oill for a 2 stroke engine

[Thunderchild]

So I have this strimmer and for lack of about 0.5% of 2.5 % of oil so I popped some gear oil in (85W - something) OK well obviously it is doing fine as especially with this heat I bet a little thicker oil might be best (I am in raving hot S Italy). now my question is how particular is a strimmer motor ? can I put car engine oil in ? I have plenty of left over 10W-40 oil that I don't really know what to do with, is it OK to use or is 2 stroke engine oil got anything particular about it ? I mean oil is oil
Thanks

[Clanad]

At your risk... oil isn't oil in this case. The 4 stroke multi-viscosity oils have detergent additves to help keep the 4 stroke engines cleaner, for one thing. At the high RPM's and operating temperatures of the 2 stroke engine it will foam up and likely not lubricate or burn properly. Secondly, the two stroke oil is designed to burn in the cylinder of the 2 stroke and has a lower flash point than 4 stroke oil. Additionally (there are many more reasons) there would be no way to know the correct mixture of the multi-viscosity oil since one of the design characteristics is a changeable viscosity index dependant on temperature. As inexpensive as two stroke oil is, why run the risk of engine failure?

[Thunderchild]

ok I understand there is a difference then, I'll just have to hang onto all that old oil. Knowing that there is the difference in 4 stroke and 2 stroke in that the 2 stroke engine actually burns the oil I was wondering, thanks for your enlightment (and not the en-lightment of my strimmer motor haha)
Simon

[clancyblob]

My local Focus/Do-it-all type centres have an own brand 2-stroke oil for garedn machinery that is pretty cheap and seesm to work OK. My son used it in his Honda Vision with no adverse effect!

[Thunderchild]

well I am in italy anyhow and just wondered if I could use us all that oil I have for 4 stroke engines. mind you was there any harm in the 85W-140 gear oil I mean that should be plain oil with no detergents right ?