Differentiate Oil Gas Ratio 40:1 vs 50:1- Best Oil Mixture!

Whether the 02 cycles,02 stroke engine, or 04 stroke engines, despite their power and working efficiency, require proper lubrication, and when opting for one, you would be asked the type of engine to get a perfect oil-gas mix. But why is it necessary to consider oil mixtures? And what’s the major difference between 40:1 vs 50:1? 

Considering oil mixture is the requirement for 02 stroke engine because of the lacking crankshaft. Getting the wrong selection would cause a rich or lean condition, damaging the pistons and wear to parts rather than releasing excessive emissions.

So that’s why it’s necessary out get major differential factors with oil usage tips and adequately measure the oil before adding it to gasoline. To get detailed insight, review the handy guide and get the most out of it in no time. 

Types of engines

Before considering the best oil for engines or various oil mixture variants, you must know for what purpose you would require those oil mixtures and what kinds of machines are considered for these oil mixtures. Generally, you got two engine types based on engine stroke; 

• 02 stroke engine 
• 04 stroke engine 

02 stroke engine

Two-cycle or two-stroke engines follow a dual-cycle mechanism, meaning that the machine would easily follow two cycles with powerful performance compatible with your daily task and DIY projects.

02 stroke equipment is usually lightweight and robust in features and design; today’s modern equipment’s mainly 02 stroke with better functioning and low maintenance issues.

What makes it 02 strokes is that engine seems flexible in up and down directions ensuring the equipment’s proper work-ability and performance in a specified order. In a two-stroke engine, you won’t find any Crankshaft where you would add lubrication oil to keep the equipment running swiftly. 

In that case, such equipment usually requires a special oil mixture with gasoline that empowers the engine and lubricates the parts to reduce friction and wear and tear issues. 

With low maintenance, fewer parts, and robust performance, they are the best for your home projects, like chainsaws, backpack blowers, and many more. 

Old equipment with two-stroke uses a different oil; now they are with a new one. We will deeply discuss the two-stroke engine oil required in our next section.  

04-stroke engine 

A 04-stroke engine is not far different from 02 strokes, except it utilizes 04 cycles to complete the power cycle with two revolutions against the crankshaft. The Other difference is the four-cycle equipment contains a crankshaft to which you can add oil and which would easily lubricate the parts. Still, considerably, they are heavy and not easily movable engines. 

Each engine is designed to work on different oil, which we would differentiate. For the 04-stroke engine, 40:1 seems a better option because it owns many parts and requires deep lubrication. 

Types Of Oil Mixtures

After discussing engine types, let’s discuss the oil mixtures used nowadays with efficiency, accuracy, ratio, and multiple functionalities in running the engine flawlessly. Engine oil plays a crucial role because if there isn’t proper lubrication, the engine life suffers with parts that get more prone to wear and tear, causing damage to your leaf blower and string trimmer.

Many oil mixture exists, but our concern would be with modern-day usage, and for that, two types are available, including:

• 40:1 
• 50:1

40:1 

A 40:1 oil-gas mixture means that 40 parts of oil are in 01 part of gas. EPA introduced a new measurement system and eliminated the older mixtures. For 04-stroke engines, it’s better to opt for 40:1 consisting of 3.2 ounces of lubrication oil per gallon of gasoline (3.2oz/gallon). 

50:1

50:1 is the standard oil mixture opted for 02 stroke engines comprising 50 parts of oil in 01 part of gas. 2.6 ounces of oil in one gallon would give rise to a 50:1 mixture. The modern 02 strokes are running on 50:1 instead of 32:1.

Major Differences Between 40:1 vs. 50:1

What makes the oil mixture different because both are oil-to-gas mixtures? Well, it’s not just the case! With considerable differences, both oils have their functionality in running various engines with properties that variates among both. To find out the major differences between the 40:1 and 50:1 oil gas mixture, reviews the table at a glance. 

