What Kind of Oil Goes in a Weed Eater Head?

Cycle Type

• Weed eaters are two-stroke or two-cycle engines, so they need two-cycle oil. Two-cycle engines are smaller, lightweight engines that combine components to save on space. Whatever type of oil you use, it will need to be rated as two-cycle. This type of oil is designed for many types of motors, so do not worry if you cannot find an oil specifically for weed eaters. Several types of motors are often listed for approved use.

Sources

• Several types of two-cycle oils are available based on the source they come from. For example, petroleum and vegetable-based two-cycle oils are available. Consult your weed eater guide to see if it specifies the type of oil you should use. You may want to stick with the more traditional synthetic or synthetic hybrid oils that are used in a variety of motors instead of trying vegetable oils, which can have varying quality issues.

Mixing

• You can buy premixed or unmixed oil. Premixed oil already comes in the gasoline, making it very easy to use in your weed eater. If you have an unmixed version, however, you will need to mix it yourself before you can use it. You want a 40-to-1 ratio of gasoline to oil. Gasoline and oil should be divided into ounces. One gallon of gasoline equals 128 ounces. Check your oil -- some types suggest a different mix, such as a 100-to-1 ratio.

Gas Mix

• Mix the oil with regular unleaded gasoline for the best fuel-oil combination. If you have gasoline that is blended with an alcohol additive in order to save on the amount of gas you use, do not use the oil with gas that has more than 10 percent alcohol. Dot not leave this fuel in your weed eater head, especially with the alcohol content, because it can become corrosive over time.