2-Cycle Fuel In Automobile

[GrtArtiste]

My know-it-all nephew is a frequent visitor to my house. He sometimes helps himself to a few gallons of gasoline that I keep on hand (without asking me) whenever he "forgets" to buy some on the way home from work. From now on I'll leave that gas can empty, but if he gets desperate/stupid enough he might also take the 3 gallons of 50:1 mix that I keep on hand for the snowblower. How badly is he going to screw up his 96 Geo Tracker if he pours that into his almost-empty gas tank? Will it be just smoky & rough-running...or is it likely to leave him stranded? All info appreciated.

GrtArtiste

 

[Chris142]

May eventully contaminate his cat converter.

 

[jughead500]

That wont leave him stranded buy may throw a PO420 Cat efficiency light or PO300 misfire check engine light.
Are you using a TCW-3 oil or regular 2 stroke?
Vehicle motors/emission systems/cats are more tolerant to using TCW-3 2 stroke oil VS regular old 2 stroke oil. TCW-3 is ashless and burns off very clean. I use it at 1oz per 5 gallons of gas in all my vehicles-only TCW-3 though.
Maybe you should mix some really rich regular 2 stroke oil in that gas can and teach him a lesson?

 

[demarpaint]

Depending on how much gas he has in his tank at the time he could end up fouling a plug, along with damaging his CC. OTOH 1 ounce of TCW3 in 5 gallons of gas is what a lot of people use as a UCL.

 

[toneydoc]

Think demarpaint is right on this issue

 

[GrtArtiste]

Originally Posted By: jughead500

Are you using a TCW-3 oil or regular 2 stroke?
Vehicle motors/emission systems/cats are more tolerant to using TCW-3 2 stroke oil VS regular old 2 stroke oil. TCW-3 is ashless and burns off very clean. I use it at 1oz per 5 gallons of gas in all my vehicles-only TCW-3 though.
Maybe you should mix some really rich regular 2 stroke oil in that gas can and teach him a lesson?

This is what I'm using for the snowblower:

http://www.stihlusa.com/products/oils--lubricants-and-fuels/oils-and-lubricants/oilhp/

 

[JHZR2]

If its tcw-3, likely no big deal long term. If ash type oil, all bets are off.

 

[SOHCman]

Like mentioned, many people use tcw3 at 1oz to 5 gal ratio for an UCL and corrosion prevention.

Another benefit I found is it can "fix" stuck fuel Gage floats by living them I suppose. Front tank Gage had been out for years on my f250 until I started using tcw3. I think the PO had left the front tank empty and just used the back one leading to the front float seizing up.

 

[Bandito440]

Maybe you should have a can of 5:1 mix around just in case.

 

[eljefino]

You need to go all in and leave a gallon of diesel out.

 

[Chris142]

That stihl oil burns very clean

 

[Kuato]

Originally Posted By: GrtArtiste
My know-it-all nephew is a frequent visitor to my house. He sometimes helps himself to a few gallons of gasoline that I keep on hand (without asking me) whenever he "forgets" to buy some on the way home from work. From now on I'll leave that gas can empty, but if he gets desperate/stupid enough he might also take the 3 gallons of 50:1 mix that I keep on hand for the snowblower. How badly is he going to screw up his 96 Geo Tracker if he pours that into his almost-empty gas tank? Will it be just smoky & rough-running...or is it likely to leave him stranded? All info appreciated.

GrtArtiste


Lock it up, that way he'll have to buy his own gas and you won't have to hear him whine when he uses the 2stroke mix.

Agree with previous posts, a fouled plug or over the long run, bad cat.

 

[nitehawk55]

I worked for Stihl Canada for many years and their 2 cycle oil was always made for them to their specs by Castrol . Not sure if it still is but it used to say Castrol right on the back label .

 

[jakewells]

i use husqvarna xp oil in my 2 strokes and when it becomes old or stale i dump it in my truck never had a problem there but my truck doesn't have any emissions controls on it

 

[jughead500]

+1

 

[Propflux01]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
You need to go all in and leave a gallon of diesel out.

This!!

 

[mechtech2]

I dump the left over snow blower fuel in my cars every spring.
A couple of gallons, usually. This is mixed with around 6 or more gallons of normal fuel in the tank already.
AND, I pretty regularly add 2 stroke oil to my fuel - at a reduced rate - 2 ounces or so to ten gal gas.
This is for the fuel pump and a top end lube. TCW3 type. 2 stroke oil is a VERY good lube.

So I see no harm in the occasional dumping of premix in the Tracker. In fact, dump it in your own cars before he gets his mitts on it! To attenuate worry, dump it in and fill the tank.

 

[Bandito440]

Originally Posted By: Propflux01
Originally Posted By: eljefino
You need to go all in and leave a gallon of diesel out.

This!!

!!!

Diesel, kerosene, maybe some used motor oil mixed in. Do you have any ancient oils that you're just itching to get rid of? Used peanut oil from the turkey fryer? Mix them in too. I can't imagine someone coming to my house and filling up their car with a gas can that I have. Sure, if they ran out unexpectedly and asked, but to just take it is pretty low.

 

[default]

When a big gravity fed gasoline tank sitting unguarded was still a common sight at farms, water was commonly used in situations like this.

 

[Cujet]

The 2 stroke oil won't be a problem.

But, the addition of 20% diesel fuel will make for a nice smokey exhaust and lots of pinging. It's not likely to hurt his engine, but it is likely to cause some drivability issues.