going from 50:1 to 60:1 , opinions please

[fishfeatures]

My 1990 60 hp Johnson, runs great no issues with it's performance what so ever, only thing is that it does smoke a bit even at idle.Now I know these 2 strokes like to smoke but comapred to others at the launch mine is a little bit more than the rest. Plugs don't seem to show any ill effects of it either. Am running it at 50:1 with good quality TCW-3 oil. If i drop down to 60:1 will it:

a. reduce the smoking?
b. damage the engine?
c. none of the above?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: going from 50:1 to 60:1 , opinions please

a) yes it will reduce smoking
b) Yes it will damage the engine
c) see a) and b)

You can solve or at least reduce the smoking by switching to a synthetic blend or full synthetic TCW-3 oil. There are many choices on the shelves.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: going from 50:1 to 60:1 , opinions please

It really depends upon your style of driving.

VRO equipped engines vary fuel/oil ratio from about 100 to 1 at idle up to about 50 to 1 at wide open throttle. Obviously the engines need more oil at wide open throttle.

However, in the past OMC also recommended 100 to 1 ratio on non-VRO equipped engines. They only stopped because the lesser amount of oil did NOT prevent corrosion upon storage. They also did a study that showed their engines after having been run at 50 to 1 for a while could actually be run with no harm with no oil mixed in gas for a small period of time if RPM were kept under 2000.

SO: will 60 to 1 harm your engine? Maybe, maybe not. Will it smoke less? Yes, but probably not enough that you would notice. Should you go to 60 to 1? Since late 50s outboards have run on 50 to 1 ratio with no problems. Why mess with a proven thing?

 

[IamCanadian]

Re: going from 50:1 to 60:1 , opinions please

IMHO You will not gain anything by changing to 60:1, The difference in smoke would be negligible, you wont gain performance,
The only thing you will be doing is providing your motor with less oil.

I fully agree with Silvertip that using a good synthetic oil will reduce smoke more than changing the ratio....and safer.

 

[robert graham]

Re: going from 50:1 to 60:1 , opinions please

I switched to the Pennzoil 100% Synthetic Outboard Oil several years ago and it makes less smoke and carbon on plugs. I run a 1999 Yamaha 90C Premix Motor at 50:1 ratio and it doesn't seem to make much smoke except at first start up in the morning....smells great and keep mosquitoes down!

 

[steelespike]

Re: going from 50:1 to 60:1 , opinions please

You might check the fuel pump diaphram.Also be sure the link n sync is right.

 

[robert graham]

Re: going from 50:1 to 60:1 , opinions please

Do you ever give your motor a good long run at wide open throttle to possibly burn off any accumulated oil or carbon in the motor? Could also run a "Decarb" dosage of Yamaha Ringfree in your next tank of fuel to clean out carbon/oil?....just a thought...

 

[fishfeatures]

Re: going from 50:1 to 60:1 , opinions please

50:1 it shall stay as ,
will check fuel pump , link and sync is good, and will run a decarb through it next time out just to be sure but it does get to WOT any time it gets out on the water.
oh and will shop around for differnet brands of oil to see if it makes a change.

Thanks Guys.

 

[Bill3434]

Re: going from 50:1 to 60:1 , opinions please

I did the same, lot less smoke and seemed to run a little better. I had less smoke at start up. But isn't smoke at start-up a good thing on a 2 cycle engine. I pesonnally like the smell of smoke expecially in the early morning; means my engine started and is a running.

I switched to the Pennzoil 100% Synthetic Outboard Oil several years ago and it makes less smoke and carbon on plugs. I run a 1999 Yamaha 90C Premix Motor at 50:1 ratio and it doesn't seem to make much smoke except at first start up in the morning....smells great and keep mosquitoes down!

 

[robert graham]

Re: going from 50:1 to 60:1 , opinions please

Maybe with more and more "smokeless" 4 strokes on the water it's making us old 2 stroke guys feel a bit self-conscious and guilty about our morning "smoke-screens"?....still think I'll keep runnin' my old carbed 2 stroke "smoker"!

 

[kfa4303]

Re: going from 50:1 to 60:1 , opinions please

Yeah, me too. I had a kayaker give me the stink eye the other day :/ I know where they're coming from, but i remind myself that keeping the old motors going is still more efficient than all the resources that go into a new one, or the kayak itself, for that mater. In addition to trying a synthetic oil, you may try running a slightly hotter plug to reduce smoke as well, but I wouldn't cut back on the total amount of oil you use. That's just asking for trouble. You can also try decarbing your motor with Sea Foam/Deep Creep, or similar product. Do a search here in the forums for a how-to on the procedure. Plus, I think a lot of it depends on the motor itself. I've seen two motors running the same mix, create different amounts of smoke. Go figure.

 

[phillnjack2]

Re: going from 50:1 to 60:1 , opinions please

Its been proven many times over many years that 50-1 is the all round best for the 2 strokes.
Yes it can get a bit smokey when running very slow or on idle for too long.
yes you can get the so called smokeless wonder oil's.

BUT, if its smoking then you know its defintely gettting enough oil, and idling !!!!!!!
why idle for too long, you have 60hp so let it run and let it breath fresh air.

TCW3 or wonder oil (fully synthetic ) i will always stick to 50 - 1.

i will say that the mercs dont like the red omc 2 stroke oil,
but the johnny rudes dont mind if its omc red or quicksilver blue.
I buy whatever is on offer, but never a cheapo brand just incase !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


phill

 

[jbjennings]

Re: going from 50:1 to 60:1 , opinions please

I think he made a wise decision to stay with the 50:1. I've heard of lakes that have been sterilized by acid rain up north, but never heard of a warning to not eat the fish because of the previous 100 years of 2-stroke outboard oil deposits. I know the 2-stroke oldies put out lots of crud and I fully agree with making an effort to lessen that. However, it just doesn't seem to be a problem.
I'd think that there are multiple sources that make all the outboard 2-stroke oil and oil smoke put together seem pretty insignificant.
I hope you Northern guys that have colder, clearer lakes don't have troubles that I don't know about.
JBJ