I've found that my engines run much cooler on low-oil mixes, to the extent that I had to go to a warmer plug in some cases when changing from 18% to 12% lube.

What probably catches most people out is that the needles do get a lot more sensitive and it's easy to be just a click lean (which will eat a plug). Adding nitro will make the needles a little softer and allow you to run a bit richer without power issues but we run 12% oil and 5% nitro here in all our 2-strokes without any issues at all.

One thing you have to avoid though is adding nitro *and* running lean. The nitro tends to advance the ignition all on its own so you must run richer to compensate just as if you run higher nitro fuel in an engine with 18% oil you must richen the needle to avoid detonation.

Most visitors to our club (who still invariably run 18-20% oil) can't believe we've only got 5% nitro in our fuel because we get so much power and such crisp reliable engine operation with 10% oil.