Cost of fuel .... this floored me

[ohiorider]

I headed out to Ace Hardware this morning to pick up a couple of small bottles of Echo 50:1 oil.  I generally buy the small bottles that will treat a couple gallons of gasoline.  But this time I thought I'd pick up a large bottle of oil and save a few bucks.  That was almost a fatal (for my leaf blower and weed whacker) mistake.

I didn't have my cheaters with me, and only noticed as I squinted at the can that the 32 oz container was not 2 stroke oil, but 50:1 PREMIX!  $9.99 for one quart, or $39.96 for a gallon of lawn tool fuel.

Since Ace isn't usually the 'low price spread,' I checked Home Depot on line.  One quart of the stuff is $7.97, or $31.88 a gallon.  But wait!  You can save some $$$$ buying the 6 quart package for $34.99 ($5.83 a quart) or $23.33 a gallon.

How lazy can someone be to buy this stuff vs measuring the proper amount of 2 stroke oil into a gas can, adding a gallon of gas, shake, and done!

The old saying in the 1980s was 'cocaine .... God's way of telling you that you make too much money.'  Maybe Echo Pre Mix by the quart is the new way of measuring wealth.  Or plain old stupid.

[oldbike54]

 Bob , no one ever went broke underestimating how lazy folks can be 

  Dusty

[Two Checks]

 :coffee:The stuff you buy at the store has no alcohol. If you live in an area where you can't get oxygenated fuel, it's your only alternative.

OOPS! I meant where all you can get is oxygenated fuel.

[BMCMOTO]

Two Checks has it right, not only that but, for me I only use mixed oil in my two cheapo chainsaws on the rare occasion I might need them, often once every two years or so.  Having stabilized, non alcohol, 94 octane, fuel available in these small quantities is a major boon to me for a ten minute job or so.  Why would I want to mix a gallon of fuel that will be stale in a month and has no other use for me.  If I need to use my saws on a more frequent basis or over a longer period of time I can always mix a gallon, I didn't throw out my can or my bottles of oil, I just won't need to throw out mixed fuel every six months.

Brian

[Sasquatch Jim]

 Some of them rich folks don't know what goes into the machine cause the gardener does it.

[LowRyter]

perhaps not so much lazy as just easily confused. 

[Wayne Orwig]

And I'm sure it has been properly 'aged' in a hot warehouse for a few months.

[Triple Jim]

I felt that way the first time I saw premixed antifreeze in the auto parts store.  Half as much product for 80% of the price.

I get 2-stroke oil at Walmart.  They have store brand TC-W3 oil in gallon jugs for somewhere around $12, depending on the current OPEC situation.  I've used it for many years in my H2, DT100, outboard motors, lawn equipment, and chainsaws.

[Aaron D.]

I have premix made from oil and gas with ethanol, even after a year it works fine.

[canuguzzi]

Lazy? How about the people who use the piece if equipment just a couple/few times a year and barely get through a tank and a half of fuel?

That premix lasts a long time.

Lazy? Hardly. A lot smarter than stocking flammable liquids you don't need.

[LongRanger]

I get 2-stroke oil at Walmart.  They have store brand TC-W3 oil in gallon jugs for somewhere around $12, depending on the current OPEC situation.  I've used it for many years in my H2, DT100, outboard motors, lawn equipment, and chainsaws.

Maybe I should have followed your advice. I always ponied up for the Yamalube 2S for my RD350 (injector, not premix). At $30/gallon, it made that RD relatively expensive to keep on the road. Relatively.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I have premix made from oil and gas with ethanol, even after a year it works fine.

 :1: One reason I use Lawn-Boy 2-stroke oil is that it has stabilizer already in it. Always has AFAIK.

[oldbike54]

Two Checks has it right, not only that but, for me I only use mixed oil in my two cheapo chainsaws on the rare occasion I might need them, often once every two years or so.  Having stabilized, non alcohol, 94 octane, fuel available in these small quantities is a major boon to me for a ten minute job or so.  Why would I want to mix a gallon of fuel that will be stale in a month and has no other use for me.  If I need to use my saws on a more frequent basis or over a longer period of time I can always mix a gallon, I didn't throw out my can or my bottles of oil, I just won't need to throw out mixed fuel every six months.

Brian

 Uh , don't know how to tell you guys this , but math allows us to mix a pint , or a quart of premix as easily as a gallon . Just sayin 

  Dusty

[Markcarovilli]

:1: One reason I use Lawn-Boy 2-stroke oil is that it has stabilizer already in it. Always has AFAIK.

- yes what Charlie says - also most good 2 stroke oil has stabilizer in it.  I have some that has sat around over a year and still fires up fine....

