2 stroke oil instead of TCW3

Alumarine

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Feb 22, 2005
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Hopefully this doesn't turn into an oil thread.

Found out my brother has been running 2 stroke oil as premix instead of TCW3 rated oil in my 84 Merc 50.

Is there a down side to this?

thanks
 

latin monkey

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Re: 2 stroke oil instead of TCW3

as long as the mix ratio is right, 50:1 you will be ok
 

coolguy147

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Re: 2 stroke oil instead of TCW3

carbon build up i would assume? oil for chainsaws have a higher flashpoint? it would just leave deposits leading to engine failure eventually.

use tcw-3. what it was made to run with....
 

asm_

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Re: 2 stroke oil instead of TCW3

TCW3 or either ashless or low ash (not sure which). The present of excessive ash in fuel will contribute to excessive carbon deposit.

The regular 2-stroke oil is designed to operate at higher temperature. Since most air-cooled lawn mower operates at higher temperature. Higher operating temperature burns off the ash presents in the oil and is actually beneficial to the motor.
Is there a down side to this?

If it's my brother that did this to my motor, the down side is his ***** is going to get some kick from my boot. :p
 

latin monkey

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Re: 2 stroke oil instead of TCW3

marine 2 cycle oil is what you need. (by the way,lawnmowers don't use 2 stroke oil)
 

DHag

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Re: 2 stroke oil instead of TCW3

All oils for 2-strokes are formulated for particular uses. The main differences are liquid-cooled (outboards, some motorcycles and ATV's like my Polaris 400) or air-cooled (Lawn Boy, chainsaws, etc.).

Beyond that, a few oils are more specialized, specifying long moderate-speed running, or continuous full-throttle, or long idle periods. But the main thing is liquid or air cooled.

"2-stroke" oil is generally for air-cooled motors, and I wouldn't run it in my outboard or liquid-cooled ATV unless it was some sort of strange emergency. There are some "universal" 2-stroke oils out there, but if you look, they say they are for air-cooled motors. My dad buys a really great synthetic 2-stroke oil that doesn't care about mix ratio. Mix one packet with one gallon of gas, and it will lube anything from an old lawn boy to a 100:1 mix. But it also specifies that it's for air-cooled engines.

As for me-- My boat and ATV both get "marine" full-synthetic 2-stroke oil. That means Pennzoil, but only because that's the only brand around here that is full synthetic. "Marine" because it's made for outboards and liquid-cooled engines. "Full-synthetic" because fouling and deposits are totally eliminated.
 

latin monkey

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Re: 2 stroke oil instead of TCW3

well you learn somethin new every day, i've never seen a 2 stroke lawn mower, only weedeaters, chainsaws etc...I also use pennzoil synthetic in my outboards
 

Dave1027

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Re: 2 stroke oil instead of TCW3

TCW3 oil is 2 stroke oil. Maybe the OP meant it was 2 stroke oil that did not have a tcw3 rating?

My question is about the Walmart TCW3 oil I bought recently. It's blue! I don't remember any TCW3 I have ever used being blue. Why is it blue? Is it any good? Seems to work well. My old Johnson 3 horse loves the stuff. It seems to run faster at WOT than before.
 

Alumarine

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Re: 2 stroke oil instead of TCW3

TCW3 oil is 2 stroke oil. Maybe the OP meant it was 2 stroke oil that did not have a tcw3 rating?

My question is about the Walmart TCW3 oil I bought recently. It's blue! I don't remember any TCW3 I have ever used being blue. Why is it blue? Is it any good? Seems to work well. My old Johnson 3 horse loves the stuff. It seems to run faster at WOT than before.

Yes, I meant he was using a 2 stroke oil for air cooled engines.
I, on the other hand, have always used TCW3 in it.

I think the few different TCW3 oils I've used have been blue.
 

199675hpforce

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Re: 2 stroke oil instead of TCW3

Blue is better than green stuff. I think most are from same company. Green seems to have little specs in it. Blue mercury flows faster and seems cleaner. Not possitive there the same but who knows. Im not running supertech oil any more for 15bucks you can get semi syn.
 

asm_

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Re: 2 stroke oil instead of TCW3

Blue or green or even pink. It's just the dye they use. It has no bearing on oil's performance.

B
 

BLACKBIRD2001

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Sep 28, 2010
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Re: 2 stroke oil instead of TCW3

There is a difference in oil. After 25 years of tearing down outboards I see that you get what you pay for. I rebuilt a 1984 inline 6 merc 90 in 1988. The rings were stuck from carbon and scored #3. He was using cheap oil. After I cleaned his wallet I told him to use Mercury premium oil or any other manufactures top line oil.He is still bringing that motor to me for winterizing 4000 hours later. compression was 135 - 140 this year. that is not my only story just the one that has brought in the most money from his word of mouth.
 
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