Which Oil for my 2-Stroke Oil Vespa?
This time I'm introducing you to two-stroke oils and giving recommendations for their use. I have a preference for the economical dosing of high-quality, modern oils to protect both health and the environment.
Mixing ratio 2 %!
Nowadays I recommend a mixing ratio of 1:50 (2 %). My argument is based on the high quality of today's oils and the change in environmental awareness compared to the time when most two-stroke engines originated. The quality of today's oils and engine components is so good that I see no reason why more oil should be added.
Specifications that call for a higher mixture ratio may, for example, be manufacturer specifications in Mounting Instructions for tuning parts or historical manufacturer specifications for vintage vehicles. I suspect that the high amount of lubricant in the fuel (up to 5 % or 1:20) at the beginning of the 1960s was one of the reasons why vehicle manufacturers turned away from piston-controlled engine concepts and brought Disc Valve and diaphragm engines onto the market.
The heavy smoke development of vehicles with a high proportion of oil in the fuel makes their harmful effects on health and the environment literally visible. I no longer find the saying "a lot helps a lot" appropriate in today's world. Modern, high-quality oils can be used in very small quantities. The additional "low-smoke" properties of the top oils help to minimise the negative aspects of the two-stroke engine.
To ensure that we can continue to use our "old treasures" on public roads for as long as possible, I urge everyone to do their bit: to minimise the harmfulness by selecting a high-quality, low-smoke Oil and by using it very sparingly.
SIP Scootershop has its own Measuring Cup and Squeeze Bottle in its range, which enable particularly precise and clean dosing.
Super petrol is the right fuel!
Super or Super-Plus? Compared to four-stroke engines, two-stroke engines only have about half to a quarter of the time available for combustion. Therefore, a fast burn-through speed of the fuel mixture is required.
Super-Plus or fuels with over 100 octane, such as "V-Power" or "Ultimate", are specially additivated to optimise the efficiency of four-stroke engines. These fuels also contain fire retardants, which have a counterproductive effect in two-stroke engines.
Oil norms and standards
Standards are defined for two-stroke oils that assess the quality of the oil. The Japanese standard is particularly common:
FA: light load, simple Oil
FB: medium load, e.g. chainsaw, garden tool
FC: medium load and low smoke, e.g. Malossi two-stroke oil
FD: high load and low smoke, e.g. SIP two-stroke oil Gold, Motul 710
Most standards from other regions, such as the ISO standard, also have a four-stage structure and are similar to the Japanese classification. It is noticeable that the highest quality oils recommended for racing purposes do not fulfil any of these standards. This applies both to Castrol 747, which was previously said to contain castor oil, and to the legendary Motul 800, and I suspect that these oils may have compromised in other areas, such as health protection or environmental friendliness, in favour of maximum resilience in racing.
Which Oils does SIP Scootershop stock?
SIP offers three different product groups:
Two-stroke oils from Malossi and Agip: These oils make it possible to comply with the manufacturer's specifications for the engine parts. Malossi, for example, recommends the insert of Malossi two-stroke oil for its Racing Cylinders. Nowadays, Piaggio generally recommends Agip oils; in the past, Esso and other lubricant manufacturers also did. This connection is less of a technical nature and more of a contractual one.
Motul and Castrol: Motul is a recognised high-quality brand and manufacturer of the legendary racing oil "800". SIP offers its customers both the high-quality Motul 710 oil and the 800 racing oil. For Castrol brand fans, the SIP range includes both a very high-quality oil for road use and the 747 racing oil.
SIP's own oils: SIP produces three different oils under its own company name. Two simple, semi-synthetic oils, one for small-displacement "scooter" engines and one for large-displacement"classic" scooters. The third Oil in the range, with the golden label, fulfils the highest standards and has a low smoke property at a very moderate price.
In conclusion, I would like to emphasise that the use of high quality and sparingly dosed oils is not only cost-effective, but also environmentally friendly and contributes to the well-being of other road users. I would like to emphasise the responsibility of the individual participants for each other, for example during Vespa parades and group rides.
Video: Which Oil for my 2-Stroke Oil Vespa?
