What Is The Correct Weed Eater Oil To Gas Ratio?
A Weed Eater can be an effective tool in the battle against overgrowth in your yard. Weed Eater makes an effective line of lawncare tools that can help you keep your yard looking the way that you want it to all year round.
You need to prepare your Weed Eater before you use it, however. Make sure that you have to proper oil to gas ratio before using your Weed Eater. The general ratio is about 40:1 in terms of gas to oil. So, that means about 3.2 ounces of oil for every gallon of regular gas.
Why Do I Need to Check the Oil to Gas Ratio?
Before you break out the Weed Eater and start using it, you do need to prepare it first. Whereas other outdoor garden tools are generally just plug and play, anything with a gas engine needs to be prepared in different ways.
When there is too little mixing fuel in your weed eater, it can lead to overheating. Overheating can potentially damage the components within the engine, rendering it useless. When there is too much of the mixing fuel, it can result in engine congestion, preventing the engine from running at all. So, it is important to get the mixture right before using it.
Start by Reading the User Guide
The first thing that you should do, particularly if it is your first time using the weed eater, is to consult the user manual. The manufacturer is obligated to provide a manual along with the product, so make sure that you keep it around just in case you have any questions.
Whenever you have questions – like how much oil to gas you need to mix – there should be recommendations or even hard guidelines within the manual. Yes, there is information to be found online, but the manual will provide you with the exact specifications that relate to your model of weed eater.
Check the Gas Container
Consulting the manual is the surest way to get the mixture right, but don’t forget to check the weed eater’s gas container to make sure that it is a good match. This is important if you have bought a refurbished or repaired unit that may have a different gas container.
A no-spill container in particular is probably the best option to look for. It is designed specifically to make the engine more reliable and to decrease both evaporation and spillage while reducing permeation as well.
Gas Choice Matters
Don’t just assume that you can throw any old gas into your weed eater. Your model may require a specific type of gas and simply going with the cheapest option could potentially be fatal in the long run.
- Premium. When in doubt, go with premium. It costs just a little bit more than regular gas, but you can ensure that your engine will take it with little to no problem. But if you don’t want to pay the extra, there is another choice.
- Mid-grade unleaded. The most affordable, best quality option is to go with a mid-grade unleaded gas. Since you’re mixing it with oil, you want to look for a recommended octane rating. The lowest recommended octane rating on the gasoline that you use should be 89. Anything lower could compromise your engine.
Why not a lower octane? There is actually a reason why a lower octane rating than that can be bad. The lower the octane rating, the greater the chance that your engine’s temperature will increase. When temperatures get to be too high, you run the risk of piston failure and damage to the engine as well.
Avoid diesel. Depending on your model, there is a chance that you can use gasoline that is blended with a 10% alcohol maximum. Just be prepared for the fact that the alcohol content will dilute the engine’s power. Moreover, the engine may start to run a bit unpredictably.
Alternative fuels. You can use something like methanol or ethanol, but just consider one thing. If you do use this type of fuel, don’t store your weed eater with a full tank of gas for long periods of time. This type of mixture can form acids over time, particularly when humidity is high.
Oil Type is Important, Too
For the most part, you can use most of the different oil types that can be found on the market. It will, in most cases, come down to a matter of personal preference and probably a little based on cost as well.
If you are looking for the best oil possible, think about going with a premium quality two-cycle oil. This kind of oil is designed specifically to provide a smoother performance out of your engine. Moreover, this kind of oil will provide a greater level of protection for the engine as well.
So, What is the Proper Oil to Gas Mixture?
Now that we know what to look for, it is easier to narrow down the mixture. The model of your weed eater is the most important factor. If you aren’t sure what your ratio is, check out the gas cap and/or the fuel tank.
Gas cap/fuel tank. Most of the manufacturers that you will find will have a stamp that shows the recommended oil/fuel ratio for your specific model. If you can’t find that check out the owner’s manual for more information.
3 Ratios. Generally speaking, there are 3 possible ratios for gas to oil: 32:1, 40:1, or 50:1. It is crucial that you get the right ratio. Using the wrong one may seem like a “close enough” scenario, but it could mean untold damage to your weed eater’s engine.
The most common ratio. The most common ratio for fuel to oil mix is 40:1. What does that mean? You need to mix 40 parts gas to one gallon of oil used. Any ratio that you use follows the same basic principle.
Other Important Facts About Weed Eater Fuel
While we know that the two most common ratios for weed eater gas to oil mixtures are 40:1 and 50:1, there are other important factors worth noting. Remember, getting the right fuel is important for the health and longevity of your weed eater’s engine.
- 4-cycle weed eater. There is a distinct difference between 2-cycle and 4-cycle weed eaters. With the latter, the oil and the gas must be kept separate. You can use regular fuel in this instance since it will be kept apart from the oil.
- Ethanol. If you are going to use a fuel that contains ethanol, make sure that it is no more than 10% of ethanol. Most small engines – like those in a weed eater – aren’t built to handle that type of ingredient. A fuel with too much ethanol in it can damage your engine, cutting its lifespan far shorter than it normally would last.
- Look at the gas pump. When purchasing gas at the pump, be cognizant of the ethanol levels. Since the Clean Air Act, it has become more difficult to find fuel that has no ethanol in it. Just be aware when you are filling up your canister.
Tips for Keeping Your Fuel Fresh
Fresh fuel is required for your weed eater to run effectively on a consistent basis. When the fuel is diluted or dirty, it can result in things like a congested or damaged engine. Thankfully, there are a couple of helpful tips that you can implement to keep your weed eater working as effectively as possible.
- Clean the fuel cap. When you are done preparing your oil to gas mixture, you will need to clean the fuel cap. Check the surrounding area for any spillage and make sure that you clean up any spillage accordingly. This keeps debris from falling into the gas container and getting into the engine.
- Fresh gas. It is important to remember that your gas and oil mixture really doesn’t have that long of a life. Make sure that you don’t overfill, using just what you need for a couple of days at a time. When you go to add fuel to your fuel container, make sure that you shake up the canister first before doing so to provide a fresh mixture.
Ryan Womeldorf has more than a decade of experience writing. He loves to blog about construction, plumbing, and other home topics. Ryan also loves hockey and a lifelong Buffalo sports fan.
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