gas/oil mix

alarmnow

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Jul 31, 2004
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Hello : I have a 4 cylinder 2 cycle 50 h/p mercury<br />It has # p/n 332-5772a1 What is the gas/oil mix and What year is it. thanks :rolleyes:
 

KCLOST

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Jun 22, 2002
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Re: gas/oil mix

That number is not your serial#. I think you are looking at the switchbox to find that number... Check it again near the motor mounts, look for a metal plate....<br /><br />Most likely you need a 50/1 gas to oil ratio, however...
 

alarmnow

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Re: gas/oil mix

Thanks to KCLOST I found the Serial # for my 50 H/P Mercury.<br />Now the Serial # 5268076 what year model is it.<br />and how much oil to add per gal. of gas
 

jimmbo

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Re: gas/oil mix

1979<br />50:1 or 2% oil<br />1/6 pint per US gal of gas<br />1 pint per 6 gallon tank<br />1 litre per 50 litres gas
 

ZmOz

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Re: gas/oil mix

I strongly recommend going to at least 40:1, it's only going to be better for your motor...
 

jimmbo

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Re: gas/oil mix

More oil isn't always better. Since carbs meter volume the addition of extra oil really isn't always the best idea. Oil is a percentage of the fuel mix, when more oil is in the mix the percentage of gas for any given volume is lower thereby leaning out the mixture slightly. Besides, if the bearings of the engine run smoothly at 50:1, they're not going to run any more smoothly using 40:1.
 

ZmOz

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Re: gas/oil mix

Originally posted by jimmbo:<br /> More oil isn't always better. Since carbs meter volume the addition of extra oil really isn't always the best idea. Oil is a percentage of the fuel mix, when more oil is in the mix the percentage of gas for any given volume is lower thereby leaning out the mixture slightly. Besides, if the bearings of the engine run smoothly at 50:1, they're not going to run any more smoothly using 40:1.
The difference between 40:1 and 50:1 will not be noticeable in terms of performance. I run my inline on 32:1. Back when people were racing these inlines, Mercury recommended 18:1 for them. Yes, 40:1 WILL protect your engine better than 50:1, but more importantly, it will make up for any mixing errors. Too little oil = dead motor. Too much oil = a little extra smoke. I'll pick the smoke.
 

LubeDude

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Re: gas/oil mix

Say Oz, I havnt seen ya around for awhile.<br /><br />As to you using a little extra oil,Probably not hurting anything. Propably not helping anything either, unless you are running the ever living cr*p out of your engine all the time. Which if that were the case, You know what I would recomend.<br /><br />If you are just the average Joe Boater, you would be fine with 50:1 with todays oils.<br /><br />At least we will be able to tell where your favorite fishing holes are.
 

Merc805

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Feb 14, 2004
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Re: gas/oil mix

Zmoz had a slight mishap.. So he is VERY cautious now... :D :D
 

ZmOz

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Re: gas/oil mix

Originally posted by LubeDude:<br />As to you using a little extra oil,Probably not hurting anything. Propably not helping anything either, unless you are running the ever living cr*p out of your engine all the time. Which if that were the case, You know what I would recomend.<br />
Sure, 50:1 will do you just fine. So will 30 weight motor oil, so why do you use Amsoil? ;) Again, the main reason 40:1 is a MUCH better idea is to avoid any mixing mistakes. BELIEVE ME, you do NOT want to make any motor fatal mistakes. :) <br /><br />Woooohooo! My 1000th post! :D
 

ronmold

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Re: gas/oil mix

I am now running 80:1 w/ Amsoil saber 100:1 outboard oil in my '86 175. (Injection removed long ago!) I pull 2 tubes & wakeboards often and decided to go 80:1 instead of 100:1 as Amsoil suggests for hard running. Burns very clean & idles great. Plugs were removed after 60 gal gas run through and look like new. Will keep you informed if I notice any problems.
 

LubeDude

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Re: gas/oil mix

Originally posted by ZmOz:<br />
Sure, 50:1 will do you just fine. So will 30 weight motor oil,
Now Oz, you know that the 50:1 TC-W3 oil would be better by far than 30 weight, Not even a good comparison. If the 50:1 wasnt ok, then The manufacture wouldnt say to use 50:1.<br /><br />Like we do, or have, if you are going to run very hard, use 40:1.<br /><br />We used 80:1 instead of 100:1.<br /><br />But with fuel prices the way they are, I doubt you will be running at WOT all day everywhere you go, I sure cant afford to anymore.
 

ZmOz

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Re: gas/oil mix

Lets recap here...<br /><br />40:1<br />Advantages: More oil, better protection. Much less chance of accidently mixing too lean.<br /><br />Disadvantages: Cost about 1 cent more per gallon, possible reduction in power that would only be measureable on an extremely accurate dyno.<br /><br />50:1 Advantages: Cost 1 cent less per gallon. Hardly measureable increase in power over 40:1.<br /><br />Disadvantages: Less protection, and high chance of mixing mistakes. (you're already using the minimum, so if you're off even a little you've f****d your motor)<br /><br />Now let's think for a minute why Mercury recommends 50:1. They make motors that polute more than anything else. The EPA is breathing down their necks. 50:1 makes the EPA happy. Also remember that ALL racing motors use a MUCH richer mix than 40:1. If it was so bad for power, they wouldn't be doing it.
 

ronmold

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Re: gas/oil mix

Remember the old Johnson days - 1/2 pint to the gallon!
 

hohnstadt

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Re: gas/oil mix

Since we are on the subject of oils - do your posts regarding 50:1 deal with newer motors only? What about older ones where the manual recommends 50:1 if some special kind of Mercury Quicksilver oil was used, or 25:1 if not? The guy I bought from said he used 50:1, but I've talked to people who say I should use 25:1. 1969 Merc 500.
 

rickdb1boat

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Re: gas/oil mix

69 Merc uses 50:1 mix... 25:1 is way too much oil.. Read this from the FAQ section<br /><br /> web page
 

LubeDude

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Re: gas/oil mix

Originally posted by ZmOz:<br />[QB]you're already using the minimum, ]
Actually you are only at the minimum at WOT anywhere else in the RPM range you are actually over oiled. Why do you think oil injection systems are variable. About 100:1 at Idle, and slowly goes richer as you get closer to WOT.<br /><br />Racing is a whole other way of looking at things, thos enegines turn upward of 10,000 or more RPMs, they are also torn down beween races more often than not. They do not use TC-W3 oil, and ALL OF THEM use one form of synthetic or another.<br /><br />You can say what you want, but you arnt going to get better protection unless you run WOT all the time, and I do not think you do.
 

ZmOz

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Re: gas/oil mix

Whether or not you NEED 40:1, again, is irrelivant. I mean really...why not have a little extra insurance? Why bother with synthetic when regular oil works just fine? It's not like we're talking about 25:1 here....there will not be a noticeable difference in performance, oil consumption, smoke, or carbon buildup with 40:1. Like I said, I allways ran my inline 6 on 32:1, sometimes even a little more. When I opened it up a few months ago, I was shocked to see the insides were *SPARKLING* clean.
 

LubeDude

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Re: gas/oil mix

Didnt say you couldnt, just said "You dont need too"!! And you dont!!<br /><br />But if you feel better doing it then go for it.<br /><br />Like me and synthetics, I do it because I can, and I feel better doing it.
 
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