Another "What mix should I use?" thread.

[oldybutagoody]

I have recently rebuilt a '57 Fastwin 18 hp (New Rings, Ignition, Carb, Lower Unit reseal, Water pump impeller, all new seals and gaskets.

I'm currently running it on the 1st tank with a mix of 16/1 for "break-in". Should I switch to 24/1 after break-in, and if so, when is "after break-in?

I've read that it doesn't hurt to run more oil, but is there a big drop in performance with too much oil? I'd rather run heavy on the oil as insurance but if I do, am I sacrificing power?

I also have a '57 Fleetwin 7 1/2 hp that I've been running on 16/1 since it does not have roller bearings.

Please, don't tell me 24/1 is fine for the Fleetwin 7 1/2 hp unless you know it from EXPERIENCE running 24/1 in your own for a long time.

Thanks,
Oldie

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: Another "What mix should I use?" thread.

I have a 15 thats been running on 1qt to 6gal (24:1) since my grandfather bought it in '57. If it was mine I'd call "break-in" one six gallon tank. Not a big drop in performance but plug fouling and messy, smoky, and don't idle real good.

 

[aerobat]

Re: Another "What mix should I use?" thread.

one controversary hint - but without fully recommending it- would be to run with a much thinner ratio than recommended. think of the performance of oils when the engine was developed and think of the performance today. you could easily run it at 50:1 , most probably even less than and so push more out of it that it was designed for in 1957.

but in doubt- stuck to the manufacturer recommendation

cheers

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: Another "What mix should I use?" thread.

You may have a point about better newer oil. I remember using 30w non-detergent motor oil when my grandad was sitll alive. But I think I at least will stick with 24:1 anyway.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: Another "What mix should I use?" thread.

Please do not run them at 50:1, I highly doubt the fellows that reccomend such will pay/help with a rebuild when you wear your powerhead out. I have opened up ALOT of powerheads from the 50s OMCS, and can guarantee that a powerhead run at 50:1 is much more worn. I will no longer buy them when I find out they were run this lean. There are still quite a few 50 OMCS around, but the numbers are getting lower and lower. I would like my children/grandchildren to enjoy my motors when I am long gone. Run your motors at the proper mix, and they will be around for another 50 years to come.

It is true that oils of today are superior to the oils of the 50's, I wont argue that, but due to that you get less plug fouling, less smoke, less pollution, less carbon build up. It is NOT a reason to lean out your mixture, jeapordizing a powerhead that could get harder and harder to find in the future. Lets try to preserve these antiques that so much of us love, not destroy them so that the future generations cannot get the pleasure out of them that we did.

There will always be a "Joe Schmoe from down the street", that says 50:1 is fine. Smile, thank him for his input, and run your own outboard at the proper mixture. Your grandchildren will thank you.

 

[oldybutagoody]

Re: Another "What mix should I use?" thread.

Thanks Georgesalmon. Good to know about the poorer idle. That convinces me not to over-do it with oil just for insurance. Your 15 has roller bearings on the crank like my 18 so it's good to know that it's held up for over 50 years using 24/1. By the way, if you have a 15, it's probably a '56 or older since they upped the Fastwin to 18hp in '57. I still think I'll use 16/1 on my Fleetwin 7 1/2 hp since it doesn't have the roller bearings.

I have a 15 thats been running on 1qt to 6gal (24:1) since my grandfather bought it in '57. If it was mine I'd call "break-in" one six gallon tank. Not a big drop in performance but plug fouling and messy, smoky, and don't idle real good.

 

[oldybutagoody]

Re: Another "What mix should I use?" thread.

Thanks Chris. Couldn't agree more. I keep hearing that the modern oils make running lean OK but I disagree, They do help with combustion, smoke, carbon, and biodegradability but I don't want to risk lubrication. I've spent too much money and time resurrecting this old classic to run at 50/1. What I'm looking for is if I'm right to use 24/1 for the Fastwin and 16/1 for the Fleetwin and if I would be sacrificing anything if I run 16/1 on the Fastwin or hurting the Fleetwin running it at 24/1. If anything, I want to error on the safe side. Would 20/1 be an OK compromise for both engines so I could share tanks?

Please do not run them at 50:1, I highly doubt the fellows that reccomend such will pay/help with a rebuild when you wear your powerhead out. I have opened up ALOT of powerheads from the 50s OMCS, and can guarantee that a powerhead run at 50:1 is much more worn. I will no longer buy them when I find out they were run this lean. There are still quite a few 50 OMCS around, but the numbers are getting lower and lower. I would like my children/grandchildren to enjoy my motors when I am long gone. Run your motors at the proper mix, and they will be around for another 50 years to come.

It is true that oils of today are superior to the oils of the 50's, I wont argue that, but due to that you get less plug fouling, less smoke, less pollution, less carbon build up. It is NOT a reason to lean out your mixture, jeapordizing a powerhead that could get harder and harder to find in the future. Lets try to preserve these antiques that so much of us love, not destroy them so that the future generations cannot get the pleasure out of them that we did.

There will always be a "Joe Schmoe from down the street", that says 50:1 is fine. Smile, thank him for his input, and run your own outboard at the proper mixture. Your grandchildren will thank you.

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: Another "What mix should I use?" thread.

By golly your right mine is an 18hp. I was just thinking about fastwin and not horsepower. By the way mine still starts with one pull every spring. It has always been run dry before winter storage and other than lower unit oil and sparkplugs has never been worked on.

 

[archcycle]

Re: Another "What mix should I use?" thread.

one controversary hint - but without fully recommending it- would be to run with a much thinner ratio than recommended. think of the performance of oils when the engine was developed and think of the performance today. you could easily run it at 50:1 , most probably even less than and so push more out of it that it was designed for in 1957.

but in doubt- stuck to the manufacturer recommendation

cheers

You might put different oil in it today but it's still the same 1957 machining job. At 24/1 you can be sure that a great enough quantity of oil is being supplied to fully coat every surface of that combustion chamber which is important when you consider that 1957 technology involved beating rocks against sticks

 

[oldybutagoody]

Re: Another "What mix should I use?" thread.

Can anyone comment on this specific question?

What I'm looking for is if I'm right to use 24/1 for the Fastwin and 16/1 for the Fleetwin. Would I be sacrificing power if I run 16/1 on the Fastwin or hurting the Fleetwin running it at 24/1. If anything, I want to error on the safe side.

Would 20/1 be an OK compromise for both engines so I could share tanks?

 

[kbait]

Re: Another "What mix should I use?" thread.

I would, and do, run 24/1 in every 50's/early 60's motor I've ever had. No under-lube issues at all. I think the 16/1 came into being w/old school 30wt oiling, and doesn't apply today. I also use 'recreational' or 'non-ethanol' fuel. It's usually higher octane (not needed), but the no-ethanol won't degrade fuel lines/floats etc, and stores WAY better as alcohol tends to absorb water and turn to a whitish watery sludge in the bottom of your tank. Not immediately, but fuel stored over winter is at risk. I've NEVER had an issue w/bad fuel stored outside over-winter with non-ethanol fuel.

Enjoy your motors!