Engine suitability

Engine compatibility is one of the prime factors differentiating both 40:1 and 50:1 oil mixtures because not all engines are suitable for using both kinds of oil mixtures. A 04-stroke engine works efficiently with low RPM and produces high torque, so what oil would be best for its use? Yes, it’s 40:1, but why? because a four-stroke engine has multiple parts, and there is less piston damage, but sidewise high torque requires fixing that is done by lubricating using the 40:1 mixture. So, it would slowly lubricate and lower the increased torque. 

Now suppose you have a two-stroke engine means that there are fewer parts and only 02 strokes, but with high RPM, there are chances that your Piston get wear out. Which oil is effective?

Yes, it’s the 50:1, but how? to adequately and timely lubricate, you need a less viscous mixing oil, and for that, 50:1 seems a perfect fit. Both oil mixtures differentiate between engine compatibility and usage, so by checking your engine types and oil mixing requirements, you won’t have issues selecting the right oil. 

Mixing Ratios 

Both oil types are variable in their mixing ratios, and that is clear by their names that 40:1 means 40 parts in one part of gasoline while 50:1 means 50 parts of oil in one part of the gas. Both are differentiated by measuring systems like US EPA has its classification and classified it based on a fluid ounce and gallon. In contrast, the metric measurement system follows ml to liters calculations. Check out the table that would give you an idea of quick reference calculations for Oil mixtures.

Viscosity 

Viscosity relates to the flowing properties of the oil and goes directly with density. as for 40:1, you have already checked that it’s a bit denser. So that is why it would also have more viscosity and flow slowly compared to 50:1, which is less dense and faster, lubricating the two-stroke engine and avoiding wear and tear issues because of rapid rpm. 

Considering a 04 stroke engine, it has lower RPM and low chances of wear and tear and requires deep lubrication; that is why more viscous motor oil like 40:1 would be an ideal choice for obtaining with such kind of equipment and tools. 

Lubrication 

Lubrication is important for the efficient running of the engine and its parts, and both 02-stroke and 04-stroke engines considerably require lubrication. The engine parts, when considered in the two-stroke engine, you won’t find any crankshaft where the oil has been added. In this case, we use a more suitable oil like 50:1 to mix and ensure lubrication simultaneously properly. 

On the other hand, a four-stroke engine does have a crankshaft and does not require to get your oil mixed with gasoline; that is why a 40:1 makes is a much better lubricator to opt for four-stroke engines. 

Density

Another differential factor is oil density; both 40:1 and 50:1 has versatile density based on the quantity of oil added to the mixture. 40:1, it has 40 units in one unit of gasoline, which means that the oil is denser compared to 50:1, which has 50 parts in a single part of gasoline, making it a bit less dense than 40:1. 

That is why such oil usually opts for the two-stroke engine where lubrication is continuously required. A thinner oil would be a better option for fast lubrication. 

Formulation Technique for Oil Mixtures- 40:1 vs. 50:1

Requirements 

• Engine oil 
• Gasoline 
• Clean and empty can 
• Measuring cylinder or measuring jug 
• Measurement table list 
• Stabilizer for storage purposes

Prerequisites 

Ensure the following tips before opting for the formulations; 

• Keep a clean gasoline can to avoid wrong measurements.
• Once you measure the desired quantity, add the oil to the empty can.
• No need for agitation. 
• Quantity should be as per the machine fuel requirement like most equipment comes with a gallon tank. 
• For keeping the mixture stored for 30 days, add a small amount of  Seafoam or Stabil (fuel stabilizers)
• Require agitation after the addition of a stabilizer.
• Properly label the can once the mixture is ready.
• Avoid gasoline and ethanol mixture because Ethanol, upon air exposure, attracts moisture and causes mixture separation, so in this way, there are chances your engine carburetor gets damaged. 

How do you formulate a 40 to 1 ratio?

Once you learn how to formulate mixtures, you only need to maintain the measuring requirements for various combinations.

