2-Stroke Motor Oil

[Patruszk]

I just purchased a 1997 Straos 21' Walk-around with a 200 hp Evinrude. While at Wal-Mart I purchased 2 gallons or 2-stroke oil for $8.00. Since this is only 1/3 the normal cost of oil I was wondering if there would be a problem if I used this oil. Evinrude does have there own oil so that would be there recommendation. Is the cheap Wal-Mart oil a potential problem.<br /><br />Thanks for your help

 

[Bruce San]

Re: 2-Stroke Motor Oil

Many, many opinions on this topic. Personaly I use the $8 a gallon oil if it's available. It must be TCW3. I haven't had any oil related trouble in over 30 years of 2 cyle outboard use and I've always used the least expensive product carrying the manufacturers required approvals.

 

[Lubosleftboot]

Re: 2-Stroke Motor Oil

As Bruce says but make sure it is TCW3 approved as this help performance in marine engines

 

[MrMckee]

Re: 2-Stroke Motor Oil

Don't just look for oil that is TCW3 approved make sure it NMMA certifed too. Having said that I would never put cheap oil in the engine. My .02 cents.

 

[OBJ]

Re: 2-Stroke Motor Oil

UH OH! Looks like it's popcorn time..... <br /><br />Not poking fun at ya'Patruszk.....the topic of oil has been around for a while and as Bruce said, there are many many opinions on the topic. Usually ends up in an oil war of opinions. Ain't seen one of these threads yet where everyone can come together on it...LOL!! My personnel opinion, if it was my 97' 200, either synthetic blend or all synthetic. Less carbon build up and smoke....but again that's JUST my opinion.

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: 2-Stroke Motor Oil

Not sure where things stand here.I would guess a 1997 Stratos cost a bit,as did the 200 HP Rude.<br /><br />Okay ! My minds made up.Give me the $4.00 a gallon stuff.<br /><br />DHP

 

[StratMan290FS]

Re: 2-Stroke Motor Oil

I've run the evinrude xd30 oil in my motors with no problems, but the cheap stuff is probably just as good, if you plan on keeping the motor for awhile i think i would upgrade. I dont see many people running big lots oil in their personal cars for 10 years.

 

[OBJ]

Re: 2-Stroke Motor Oil

I agree with DHP! There! A concensious. Now I dont' have to pop the popcorn......do I?

 

[JB]

Re: 2-Stroke Motor Oil

As above, except:<br /><br />Some '97 'Rude 200s may have been FICHT direct injected. If that is what you have, use OMC/Johnson/Evinrude XD oil or other oil specifically listed for DFI engines.

 

[fishweed]

Re: 2-Stroke Motor Oil

I have always kind of had DHP's thought on oil. My motor is worth the expensive stuff.<br /><br />Besides, just wait till you pull your rig up to the gas pumps. The cost of 2 gallons of TCW3 oil will not be an issue any more.

 

[Bruce San]

Re: 2-Stroke Motor Oil

DHP, $4 a gallon? <br /><br />Where can I get a case of that?!

 

[RobsTV]

Re: 2-Stroke Motor Oil

How much does it cost to make $4 a gallon oil designed for use in outboards?<br /><br />How much does it cost to make $16 a gallon oil designed for use in outboards? 4 times as much?<br /><br />If you are willing to spend more for it, they are more then willing to raise the price to whatever you are willing to spend. Heck, they'll even put on a fancier label and more certified stickers if it helps.<br /><br />If you are not willing to spend for it, they will lower the price, or put the same product in a different generic looking package so you "think" you are getting a lesser product.<br /><br />We are paying $3.00+ a gallon for gas because we are willing to pay $3.00 a gallon for gas.<br /><br />When you trailer a boat, do you still use "marina gas", at twice the price, or do you use gas station gas? 93 octane or 87 octane? I don't see Hummer owners going to special pumps because it cost them more than an Neon.<br /><br />Sure, you get better oil when you pay more, but even 10% better is pushing it, and at a 400% premium......?<br /><br />Will using the lower price oil shorten the life?<br />What if it did? Instead of 30 years of "like new" running, the motor only runs as new for 15 years. Who keeps original motors for 30 years? Some, but most will not. You think it will help resale value? You think a buyer will believe or care? Will cheap oil make the motor less reliable?

