Vp Racing

VP Racing small engine fuel is ethanol-free gas for homeowners and crews who run 2- and 4-cycle equipment, from trimmers and saws to mowers and generators. The 2-cycle premix comes with the oil in it, so there’s nothing to measure and the ratio is the same in every can. It keeps ethanol-blended pump gas out of machines that sit.

VP Racing Fuels, Inc. is based in San Antonio, Texas, and was founded in 1975. It built its name on race fuel. Its first product, C12, became one of the best-known race fuels in motorsports after drag racers Warren Johnson and Bob Glidden won on it. Alan Cerwick has been president and CEO since 2011 and bought a majority share in August 2014.

The VP small-engine lineup

Match the fuel to the ratio and the minimum octane printed on the machine’s label.

Line	Engine	Fuel-to-oil ratio	Built for
VP Racing 4-Cycle Fuel	4-stroke	None, straight fuel	Mowers, generators, pressure washers
VP Multi-Mix 40:1/50:1	2-cycle	40:1/50:1 premix	2-cycle tools; works in 40:1 engines
VP Racing 40:1 Fuel Mix	2-cycle	40:1 premix	Equipment labeled 40:1
VP Racing 50:1 Fuel Mix	2-cycle	50:1 premix	Equipment labeled 50:1; 94 octane
VP ProMax 50:1	2-cycle	50:1 premix	Professional chainsaws, concrete and cutting saws, fire and rescue equipment; 97 octane

Multi-Mix for trimmers, blowers and saws

Multi-Mix is the easy way to keep a shed full of handheld 2-stroke tools running. Most 2-stroke trouble starts with home mixing: a guessed pour, a gas can with no marks on it, a measuring cup that went missing. A premix takes the measuring out of the job, and every can comes out at the same ratio.

Before you pour, read the label or manual on each machine. Every one states its ratio, and trimmers, saws and dirt bikes often want different ones. A 40:1 mix carries more oil than 50:1, so on a saw labeled strictly 50:1, switching ratios is safe only when the manual allows a range. Extra oil gives you smoke, fouled plugs and carbon buildup. Too little oil is worse: more friction between moving parts, overheating and permanent engine damage. The most common mistake is adding an extra splash of oil to be safe. Run the ratio on the label and nothing else.

What’s in the premix

A fair question is whether you’re paying for a racing name on a can of mower gas. Look at the oil. The lubricant package in VP’s 2-cycle premix carries a JASO FD rating, the top grade on the Japanese 2-stroke oil standard. That standard tests lubrication, engine cleanliness and exhaust smoke. VP adds no unnecessary filler additives. Every VP product is formulated, blended and packaged in America, and development starts at the company’s R&D lab in Elmendorf, Texas.

4-Cycle Fuel for mowers, generators and pressure washers

VP Racing 4-Cycle Fuel is straight ethanol-free gas for 4-stroke engines. It has no oil in it, so keep it out of 2-stroke tanks. It does the most good in machines that sit: the generator that runs a few times a winter, the pressure washer parked until spring. While ethanol-blended pump gas sits, it pulls in moisture and leaves varnish in small carburetor passages. Pick your fuel by the minimum octane on the manufacturer’s label, not by ethanol content alone. When the fuel meets the manufacturer’s spec, the engine usually needs no modification to make the switch.

Storage and stale fuel

All gasoline has a limited storage life, ethanol-free included. How long it lasts depends on the formulation, the container and where it’s kept. Use most mixed fuel within 30 to 60 days, because the gas degrades and can separate from the oil. Store it in an approved container with the cap tight. Stale fuel burns poorly and cancels out the benefit of running the right ratio, and fresh gas poured on top leaves it just as stale. Drain the tank and refill with fresh fuel.

Other VP products

For machines labeled for a single ratio, VP makes 40:1 and 50:1 Fuel Mix, and ProMax 50:1 is built for high-load, high-rpm work. On the racing side, the line includes VP Racing 110 Octane Race Fuel, Madditive automotive performance additives and Stay Frosty performance coolant. For the saw, there’s VP Bar and Chain Oil for chainsaws, plus a VP 2-cycle oil for people who mix their own. When you mix, use the ratio printed on that particular oil, because oil formulations vary from brand to brand.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is VP Racing fuel any good for small engines?

Fuel is VP’s main business. The company has blended specialty fuels for nearly 50 years and isn’t a power-equipment maker with a fuel sideline. It works well in a saw, trimmer or mower only if the can matches the machine, so check the label and buy the ratio and octane it calls for.

How long does VP small engine fuel last once you open it?

When you crack a can, write the date on it with a marker so you know how old it is. Keep it in a cool, shaded spot, because a hot truck bed or a sunny shed wears gas out faster than a dark corner of the garage. Buy a size you’ll use up within the season so there’s never a half-can going stale.