2-stroke motor on a cold day

[foxfai]

How much difference running a 2-stroke in 30 degree weather compare to a normal warm day?

 

Took my 2-stroke out yesterday in 30deg weather and it was really hard to start. Even the recoil having trouble winding itself back. With that It was running sluggish and I have to give it a bit more fuel on the high trim to run more smoother. 

 

What should I watch out for when I run it again on a cold day? Don't want to get strand out there.

Edited November 25, 2022 by foxfai

[aae0130]

20 mins ago, foxfai said:

How much difference running a 2-stroke in 30 degree weather compare to a normal warm day?

 

Took my 2-stroke out yesterday in 30deg weather and it was really hard to start. Even the recoil having trouble winding itself back. With that It was running sluggish and I have to give it a bit more fuel on the high trim to run more smoother. 

 

What should I watch out for when I run it again on a cold day? Don't want to get strand out there.

What year/brand? What 2-stroke oil are you using? Do you have an oil tank or mix manually?
 

There is plenty that can change in cold weather with anything. Materials change size based on temps…….flexible parts get stiffer….greases and lubes get thicker……

 

Edited November 25, 2022 by aae0130

[Gatr522]

Sure makes a difference with all 2 stroke lawn equipment. That includes new spark plugs and even some ether sometimes.

[foxfai]

1 hour ago, aae0130 said:

What year/brand? What 2-stroke oil are you using? Do you have an oil tank or mix manually?
 

There is plenty that can change in cold weather with anything. Materials change size based on temps…….flexible parts get stiffer….greases and lubes get thicker……

 

1967 -2-stroke Evinrude 4hp- 4636. Ran 2 summers without an issue. Never fished this late in the season and this is the first. Oil is mixed in a tank at 50:1 ratio.

Edited November 25, 2022 by foxfai

[XBMX]

4hp can't be that heavy, take it off and store inside this time of year.

[Bergallmaster]

In cold weather any engine is gonna have a hard time starting and running. Small engines still have chokes on them to ritchen the mixture so they start easier. 50 years ago cars had them too but fuel injection solved that. 

A lot of people run a slightly heavy oil mix. Many people will add an extra oz or two to a 6 gal premix. In warmer weather its not a bad idea but when its cold and your engine needs more fuel it can create problems. Remember the oil/fuel ratio is calculated to keep the parts at a certain temp. When its cold out, the internal parts stay cooler and need less lube so that exta oil is not needed and that extra oil is not providing extra protection. Its only lessening the amount of available combustible fluid. Not that i would try it but on cold days you might even be able to get away with a 60/1 ratio. Makes sense?

[Too Close]

Anything with a carb is tough in the cold.

[snag777]

put sea foam in tank and run that.it will clean the fuel system.new gas ad stabilizer to the gas.

we troll 6 to 10 hours when it start runing ruff,time for sea foam after it clean itself,new gas and stabylizer.

you have to find out what your ingene like.

end of fishing disconect gas hose and let run til die or

shot ingene and let gas in.if i fish next day could be not run out.

if you not going to use that for month i will run that dry off gas.

the gas turn in varnish and seal the filter screen for gas.

[Bergallmaster]

I was never a fan of the run dry on 2 strokes. Especially on multi carb engines. Chances are one of the carbs will run outta fuel well before the others. So now you have a few cylinders running either very lean or with no oil for a few minutes while the others keep going.

[27conch]

My Yamaha 2 stroke 130 hated the cold weather.  Forever to start, smoked, spit, shuttered... Not pretty at all.

[PhilCVG]

I have a 175hp two stroke and it always takes a bit more cranking to get it started in the cold. But it also runs better once it is running. 

[foxfai]

17 hours ago, XBMX said:

4hp can't be that heavy, take it off and store inside this time of year.

It was stored indoor until it was taken out on the boat.

[JAL]

Carbed 2-stroke... quick shot of starting fluid (ether) into air intake. Gunned ducks for several decades, this has saved having a heart attack from yanking on the damn cord a 100 times in the ice to get one started.

[Stryper Snyper]

I had a 7hp evenrude.  Hated the cold.   Started using Amsoil Sabre at 75:1 and a splash of seafoam.  Night and day difference on cold days. 

Edited January 5 by Stryper Snyper

[mako capt]

My 1996 carbed 225 JonnyRude would start in any weather so long as the battery had the juice.  Once started and warmed up for the day starts were always instantaneous if started within a couple hours.