I wonder how many folks out there are still looking for some magic formula that will get them by almost anytime, with almost no fuss. Occasionally it can be a pain to find the "good stuff".
We've talked about this a bunch of times, but look on the label; if you see somethink like TC-W (not TC-WIII), ISO-L EGD, or Jaso FC you're probably OK. "air-cooled" without any of these labels probably means it is good enough for 1972 standards, but is probably suspect for many modern higher rpm, higher output engines. Or it might mean that the oil just hasn't been tested and certified.
I admit to being somewhat of an oil junkie recently; I've started to look around at every place that might carry 2-stroke oil to read labels. A few of the big names catalog a product that is a good choice for tools like modern saws and trimmers, but often local retailers carry the lowest-price option, the lowest spec option. Example, the little Citgo gas station in my little podunk town no longer carries the air-cooled citgo, in favor of some oddball brand stuff. An auto-parts outlet in a neighboring town stocks <a href="http://www.quakerstate.com/pages/products/smallengine.asp">Quaker State</a> products, among others; last year they had all 3 formulations in the two-stroke line, now just the low grade is in stock.
some of us that actually use enough 2-stroke oil to really worry about this get a case at a time from the bulk oil company anyway. the bulk oil company has little interest in providing you a substandard product that burns up your saw or trimmer; whay cause a problem that costs them sales and revenue? I get Citgo oil from the same company that runs the little station in my hamlet; a carton of 12 quarts cost only about $28 last fall, and I still have a couple of bottles left...the stuff has a loooooong shelf life! For that price its cheap insurance!