Exol Optima racing two stroke (M124)

[Warkton Tornado No.1]

As there has been some discussion (again) concerning it causing issues I thought I’d add my own opinion.

My experience with Exol Optima racing two stroke (M124) is that it is an excellent oil that can be used in leaner mixes than many other brands.

Currently, I know that two motors including my own use it @ 50:1. One is a Ø66 x 58 mm TS1 with a Dell’Orto Ø34 mm & expansion chamber. The other is Ø71 x 61 mm Rapido with a Dell’Orto Ø30 mm & gutted, ‘coned’ Clubman type exhaust. Both have recently been stripped & piston/rings, bore & big ends indicated no issues whatsoever through use of Optima.

It really does appear to be a ‘rich’ oil.

I say this specifically as I do not doubt that it would carbon/gum up any untuned/moderately tuned Lambretta engine when used @ ‘normal’ mix ratios.

Simply because I had it to hand, I performed a simple test with my McCulloch (fan cooled) garden equipment. Even @ the recommended 50:1 in chainsaws, trimmers etc, they would not run well on it! They became smoky, boggy & would not ‘rev’ clean. Reverting to the type available from Merchants, their normal performance returned.

The scooter owning Exol Manager in Northampton branch may not do a deal for everybody, but @ £15 cash for five litres collected, that seems an excellent bargain to me.

[gaz_powell]

I ve had good results with the semi synthetic in all my TS1s which are ridden hard, I`m down to 2% on them now. Ive been using it for several years now and gradually come down from 4% to 2% in a controlled manner.
Top ends stripped every year for a inspection and no issues todate.

I did have a gumming issue on my mildly tuned P2 (on 2%) which I still put down a worn bore - still to be resolved !

I`ve not done many miles (about 1000) on my steel lined S2 TS1 barrel running at 3% on that - will get some hard miles on it this year and inspect at end of year as did do around 600 running in miles.

Gaz

Just about to order another 20litre drum

[Rich Oswald]

I have run it for years @ 3% however after Germany last year I had a gummed up rings issue but to be fair the rings were very worn. I have now dropped to 2.5% on two scooters without issue so far but still smokey even at that. Interestingly I am just running in a new build engine using 4% Sip Race and there is virtually no smoke at all.

Rich'