:

I like Castrol Power1, it is Jaso FD and red.

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Castrol-POWER1-2T-Motorcycle-Oil/dp/B0C813TSXN

Second this. Redline is amazing but expensive. Never tried AMS or Putoline. Castrol next best thing - Racing 2T I think it's called.

[Whoppa Choppa]

6 hours ago, GarethM said:

You can still buy Stihl HP, most dealers however only stock Green as it was the exact same price.

Mineral based and stinks.

[Whoppa Choppa]

4 hours ago, Oldfeller said:

Castrol make it for stihl.

Who Makes Stihl 2 Cycle Oil? (Answer Explained)

WWW.MOTORAUDIT.COM

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Stihl 2 cycle oil is a product of Stihl Holding AG & Co. KG. It distributes first-class...

 

Stihl HP Super and Ultra are not the same chemistry as Castrol 2T Racing though I'm guessing as the latter smells distinctly ester.

 

Echo Power-Blend is damn good stuff too. Can't remember the colour.

Edited June 29 by Whoppa Choppa

[Whoppa Choppa]

4 hours ago, AHPP said:

 

Reckon that red Castrol that kram posted is the red Stihl or the green Stihl (dyed differently for the Stihl branding)? I share openspaceman's understanding that the red Stihl isn't as good as the green.

 

Stihl HP Super is actually BETTER than the Ultra. Ultra is JC only and a low smoke oil. There's a YouTube channel all about a cutter in the US who goes into atomic detail about why HP Ultra is best avoided.

[AHPP]

I’m pretty sure I bought super rather than ultra last time based on what you say. 
 

What’s the chemistry difference you mention between the Stihl greens and this Castrol red? Ester?

Edited June 29 by AHPP

[Whoppa Choppa]

From memory there are 5 oil basestocks: 1 thru 3 are mineral and mineral cracked. 4 is PAO. 5 is ester. 5 is the ultimate although Redline go one step further with poly-ol-ester. Only disadvantage of POE vs PAO (poly alpha olefin) is slightly hygroscopic. Not really an issue if stored and used correctly.

 

AMS oil and Redline have been battling it out for years. Very very fine line between some of them I should imagine.

 

I've run my 500i on Redline from new and the compression is literally painful. 

[Dan Maynard]

24 minutes ago, Whoppa Choppa said:

Stihl HP Super is actually BETTER than the Ultra. Ultra is JC only and a low smoke oil. There's a YouTube channel all about a cutter in the US who goes into atomic detail about why HP Ultra is best avoided.

I've seem some of those videos, it's almost a religious fervour the way they say Ultra is rubbish. I think it's made by different people in the EU, and I think all Motomix users will testify it works just fine. I've been on it for years, none of my saws have exploded.

 

But - pick something you are happy with, make a system, and stick to it. I've always mixed 2T into a labelled can at the petrol station, so there is never ever neat petrol in a 2T can. Then use that to top up the combi.