Fuel to oil ratio???

Rjonline

I was just re reading one of the Harley Owners Manuals (1982) on this website. It talks about a mix ratio of 85 to 1. I am guessing that with today's high quality two stroke oils, that 40 to 1 is probably acceptable??

I wonder what the Harley oil was like. It was probably some thick old gear oil not good enough for crankcase oil on a four stroke! Must have had about twice the viscosity of today's oils.

........I am rambling.... Is 40:1 ratio ok? Any favourite oils?

Thx

BGW

__________________
This advertising will not be shown in this way to registered members.
Register your free account today and become a member on Buggies Gone Wild Golf Cart Forum

WVHarley

I run 85:1 in my 73 for the last 8 years. That seems to work well. I would think that 40:1 would be to much oil that could cause performance issues. Any good quality 2 cycle oil should be fine. I am sure a few other will give their views on this also. Plus if you do a search I am sure you will find more thoughts and opinions. Good Luck!

73eldo

They don't like it when you get too much oil in em. Try to stick to 85:1. I tried some 50:1 and it smoked like crazy and fouled out the plug. Not sure why these care, many other 2 strokes just smoke when you get too much oil.

I have not really been sticking to any one brand of oil. I try to stick to oil made for air cooled engines vs water cooled like outboards. I read that the harley oil was just a premium oil. It was better than what was commonly available at the time. I remember it was the same deal if you bought a 'new' snowmobile or dirt bike at the time, you were supposed to use the genuine oil. Thinking late 70's and 80's there started to be more options on the average store shelf that were 'approved'.

Where does the logic of needing more oil if its modern come from? Its usually the other way or is that what you were thinking and you just didn't translate that correctly to a ratio? 40:1 would be a little more than twice the oil. 100:1 would be a little less.

Rjonline

Yes, I realize that 40:1 is twice as much oil. As two stroke oil is not really viscous, I was thinking (perhaps wrongly), that the old Harley oil is probably thicker and with less additives?? But..... If the consensus is to stick to 85:1, then that's what I will do. Any more suggestions? I sure don't want to damage the engine!

backyard

85:1 is the correct ratio. The manual recommends 42:1 during break in. That is what I'm running right now until I break mine in. Mine doesn't smoke nor have I fouled the plug, but it could happen I suppose. It does seem like a little too much oil after break in.

As long as it is TCW-3 certified oil then you should be good to go.

tew45

I use a great amount of two stroke oil and I find that WalMart oil Super Tech brand TCW-3 is as good as you can get. Or listen to the hype from manufacturers and pay 3 or 4 times as much for their oil. 85:1 is perfect any more or less will not do the engine any good. I don't like excess oil in my muffler and lots of smoke. Harley Davidson oil was made by another oil brand with the HD name on it. Also Pennzoil is an excellent 2 cycle oil and sometimes it is a little less than Super Tech (around $12.00 a gallon)

Rjonline

Thx for the responses guys! I have sourced an excellent 2 stroke oil in our area. It it good to 100:1 and is specially made for air-cooled engines. I will be mixing 85:1.

Thx again!

73eldo

Seems like the can of harley oil I found had said texaco in the fine print. It was from the AMF era so likely mid 70's.