Weedeater question...Oil?

Vlad D Impeller

Commander
Joined
Mar 30, 2005
Messages
2,644
I recently ran out of the 2cyl oil which is mixed with the gas in my weedeater(echo), unable at the time to acquire the manufacturer suggested oil, i therefore used some premix 40:1 TC-W3 outboard motor oil which i have an ample supply of. Is there much of a difference in these oils that can or will cause any long term complications to the weedeater?
 

ZmOz

Captain
Joined
Aug 13, 2003
Messages
3,949
Re: Weedeater question...Oil?

Bad idea. You need oil designed for much hotter running air cooled engines. There's usually a picture of a weed wacker on the bottle of TCW3 oil, but even 30 weight motor oil would work. Using synthetic in things like weed wackers is a very, very good idea, and will definately be better than the manufacturer's oil. Small 2 cycle engines use so little oil there's really no reason not to use the best.
 

Vlad D Impeller

Commander
Joined
Mar 30, 2005
Messages
2,644
Re: Weedeater question...Oil?

Thanks Zm, it was a one time thing, i just happened to have ran out of the correct oil and substituted it with the TC-W3, i only hope that i did not do any harm to the weedeater :eek: even though it appears to have worked just fine.<br /><br />Are you saying that i can premix something like mobile 1 5W 30 for use in the weedeater? :confused:
 

Xcusme

Commander
Joined
Apr 21, 2003
Messages
2,888
Re: Weedeater question...Oil?

Hmmm...."There's usually a picture of a weed wacker on the bottle of TCW3 oil...."<br /><br />There is?? I thought TC-W3 was for water cooled applications.
 

ZmOz

Captain
Joined
Aug 13, 2003
Messages
3,949
Re: Weedeater question...Oil?

Originally posted by Xcusme:<br />There is?? I thought TC-W3 was for water cooled applications.
It is, but all the bottles I've ever seen show various peices of lawn equipment. The oil company doesn't care how long your equipment lasts.<br /><br />Vlad - I'm sure you didn't do any damage, it's just if you used it all the time, your engine probably wouldn't last as long as it should. No, you can't just mix somethingn like Mobile 1 motor oil, you should use synthetic 2 cycle oil. (though mobile 1 does make 2 cycle oil you can use)
 

TELMANMN

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 9, 2003
Messages
465
Re: Weedeater question...Oil?

Got an old Ryan weed/brush cutter from 87. Used whateever on hand. Still starts and runs on 1 or 2 pullls. Just make sure do not go light on it, meaning oil. If not the correct oil go heavy, in an emergency.
 

Vlad D Impeller

Commander
Joined
Mar 30, 2005
Messages
2,644
Re: Weedeater question...Oil?

" you should use synthetic 2 cycle oil. "<br /><br /> Thanks, will do :)
 

crazy charlie

Vice Admiral
Joined
May 22, 2003
Messages
5,584
Re: Weedeater question...Oil?

I have been using my outboard fuel on my lawnmower,weed wacker ,snow blower and chainsaw for 15 years now.If it was going to be a problem I would know by now.How many of you have a 15 year old lawnmower??? Oops,this year makes 16.Trust me,youve done no harm to the wacker.Charlie
 

BoatBuoy

Rear Admiral
Joined
May 29, 2004
Messages
4,856
Re: Weedeater question...Oil?

Used to use Amsoil 100:1 in my weedeater. It worked OK and we all know about THAT OIL.
 

TELMANMN

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 9, 2003
Messages
465
Re: Weedeater question...Oil?

Crazy charlie, you must be as dumb as me. I had my last lawn mower for 13 years and I screwed up. Hit a root that wasn't there last year and bent the crank. It was a off brand 4cycle that I changed oil with what I had in hand. Took into places that God would fear too tread. Oops.<br />Also do not overfill as if can not run out can cause problems if putting in too much oil. Also always added seafoam.
 

ZmOz

Captain
Joined
Aug 13, 2003
Messages
3,949
Re: Weedeater question...Oil?

Originally posted by telmanmn:<br />Also always added seafoam.
So you used crappy oil but always used Seafoam? That's like smoking a cigarette and then drinking a diet coke. Sure, you could use used transmission fluid mixed 30:1 in all your lawn equipment. It would work. Would it be very good for your engine? No way. You can change the oil in your car every 10,000 miles and it will still last at least 100k. Should everyone change their oil at 10k? No way. If Vlad cares about his equipment enough to even bother asking this question in the first place, it's worth that extra $1 a year to buy good quality oil and keep it working at it's best. Any engine with good oil will have more power, use less fuel, and last longer than any engine used with crappy oil it's entire life.
 

dolluper

Captain
Joined
Jul 19, 2004
Messages
3,904
Re: Weedeater question...Oil?

They usually run on low ash content oils, read the instruction labels they will tell yah
 

craze1cars

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Dec 26, 2004
Messages
1,822
Re: Weedeater question...Oil?

Vlad, you didn't hurt a thing. Use up whatever you mixed so you don't waste anything, then go to the store and buy any old 2 cycle premix oil you want for future mixes. Between my Echo 50:1 weedwacker, Sears 40:1 chainsaw, and Toro 50:1 snowblower, I currently use some type of old Sears 2 stroke oil with built in stabilizer. Been using it for the past 7 years mixed approx 50:1 in all of 'em. Why? Because my father-in-law gave me a case of leftovers after he sold his chainsaw 7 years ago. I've always used whatever's handy and have never had a problem with any of it. A lotta people get unnecessarily worked up about oil around here..
 

Boomyal

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Aug 16, 2003
Messages
12,072
Re: Weedeater question...Oil?

Originally posted by BoatBuoy:<br /> Used to use Amsoil 100:1 in my weedeater. It worked OK and we all know about THAT OIL.
Ditto, I've been running my Echo Weedeater on 100:1 ***oil since I bought it in 1988. I've never even had to change the sparkplug. After a winters rest it starts up with 4-6 pulls.
 

LubeDude

Admiral
Joined
Oct 8, 2003
Messages
6,945
Re: Weedeater question...Oil?

Originally posted by Boomyal:<br /> I've been running my Echo Weedeater on 100:1 ***oil since I bought it in 1988. I've never even had to change the sparkplug. After a winters rest it starts up with 4-6 pulls.
Now Boomer, ya all know ya cant do that. We have been over that before. :eek: :p <br /><br />Now that we have that settled, if ya dont follow Boomers advice, I would recommend the Mobil1, what used to be MX2T, Now its Mobil1 synthetic racing 2T. It has got to be one of if not the best air cooled oil I have ever seen. I wish Mobil would make a TC-W3 Synthetic, I might even change from Amsoil just to try it.
 
Top