Procedure 

• For a 40:1 mixture, purchase the best motor oil and gasoline.
• Take an empty can and add a measured quantity of oil, and to it, add gasoline.
• Ensure to work in a well-ventilated, airy site. 
• Using our measurement system, consider taking 3.2 fluid oz of engine oil and 01-gallon gasoline. 
• Combine both to end up with a 40:1 oil-gas mixture.
• However, if opting for the merit measurements system, combine 125 ml of oil in 5 liters of gasoline to produce a 40:1 mixture. 

How do you formulate a 50-to-1 ratio?

Procedure 

• For a 50:1 mixture, purchases the best motor oil and gasoline.
• Take an empty can and add a measured quantity of engine oil with the required gasoline.
• Opt for adequate ventilation or specify an open site for the formulation mixture. 
• Using the US measurement system, consider taking 2.6 fluid oz of engine oil and 01-gallon gasoline. 
• Combine both to end up with a 50:1 oil-gas mixture.
• However, if opting for the merit measurements system, combine 100 ml of oil in 5 liters of gasoline to produce a 50:1 mixture. 

How do you formulate a 32 to 1 ratio?

This mixture suits older equipment with a 02 stroke engine. 

Procedure 

• Purchase gasoline and engine oil from nearby stores or online. 
• Take an empty with no residual contents left.
• Measure the oil using the US system or metric to confirm the unity of oil and gas. 
• Formulate the mixture in a well-ventilated site with no open flames nearby. 
• For a 32:1 oil-gas mixture, add 4.0 ounces of engine oil (measured using the measuring equipment) in the empty can and then add a gallon of gas.
• The same implies for additional gallons, like for two gallons, add it to 8 ounces of engine oil. Double the oil upon doubling the gasoline quantity. 
• Other measuring system like metric equates the mixing measurements by different units. If using such a system, take 156 ml of engine oil to add to the empty can, and add 05 liters of gasoline. No need for agitation; let them mix on their own. 

Quick Reference Measurement Table (2-Stroke Oil Mix)

Selecting your 2-Cycle Engine oil mixture

Before opting for any oil-gas combination, it’s necessary to consider various factors that would help you easily opt for the best oil per 2-stroke engine. Over time technological advancement has evolved, and previous oil mixes need to get eliminated. Using ideal engine oil mixture gas seems important to ensure your engine properly works without causing wear and tear. 

Manufacturers’ Instructions

If you find nothing, the manufacturer’s instruction list is the easiest way to check oil compatibility and ratio suitability. Moreover, various labels are pasted on a product that ensures the correct use of oil. Get the clue and compare it to your engine to select the best oil. 

Manufacturing year

Another way to find the correct oil is by checking the year the tool is manufactured. The reason is with time, the oil itself evolves, and with specific periods, equipment’s opted the oil in trend. Check the tool engine stamped with the year of manufacture near the model number. 

• Suppose you own 2-stroke handheld equipment manufactured before 2003, then consider using an oil mixture of 32:1 (one gallon of gasoline mixed with 4 oz of oil). Older equipment utilizes more viscous crude; machines manufactured before 2003 favor this oil mixture. 
• But a machine built after 2003 requires the use of 40:1 3.2 oz oil per 1-gallon gas to be the safest oil with enhanced performance and better lubrication capability. The 32:1 is too much oil for more modern tools; that’s why go with the 40:1 to make the correct combination else; you could cause the engine parts to wear out. 

Country origin and laws 

 In some countries, only the laws matter; like in California, using the two-stroke engine, despite its age, requires 40:1 to limit the emission, as 32:1 causes too much emission. 

Conclusion 

We hope you got all the relevant differentiation factors with the measurement system required to formulate an oil-gas mixture for your chainsaw or leaf blower to ensure adequate lubrication and efficient running. In states like California, it’s against the emission law to use any other oil mix than 50:1, but for other states getting the right oil mix would extend the life of the working engine. 

Always remember it’s all about the oil that would define the ratio, so adequately measure and mix. The percentage would vary from 40:1 to 50:1 in density, viscosity, engine suitability, and lubrication. Before considering the oil mixture, whether 40:1, review the manufacturer’s recommendations and other relevant label information on the engine and engine oil container.