 

[Bruce San]

Re: 2-Stroke Motor Oil

OBJ, I like mine with lots of butter. thanks

 

[funpilot]

Re: 2-Stroke Motor Oil

Gosh, I was going to stay out of this...<br /><br />But, I am doing a rebuild on my 90hp crossflow. A coked up ring snapped, another ring is stuck. The motor is 15 years old, and I will keep it another 15, or my son will. I used OMC oil with carbon guard religiously for years, and decarboned my motor as well. I got lazy, started putting cheap oil in, and didn't decarbon as often and you know the rest. The parts of the engine which didn't have stuck rings were PERFECT.<br /><br />When this rebuild is done, I'm going to use XD50 in both my engines, it cost $24/gal. It adds $1.00 to my operating hour over $8/gal oil. Big deal.<br /><br />fp

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: 2-Stroke Motor Oil

I use Wally world oil with no complaints. Spark plugs look like new, no carbon buildup....and I can buy lots of popcorn and butter with the cash I saved!

 

[Dave Abrahamson]

Re: 2-Stroke Motor Oil

Originally posted by Bruce San:<br /> DHP, $4 a gallon? <br /><br />Where can I get a case of that?!

Originally posted by Patruszk:<br />While at Wal-Mart I purchased 2 gallons or 2-stroke oil for $8.00.

Looks to me like Wally World

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 2-Stroke Motor Oil

use to buy Pennziol by the case, now wally's by the gal. had local distributer in the nieghborhood, who would sell to the public by the case. 1/2 price of the store. distributor died.

 

[MrMckee]

Re: 2-Stroke Motor Oil

I get my Johnson/Evinrude oil at Wallmart @ $16-$17 per gallon. The local Johnson dealer has it for about $12-$13 per gallon if you bring in your own container. As someone said earlier you'll get a lot of opinions on this subject, just go with what makes you feel comfortable, or go ask a outboard mechanic.

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: 2-Stroke Motor Oil

WAl-Mart oil is Shell base stock with similar additives in it as most other brands. TC-W3 is the minimum rating, but is way more protection that you need out of an oil, so anything that meets it and it NMMA certified, is already more than sufficient, paying more for a cooler looking label and an "easy pour spout" bottle doesn't mean that a combustion chamber or any bearings can tell the difference or care. <br /><br />If you are runnign a Ficht, then you will need Di oil for the higher ring land temps, but a stright carbed motor will be perfect with SP(Super Tech), Wal-Mart brand oil, decrab every 50 hours and you'll be fine. As for less smoke and the so called better fuel economy of synthetics....c'mon we're running 2 strokes here, we're all getting 1 mile a gallon, if you care about less smoke, geta 4 stroke, and if you think a different oil is going to increas you MPG anything significant well have fun with the "easy pour spout".<br /><br />Mobil makes a lot of money off of people who think if they buy the Mobil 1 SUV 10,000 mile oil, they will have no problem in their SUV for 10,000 mile oil changes, meanwhile they could have bought regular oil and a decent filter and been fine in their SUV for 10,000 miles.<br /><br />If you really want to know all there is to know about oil, check out this site...bobistheoilguy.com....you will find more stuff than you even knew existed there, almost as addicting as this site, but not quite.<br /><br />Anyway, I know that was a rant, hope you fellas are enjoying the popcorn, gonna go pop some myself, actually this may call for cold Budweiser instead....oh wait it's only 12:30 and I'm at work, well I'm sure this will still be going on by the time I get home.

 

[Bruce San]

Re: 2-Stroke Motor Oil

Cricket, I too plan to revisit this one with a cold Bud when I get home. I LOVE these lubrication threads! <br /><br />Patruszk, aren't you glad you asked? All kidding aside this is a fantastic forum full of some very knowledgable folks more than willing to help out and share some hard earned knowledge and experience. These guys have saved my butt more than once. And, what the heck, a few spirited discussions now and then don't hurt any either.