Gasoline for petrol cutters: which one to choose and how to dilute?

For those people who have a summer cottage or a country house, very often there are difficulties with the overgrown grass on the site. As a rule, it is necessary to mow it several times per season and get rid of thickets. Currently, there is a wide range of garden and vegetable garden equipment on the market. One of these assistants can be attributed to a petrol cutter, in other words - a trimmer. For effective and long-term operation of such equipment, it is necessary to fill it with high-quality fuel or properly prepared fuel mixtures.

Before determining which gasoline you can add to the trimmer, it is necessary to define some of the concepts used.

• Trim tabs are available with four-stroke or two-stroke engines. Four-stroke trimmers are the most powerful and complex in design; the lubrication of its engine parts is carried out by an oil pump. The engine runs on pure gasoline. For two-stroke units - simpler ones - preparation of a fuel mixture consisting of gasoline and oil is required. It is due to the amount of oil in the fuel that the rubbing parts in the cylinder of this engine are lubricated.
• To prepare the mixture, you need gasoline of a certain grade AI-95 or AI-92. The brand of gasoline depends on its ignition speed - octane number. The lower this indicator, the faster the gasoline burns and the higher its consumption.

Many models of petrol cutters have two-stroke engines running mainly on AI-92 gasoline. The fuel for them must be mixed independently. It is better to pour gasoline of the brand specified for it by the manufacturer into the brushcutter, otherwise the trimmer will fail faster. For example, with AI-95 gasoline, the engine will overheat quickly, and when choosing AI-80, the fuel mixture is of very low quality, so the engine will work unstable and with low power.

In addition to choosing a brand of gasoline, when preparing a fuel mixture for brushcutters, you need to use a special oil designed specifically for two-stroke engines. Semi-synthetic and synthetic oils are well suited for benzos. Semi-synthetic oils are in the middle price range, suitable for such equipment from any manufacturer, lubricate the necessary elements of the motor well. Synthetic oils are more expensive, but they will keep the engine running longer. In any case, when buying equipment, you should carefully read the instructions, since sometimes the manufacturer gives recommendations on the use of specific brands of oil.

If the mixture is diluted correctly, for example, in compliance with the instructions below, then the equipment will serve you for more than one year without serious technical breakdowns. At the same time, fuel consumption will be low, and the result of work will be high. The fuel preparation process must always be the same and constant. It is better to use the same ingredients always, without changing the brand indicated by the manufacturer.

It is not worth adding a lot of oil, it can damage the operation of the engine, but you should not save on it either.To maintain the correct proportions, always use the same measuring container, so as not to be mistaken with the quantity. Medical syringes can be used to measure the oil, but some manufacturers, along with the oil, provide a measuring container with risks in the kit.

The most correct ratio of oil to gasoline is 1 to 50, where 50 is the amount of gasoline, and the amount of oil is 1. For a better understanding, let us explain that 1 liter is equal to 1000 ml. So, to get a ratio of 1 to 50, divide 1000 ml by 50, we get 20 ml. As a result, only 20 milliliters of oil need to be added to 1 liter of gasoline. To dilute 5 liters of gasoline, you need 100 ml of oil.

In addition to maintaining the correct proportion, it is necessary to follow the mixing technology of the ingredients. In no case should you just add oil to the gas tank. It is better to follow the following step-by-step instructions.

• To dilute the mixture, you must prepare in advance a container in which you will mix gasoline and oil. This can be a clean metal or plastic canister with a volume of 3, 5 or 10 liters, to make it easier to calculate the amount of oil. Do not use drinking water bottles for this purpose - they are made of thin plastic that can dissolve from gasoline. Use a special measuring container to measure the oil. But if there is none, then, as already noted, medical syringes with a large dosage will do.
• Pour gasoline into the canister, without adding a couple of centimeters to the full volume. In order not to spill gasoline, take a watering can or insert a funnel into the neck of the canister. Then take the required amount of oil into a syringe or measuring device and pour it into a container with gasoline. It is not recommended to do the opposite - pour gasoline into oil.
• Close the bottle tightly and stir the mixture. If, during the preparation of the mixture or its mixing, part of the fuel has spilled out, you must immediately wipe the canister with a dry cloth.
• Be sure to follow fire safety measures. Dilute the mixture away from fire and never leave leftover fuel or used materials within easy reach of children.

When the mixture is prepared and ready for use, it must be carefully poured into the fuel tank. Since gasoline is a toxic liquid, safety precautions must be observed when working with it. Work must be carried out in calm weather and away from strangers. And also to pour fuel into the tank, you need to use a watering can or funnel with which you previously diluted the mixture. Otherwise, the mixture may spill, go unnoticed, and ignite when the engine heats up.

The fuel bank itself must be cleaned of external contaminants and only then unscrew its cap in order to refuel with the prepared fuel. Once the fuel has been filled, the tank should not be left open, as insects or soil can enter it and clog the fuel filter. Fuel must be poured into the tank until the indicated mark or less, and then refilled during operation.

During storage, the container must be tightly closed with a lid. You need to store fuel in a cool room, in a place where the sun's rays do not penetrate. It is worth remembering that during long-term storage of the mixture, the oil liquefies and loses its properties.

See below for more details.