Oil to Gas Ratio??

[dr1979-340]

Although the original Operators Manual calls out a 40:1 ratio for mixing gas, I'm wondering what has worked best on these old sleds?

Brands of oils, synthetic versus standard?  Octane of Gas?

[gixxer6]

I run 40:1 in all my 2-stroke engines that are not oil injected.  From what I've read, 50:1 is sufficient, but I feel safer with 40:1. 

IMO most modern oils are good.  I would stay away from the generic ultra cheap stuff.  Buy synthetic for added protection.  I run Klotz because I like the way it smells.   

[rminier]

Hah, hah...dr1979-340.... let me see...Kawasakitrax is up to 569 members....you may get 568 opinions....surely there would be 2 of us that agree...on "the best" oil.
 I do agree with what gixxer6 stated, though....I just happen to have been using Yamaha's "Yamalube 2S" 2 stroke oil for the last few years...simply because I have a Dealer reasonably close, and it is halfway decently priced at around 27 bucks per gallon.
 Pre-mix sleds using it at 40/1 works well.
 I too hate to use some of the cheap oils out there.
 I shouldn't.... ..but I will, open a REAL can of worms.....Wal-Mart's "Supertech" 2 stroke oil.
 Obviously, Wal-Mart doesn't manufacture it...somebody, maybe Castrol makes and packages it for them.
 I don't use it....I don't recommend it.
 It, no doubt, has the minimum amounts of additives, such as viscosity improvers, detergents-dispersants, etc. to keep the cost down.
 But, I really have to wonder, with all of the advances in oil technology,  if it may not be as good as the oils we could buy from Kawasaki and Yamaha dealers back in the late 70's when the sleds were new???
 

[rminier]

 The fuel octane part of your question....my 79 Invader calls for 89 octane.
 I have found myself using strictly 92 or 93 octane in the sleds the last couple years....simply in an attempt to avoid the ethanol that is so commonly used in the 87 octane stuff.
 I'm not even sure about that. I have asked at the gas station if the 92 octane gas is ethanol free. I can't blame the young lady at the counter for not knowing the answer, and I have never pursued it.
 I'm wasting money buying the higher octane. Higher octane fuels actually burn slightly slower, to combat detonation, etc. And if the engine isn't designed to utilize the higher octane, you're just wasting $$$. But, avoiding the 10 percent ethanol in sleds, jet-skis, etc. makes life a lot easier.
 Don't go below 89 octane...and try to find some that is ethanol free.

[gixxer6]

rminier,  I believe each state is different, but here in Michigan the premium fuel can have just as much ethanol as regular.  It is limited to 10% here in Michigan.  Here is a website where it lists stations that are ethanol free.  http://pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=MI

I run premium (92) in my Invader with shaved heads, I ran mid-grade (89) before that.  I do not notice a difference between gas with ethanol vs gas without.  Like rminier says, run what the engine was designed for.  Premium will only drain your wallet faster in an engine that is not designed to take advantage of the higher octane rating. 

[Interceptor398]

40-1 is fine for all but the 80  Drifter F/A.  Seems like I remember seeing a bulletin  saying 24-1 for it and they had a replacement copper head gasket kit.

[dr1979-340]

Thanks for all the input!!  Interesting reading.  I will use 89 octane as the manual calls out and mix a 40:1 ration of AmsOil synthetic 2-clycle oil.