Which oil??

[asra]

This one question for the few of us that still use two strokes, which oils do you use and what mix ratio??I'm using pentrite ts 40 c at 40/1 seems to be the goods so far..Remember -- A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...BUT a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!"Mark

[telf]

I've always used ts40c @ 50:1 on rotax 503, 532 and 582.No drama's with it in the hot or cold of the centre. Rotax recommends 50:1 Flying - The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss. (Douglas Adams-The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy)

[asra]

Telf, i realise that rotax recomend 50:1, but i was thinking that a few extra litres of oil may be cheaper in the long run than a rebuild cause of oil probs,and plus considering that my engine has only done a few hours, bit extra slippery stuff cant hurt.What hours have you got on the motors? just out of interest..Remember -- A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...BUT a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!"Mark

[telf]

All my motors were 2nd hand.Drifter 582 has ~750 hrs. When stripped ~100 hrs ago all was damn near perfect. Only had rings done once that I am aware of.532 had over 400 hrs and very good condition when stripped.503 has unknown hrs.Can't see extra oil hurting unless you run inverted (I used to have to clean my plugs EVERY time on the inverted 532 or it wouldn't start).Flying - The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss. (Douglas Adams-The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy)

[asra]

I use Castrol Active 2T 50:1 in my 503sI have also used TS40c at 50:1.Active 2t has the advantage of being a self mixing oil, so if you fly to an airport and refill with Avgas, then add oil and simply fly away.Before using TS40c I talked to the guys at Penrite. They recommend the following mixing routine for 20 litres of fuel.-Add oil to the drum-Add 2 litres of fuel and mix-Fill to 5 litres and mix-Fill to 10 litres and mix-Fill to 20 litres and mixIf you follow this routine your fuel will be well mixed, but if you are attempting to fill a number of 20 litre drums at your local service station, while you are mixing, the pump will time out. Ross B

[Greg Mitchell]

I also use Castrol Active 2T 50:1 (400 ml per 20 L) in my 503 since new. Simply add to drum, cap and shake, then fill seat tank. Plugs all look good even comming up to the 25 hr change out.Mitch.www.thebutterflyllc.com

[asra]

Thanks guys, and yes mine is inverted and a bit of pain to start cold for the first time, i will put it back out to 50;1 after about 20 hrs i think, that mixing proceedure is a bit different to the one i use,I'll be impressed if i can get 750 hrs out of this engine. well and treuly pay for itself..Remember -- A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...BUT a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!"Mark

[asra]

Two things that may be of interest. Rotax recommend 50:1 for premix and their oil injection system runs at 50:1 up to 3000 RPM then 70:1 above 3000RPM. Penrite have stopped making TS40C and are recalling stock, they expect it to be all gone by August. The reason they gave me was that they could not get insurance because they sold oil that could be used in an ultralight.Daryl Patterson

[asra]

That's interesting about Penrite, a customer of mine won a case regarding their oil and the settlement was to supply him a brand new engine. Personally, I use Active 2T on my Hirth and I have no problems with it at all. I also have a 55hp Hirth inverted on my plane. Although it has not left the ground yet, it does not seem to have a problem starting, but then they are both EFI engines. A couple of things that need to be taken into consideration about two stroke engines and fuel. The recommended octane is 95 MINIMUM and the quality of fuel available at your local petrol station may possibly be questioned. The consistency of synthetic oil has caused major problems with oil injection engines. Personally, I believe a mineral based oil is better for the lower end. Whether you use a Rotax or a Hirth, low octane or bad fuel mixed with high compression will encourage detonation and burn a big hole in your piston. There is an article in the (late) GyroNews which helps explain this.

[asra]

"mine is inverted and a bit of pain to start cold for the first time"Saw an article that mentions using B8EV plugs (V type) for inverted engines http://www.800-airwolf.com/pdffiles/ARTICLES/part9.pdf ...might be worth a try? Dave

[asra]

Originally posted by DarylTwo things that may be of interest. Rotax recommend 50:1 for premix and their oil injection system runs at 50:1 up to 3000 RPM then 70:1 above 3000RPM. Penrite have stopped making TS40C and are recalling stock, they expect it to be all gone by August. The reason they gave me was that they could not get insurance because they sold oil that could be used in an ultralight.Daryl PattersonDaryl.......I rang flood re your comment, as I needed to no abowt now changeing oils. Flood said they had recieved several calls re this subject......they flood.....then rang penrite, who said that it was untrue, and the oils were continuing to be available. Hope this helps.......Russ....A1014 NT....gods country

[Greg Mitchell]

Gents,It was Flood Imports who suggested the Castrol Active 2T.Mitch.www.thebutterflyllc.com

[asra]

Hello RussellOn the 6/6/05 I rang Penrite head office and they confirmed the rumour.I also rang their distribution centre where I get the drums from and they confirmed it also. On the 7/6/05 I drove the 150kms there (to buy some drums)and the story hadn't changed. Maybe it is a cunning sales ploy? It worked on me.Daryl Patterson

[asra]

My 2 cents worth. Have used Penrite,Active 2T,and Castrol TTS. Most two stroke people in my area use Penrite and because they never really have any problems swear by it.Richard Ecott is a rebuilder of Rotax engines up this way and has litteraly done 100's.He has told me that Penrite oil makes the rings wear in a strange way,and can tell immediatly if an engine has run on Penrite,but it dosn't efect TBO's.Penrite is a bit harder to mix and one wonders how effective it is dispersed amongest the bearings when its squirted in in oil injected engines.BUT no one ever seems to have problems.Active 2T is a mineral based oil and will leave a coating on the internals after shutdown,good if you only fly every now and then.Have used this oil for years and I think its the best value for money.Also very easy to mix.Castrol TTS would be the pick of the oils if money's no problem,it will give the last ounce of protection when the rest give up.The problem is it evaporates when the engine is shut down so has no value as protection over time.I have seen engine seizures and pilots immediately blame the oil but can't tell you what the EGT's were before it "Locked up".M Barker

[asra]

quote:Originally posted by bones070Thanks guys, and yes mine is inverted and a bit of pain to start cold for the first time, i will put it back out to 50;1 after about 20 hrs i think, that mixing proceedure is a bit different to the one i use,I'll be impressed if i can get 750 hrs out of this engine. well and treuly pay for itself..Remember -- A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...BUT a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!"MarkHas anyone tried 'surface-discharge' plugs? They were originally developed for outboard motors but were also used in the car racing (particularly drag-racing) scene. They require a high output electronic ignition system and beefier insulation on the spark plug leads but they they will fire every time, no matter what, even immersed in oil! I designed electronic ignition systems for the racing game in the seventies and had one, in particular, on a drag rail running at 9800 RPM (a V8 Chev) and up to one and a half atmospheres of boost (I think). We recorded many runs and never had a single misfire using these plugs.R.J.W.S.