What happens if you put 2 stroke oil in a 4 stroke engine? The most commonly seen side effects if you put 2 stroke oil in a 4 stroke engine are overheating of the engine and an increase in exhaustion from the pipes. These may seem like causes of concern but no real damage is done if you use 2 stroke engine oil in a 4 stroke engine.
Yes, that’s right. No damage at all is done to your 4 stroke engine if you use 2T oil. Let’s take a look at the small side effects that occur when 2 stroke oil is used in a 4 stroke engine and understand how 2 stroke and 4 stroke engines operate.
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What Happens If You Put 2 Stroke Oil In A 4 Stroke Engine [Know A-Z]
We will take a look at what happens if you use 2 stroke oil in a 4 stroke engine and let it run for an hour. After running 2T oil in a 4 stroke engine for an hour, the following side effects were observed:
- The engine was overheating.
- Smoke was coming out from the pipes.
- Dripping of oil.
These reactions look dangerous but the 2 stroke oil passed the following tests while running on a 4 stroke engine:
- No contamination of the metals.
- No real damage to the engine.
- No loss of compression.
- No loss of lubrication.
It may seem surprising but there wasn’t any noticeable damage to the engine of the car. Although it is okay to use 2T oil in a 4 stroke engine, there is no reason to do so without an emergency.
Make no mistake – using 2T oil will not harm your engine but it is still useless. You won’t get any extra benefits by using 2T oil in a 4 stroke engine. In fact, your 2T oil will burn off quicker since it is lower in viscosity than 4T oil.
Note: You can also read Is synthetic oil better for diesel engines.
Difference Between 2 Stroke And 4 Stroke Engine
The piston in a 4 stroke engine goes up and down twice to complete a cycle. Since the piston moves 4 times, it is called a 4-stroke engine.
A 4 stroke engine has separate containers for fuel and engine oil. These engines can operate without mixing fuel and engine oil.
4-stroke engines require valves for the intake and exhaustion of fuel. The engine oil of a 4 stroke engine is stored in the crankcase if it is not used.
On the other hand, the piston in a 2 stroke engine moves up and down once to complete the cycle. But it performs more functions than a 4 stroke engine does.
Air, fuel, and oil are mixed in the upward movement of the piston. During the downward movement of a piston, the mixture of air, fuel, and water is compressed and passed on to the combustion chamber. This is where the burning of the fuel takes place.
Difference Between 4 Stroke And 2 Stroke Engine Oil
4 stroke oil is designed to lubricate the different parts of the engine. The 4T oil reaches the different parts of the engine and lubricates the engine to function smoothly. It doesn’t need to be burned or mixed with anything else.
The purpose of 4 stroke oil is to protect the valve of the engine against wear and tear. It’s also designed to keep the engine as clean as possible.
The 2 stroke engine oil on the other hand has a completely different mechanism. 2 stroke oil needs to be mixed with fuel or gasoline to ensure lubrication.
So, the purpose of 2 stroke oil is to get mixed with the fuel and burn in the combustion chamber of the engine. The oil is burned off after completing combustion.
Though the engine oils are made differently, surprisingly no damage is done if you use 2 stroke engine oil on a 4 stroke engine. The answer to the question, ‘Can you use 2 stroke oil in a 4 stroke engine?’ should be clear by now.
Can I Put 4 Stroke Oil in a 2 Stroke Engine?
The short answer is absolutely not. While putting 2T oil in a 4 stroke engine doesn’t have any major repercussions, using 4T oil in a 2 stroke engine will have huge consequences.
You run the risk of fouling your spark plug and exhausting your port blockage if you use 4 stroke oil in a 2 stroke engine. Remember how 2 stroke engines work by burning the engine oil?
The engine will quickly burn the 4T oil and start to become overheated. Eventually, it will fail. If you used 4 stroke oil in a 2 stroke engine, you’ve done permanent damage to your engine.
The cylinder and piston will bear the maximum damage and you’d have to replace them to run your car again.
FAQs:
Where is the oil stored in a 4 stroke engine?
The oil is stored in the crankcase of the 4 stroke engine. It is only used to lubricate the moving parts of the engine.
What’s the difference between 2T oil and engine oil?
Engine oil is a generic term. 2T oil refers to engine oil that is made for 2 stroke engines. 2T oil means 2 stroke oil.
Is 2 stroke engine better than 4 stroke engine?
2 stroke engines burn more fuel and are usually much faster than 4 stroke engines. But 4 stroke engines have less carbon emission and run longer.
How would you know if your 2 stroke engine has too much oil?
It’s hard to tell if you’ve overfilled your 2 stroke engine with oil as it mixes with the fuel. But if your engine produces too much smoke, it is a clear sign that you’ve used too much oil.
Conclusion
Now you know what happens if you put 2 stroke oil in a 4 stroke engine. Hopefully, we could have busted some common myths regarding this topic. While it is safe to use 2 stroke oil in a 4 stroke engine, it’s not beneficial.
Don’t forget to let us know if you have any queries regarding this topic in the comment box below. We will be happy to help you.
About John M
John contributed as a technical head at an automobile company just 2 years after his post-graduation in Automobile Engineering. He loves to lead a free life, so he left his job & started blogging. Now, he does research on every automotive problem, part & product and seeks a better solution & best products & shares his findings with his readers to help them as well as to minimize their struggle.