Mark

[Two Checks]

I prefer mixed fuel. You only have to mix it once.   

[cruzziguzzi]

Given how our gasoline has completely dissolved the in-tank lines of a couple-three of my tools - I'd say the higher cost of a non-alcohol (pre-mixed) fuel, balanced against replacement factory tanks is not so bad.

Todd.

[Perazzimx14]

Wal-Mart sells 1 gallon jugs of K-1 kerosene for $9.24 or a 2-1/2 gallon jug for $19.54. I'm guessing someone buys it or they wouldn't have it on the shelf. 

[Rough Edge racing]

Lazy? How about the people who use the piece if equipment just a couple/few times a year and barely get through a tank and a half of fuel?

That premix lasts a long time.

Lazy? Hardly. A lot smarter than stocking flammable liquids you don't need.

 I agree.............

[oldbike54]

 Once again , why not mix a QUART of premix and not a gallon , not that hard to do . Heck , if you only use a saw twice a year why not just rent instead of buy ?

 Dusty

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Given how our gasoline has completely dissolved the in-tank lines of a couple-three of my tools - I'd say the higher cost of a non-alcohol (pre-mixed) fuel, balanced against replacement factory tanks is not so bad.

Todd.

Y'all must have some seriously bad gas where you are. Still have the original hoses on my '84 Husqvarna chainsaw, same brand leaf blower, '82 Echo trimmer and even the 40 year old Montgomery-Wards/Remington chainsaw. They all sit with gas in them year round.

[Arizona Wayne]

When you figure how little fuel stabilizer(Stabil) you add for a years worth of protection for a gallon or less............... ..we're talkin' peanuts. 

[cruzziguzzi]

Y'all must have some seriously bad gas where you are. Still have the original hoses on my '84 Husqvarna chainsaw, same brand leaf blower, '82 Echo trimmer and even the 40 year old Montgomery-Wards/Remington chainsaw. They all sit with gas in them year round.

Yup, we do. It'll go to varnish in no time. Eats O rings, rubber-like tubes, tanks themselves... Being Arizona likely doesn't help much but damn, we have some awful gas and are required to switch "blends" twice annually.

Todd.

[Arizona Wayne]

Yup, we do. It'll go to varnish in no time. Eats O rings, rubber-like tubes, tanks themselves... Being Arizona likely doesn't help much but damn, we have some awful gas and are required to switch "blends" twice annually.

Todd.

That's odd.  I live in Az. and don't have any of those issues.   Where do you live in Az.?  I live in Kingman.  We don't have any smog tests here. 

[cruzziguzzi]

That's odd.  I live in Az. and don't have any of those issues.   Where do you live in Az.?  I live in Kingman.  We don't have any smog tests here. 

If I bring gas down from our place up Nutrioso - I get over. This crap in Phoenix is the worst!

Todd.

[segesta]

Slightly off-topic: I didn't expect to pay $63 for four liters of synthetic motorcycle oil this morning. But I did. Yowza.

[pikipiki]

With those high prices and your lack of reading the label it's a good thing you weren't requiring 25:1 you could have easily filled your leaf blower with 25% RC Nitro that would have sent the leaves blowing.

[krglorioso]

We don't usually brag about it, but Dusty and I are old enough to remember adding 1/2 pint of Mobil Oil 30wt car oil to a gallon of Whiting Brothers "regular" for any two stroke engine. 

 Ralph

[canuguzzi]

Uh , don't know how to tell you guys this , but math allows us to mix a pint , or a quart of premix as easily as a gallon . Just sayin 

  Dusty

Until you go buy it and then its more of a hassle to buy a quart of gasoline and mix it. Sometimes paying for convenience works.

Besides, I worked long and hard so as not to worry about the price of premix in my retirement. 

[JayDee24ca]

For years, if I find i have a bit of left over mixed fuel at the end of the season, I simply add it to the fuel tank on one of our cars or the truck. No need to waste it. For that reason I have never felt any need to buy premixed fuel, or worry about mixing up too much two stroke fuel at a time. As I said, I've been doing this for years, with no apparent adverse effects to any of the vehicles to which this minuscule bit of mixed gas is added. Of course, I ensure that the gas tank of the recipient vehicle is relatively full of fuel before adding the mix.
JD

[LongRanger]

Wal-Mart sells 1 gallon jugs of K-1 kerosene for $9.24 or a 2-1/2 gallon jug for $19.54. I'm guessing someone buys it or they wouldn't have it on the shelf.

I'm a buyer. Those one gallon jugs are good for about two seasons of chain soaking & cleaning on my chain-drive bikes. NGC.