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My genius friend put oil in the oil compartment and oil/gas mix in the gas compartment and now it won't start. We tried starter fluid but it just stays started long enough to burn that off. We tried to drain the oil and gas and put the correct product in its place but still no luck. Any ideas?

From your description I think you will need to remove and clean the carb. The small amount of oil in two cycle mix shouldn't cause a now start situation. Maybe cause it to smoke but shouldn't prevent starting.

Should run fine on the gas mix, unless it was bad. Either way, you need to go through/rebuild the fuel system and carb, you have crud/water in your carb, or something interfering with your fuel flow.

Drain the fuel tank and put just gas in it. then replace the spark plug. The oil in the gas wouldn't hurt anything other fowl out the spark plug and it might smoke a little till the oil is gone.

I recently bought a used Toro recycler. The PO had got a new mower as a gift. He "prepared" the old mower for storage. Also added oil. And more oil... and more oil. 30wt. I had to drain the excess oil, clean the carb, muffler, and spark plug. And crank it over several times to blow all the oil out of the combustion chamber and exhaust. I put it back together, added gas, and it fired up. A bit of smoke at first and then ran great.
Your engine will be fine

For what little oil that would be in the carburetors gas I just don't understand why clean the carburetor? Maybe just drain the bowl.

ILENGINE said:

From your description I think you will need to remove and clean the carb. The small amount of oil in two cycle mix shouldn't cause a now start situation. Maybe cause it to smoke but shouldn't prevent starting.

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I will tell him to try this. He said he also didn't winterize it at all last year, just left the oil and gas in it. We drained both and refilled with the correct items but still didn't work. We will try the spark plug next and then try cleaning the carb. We're able to get it to start with starter fluid but that just burns off and it dies. no smoke though

b4c1991 said:

I will tell him to try this. He said he also didn't winterize it at all last year, just left the oil and gas in it. We drained both and refilled with the correct items but still didn't work. We will try the spark plug next and then try cleaning the carb. We're able to get it to start with starter fluid but that just burns off and it dies. no smoke though

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If it starts with starting fluid and just burns that off means you are not getting fuel through the carburetor. It could mean that the needle valve is stuck closed in the carburetor. This has nothing to do with the oil in the gas.

b4c1991 said:

My genius friend put oil in the oil compartment and oil/gas mix in the gas compartment and now it won't start. We tried starter fluid but it just stays started long enough to burn that off. We tried to drain the oil and gas and put the correct product in its place but still no luck. Any ideas?

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Had basically the same problem with a log splitter that had set for over a year without use. It would run only when used "starter fluid". After trying several different things, including changing to a new plug, draining and cleaning out gas tank, etc. None of which got it to running. My brother in law (a small engine mechanic) advised me to take off and clean the carburetor. Which I did and used compressed air to blow out all ports. Back together and it started on the second pull and now runs great. Make sure to use new clean gas and that everything is clean from tank to combustion chamber. If it runs using "starter fluid" its definitely a gas problem.
Regards, Gil

Gil said:

Had basically the same problem with a log splitter that had set for over a year without use. It would run only when used "starter fluid". After trying several different things, including changing to a new plug, draining and cleaning out gas tank, etc. None of which got it to running. My brother in law (a small engine mechanic) advised me to take off and clean the carburetor. Which I did and used compressed air to blow out all ports. Back together and it started on the second pull and now runs great. Make sure to use new clean gas and that everything is clean from tank to combustion chamber. If it runs using "starter fluid" its definitely a gas problem.
Regards, Gil

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B4c

Lay off the starting fluid. It is made for diesels. It washes the oil off the cylinder walls, leading to accelerated piston and ring wear. I do mean ACCELERATED. Use carb cleaner, gas or wd-40 instead.

Good luck.

Jim

Jim S said:

B4c

Lay off the starting fluid. It is made for diesels. It washes the oil off the cylinder walls, leading to accelerated piston and ring wear. I do mean ACCELERATED. Use carb cleaner, gas or wd-40 instead.

Good luck.

Jim

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Jim

FYI, WD40 wont start engines anymore. They took out the propane that was in it years ago. Been like that ever since 1996.

Jim S said:

B4c Lay off the starting fluid. It is made for diesels. It washes the oil off the cylinder walls, leading to accelerated piston and ring wear. I do mean ACCELERATED. Use carb cleaner, gas or wd-40 instead. Good luck. Jim

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Starting fluid now has a lubricant in it to prevent dry starts.

Carscw said:

Starting fluid now has a lubricant in it to prevent dry starts.

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But is it safe to use in small engines?

davbell22602 said:

But is it safe to use in small engines?

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It is safe to use to start a engine not to keep it running.
I use a spray bottle with gas. Have for years

davbell22602 said:

Jim

FYI, WD40 wont start engines anymore. They took out the propane that was in it years ago. Been like that ever since 1996.

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I keep seeing that on this forum to use WD40 as a starting fluid. So I have tried it several times and never had any luck with WD40. Now I understand the reason.

Just so folks will not do something silly with their can of WD40. Just cause the propane is gone does not make the product non flammable. I have seen many diesel engines started on WD40 since 1996. Plenty of gas ones as well. It is not a bomb anymore when for example it gets shorted out under a hood, trailer house, inside a dryer, flame, sparks etc. But it will still flame. It is still dangerous. It can still start a fire. It can still fire in an engine. Treat it like gasoline and you will be happy you did. Starting fluid has had lube in it since the first time I used it in the 70s. At least every bottle I tried did. I always looked. As far as starting diesel engines with it tractor trailer rigs, farm tractors, loaders, dozers, graders and about every other large diesel engine I have been around had a starting fluid port to screw a can onto and directions in the cab as to its use. My brotherinlaw would only use John Deere bottles.

My john Deere 644c has a cold start button. And I use JD bottles.

reynoldston said:

I keep seeing that on this forum to use WD40 as a starting fluid. So I have tried it several times and never had any luck with WD40. Now I understand the reason.

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I just use carb cleaner. Best carb cleaner spray I used so far is Gold Eagle and 2nd best is Berryman B12 carb cleaner spray.

Jim S said:

B4c

Lay off the starting fluid. It is made for diesels. It washes the oil off the cylinder walls, leading to accelerated piston and ring wear. I do mean ACCELERATED. Use carb cleaner, gas or wd-40 instead.

Good luck.

Jim

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Yes, I know that. Only use it sparingly on engines that set a long time between use. Such as log splitter, power washer, shredder, etc. This may be a bit off subject, but what do you recommend to get a small engine to start that sets months, sometimes a year of more between use? Other than a complete tune up and fuel system cleaning including carb rebuilt each time you use? Will carb cleaner, WD-40 do as well as "Starter fluid"?