Stick with 50:1.

Yes, 50:1 is the correct ratio for almost all modern two-stroke chainsaws. That’s one part oil to 50 parts gasoline (roughly 2.6 ounces of oil per gallon). Check your owner’s manual, but the vast majority of saws from Stihl, Husqvarna, Echo, and others are designed for 50:1 today.

Too much oil and you get a mess: fouled spark plugs, heavy smoke, carbon buildup in the exhaust and piston, and eventually loss of power. It’s not catastrophic but it’ll run poorly and gum things up.

Too little oil is the real danger. Inadequate lubrication leads to metal-on-metal contact inside the engine. That means scoring on the cylinder and piston, overheating, and eventually a seized engine. A new top end costs way more than a bottle of quality two-stroke oil.

Use a good synthetic oil designed for air-cooled engines. Mix in a gas can, not the saw’s tank. Shake it well. That’s all there is to it.

Your saw will run better and last longer for the two minutes it takes to mix properly.