Is Synthetic Outboard Oil Worth The Extra Cost?

[jmw129]

I want to know the truth of Synthetic Oil & why it's worth or not worth the extra cost / investment?

 

[seahorse5]

Re: Is Synthetic Outboard Oil Worth The Extra Cost?

depends on the make, model and year along with your boating environment and type of use. The Evinrude XD-50 semi-synthetic is a good deal, though.

 

[jmw129]

Re: Is Synthetic Outboard Oil Worth The Extra Cost?

I see that Synthetic Oil is at least double the cost of regular ashless oil. I like to run WOT alot and then mix it up throughout the boating day.

My engine is an Evinrude 1988 V4 120hp.

Your recommendation?

 

[jbjennings]

Re: Is Synthetic Outboard Oil Worth The Extra Cost?

I like to use the synthetic on my old SMALL HP outboards that require 16:1 or 24:1 oil ratios just because I feel like it might protect the friction bearings a little more (I have no proof of this), and because it's cleaner and supposedly more biodegradable than dino oil. However, I personally would not run it in a V4 if I had one because of the high cost. I think regular dino oil has been proven to do the job well. I use mercury quicksilver conventional dino oil for my '98 yamaha 90hp, for example. I don't see any sludge from the lower unit, either.
JMO,
JBJ

 

[jrs_diesel]

Re: Is Synthetic Outboard Oil Worth The Extra Cost?

depends on the make, model and year along with your boating environment and type of use. The Evinrude XD-50 semi-synthetic is a good deal, though.

That's the same stuff I use for all of my water cooled 2 strokes. Works great for me. I did use Valvoline 2 stroke oil before switching to XD-50. That worked good too, but slightly more smoke when engine was cold.

 

[OptsyEagle]

Re: Is Synthetic Outboard Oil Worth The Extra Cost?

Never had any problem with regular dino. I take my savings on the oil and add a little seafoam to the mix to stabilize the fuel and hopefully keep my carb from gumming up.

I find oil questions like this are usually a little more vehiment then if you ask the readers "is there really a god" or "should expectent mothers be allowed to abort their babies". You would probably get more agreement with the later questions.

 

[torbjorn]

Re: Is Synthetic Outboard Oil Worth The Extra Cost?

I want to know the truth of Synthetic Oil & why it's worth or not worth the extra cost / investment?

In modern full-jeweled outboards below 6000 RPM, maybe not, but only if you stick to Evinrude, Mercury, or Yamaha TC-W3 oil. I run my 1979-1983 JohnRude 15, 35, and 75
(at 6500, 6100, and 6500 RPM respectively) on XD-100 @ 37:1. The Evinrude synthetic burns clean and lubricates very well. An Antique Outboard Motor Club expert swears by Amsoil in his antique and modern motors. Here's another informed viewpoint: according to the former OMC engineer who built the V-4 and V-6 loopers (also the 35 hp triple) and all the racing motors, use Evinrude, Mercury, or Yamaha TC-W3 @ 25:1 if you turn over 6000 RPM. He offers no advice on the synthetics.

 

[sschefer]

Re: Is Synthetic Outboard Oil Worth The Extra Cost?

Never had any problem with regular dino. I take my savings on the oil and add a little seafoam to the mix to stabilize the fuel and hopefully keep my carb from gumming up.

I find oil questions like this are usually a little more vehiment then if you ask the readers "is there really a god" or "should expectent mothers be allowed to abort their babies". You would probably get more agreement with the later questions.

Agree.. In older motors you're probably going to find better numbers regarding longevity when a non-syn oil is used. In new motors, often it is stated in the owners manual that you should use a syn oil for maximum engine life. My 2011 Merc 4 stroke calls for syn and the Optimax 2 strokes have always called for their own special blend which is a syn oil also. The E-Tec require a syn also. I think what you have to remember is that when the older motors were made it's possible that syn oils were not available and its a sure bet the engines were designed with clearances based on non-syn oil. For those reasons I would not run syn in an older motor but I would definitely run in if the manufacturer said to.

 

[hidef]

Re: Is Synthetic Outboard Oil Worth The Extra Cost?

As long as the oil is marked TC-W3 I don't think it really don't think it matters what you use in a carbed two stroke. If you are running an Etec then you want the synthetic oil.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Is Synthetic Outboard Oil Worth The Extra Cost?

Was this posting talking about synthetic oil in the crankcase (4 strokes) or oil injection (2 strokes)? I'll address 2 strokes:

As long as the boat is under warranty, I'd use the manufacturer's oil--and the type they suggest. (Oils all have special color dyes that tell dealers what's being used.)
High performance, high horsepower engines like a 250 hp Optimax require synthetic Quicksilver oil. Other engine brands have their own special oils.

Normal engines like my Yamaha 115 hp two stroke don't require exotic oils. My 26 year old engine has performed great with WallyWorld's house brand outboard motor oil. I have also used the same stuff in my 21 year old SeaDoo PWC--and the inside of the engine is a clean as a whistle.

Unfortunately, you cannot really get any "cheap" oils of any brand any longer. The expensive stuff is ungodly expensive, however.

 

[JB]

Re: Is Synthetic Outboard Oil Worth The Extra Cost?

It really depends on how much you value the benefits of synthetic, JMW.

Synthetic will make less smoke and stink, less pollution, greatly reduce need for carbon treatments and allow you to congratulate yourself on minimizing damage to the environment.

It will probably not lengthen a well maintained outboard's life or produce more power.

Do you value those bennies? Do you value them more than you value the extra bux it costs you?

There is your answer, Sir.

 

[jmw129]

Re: Is Synthetic Outboard Oil Worth The Extra Cost?

I like to use the synthetic on my old SMALL HP outboards that require 16:1 or 24:1 oil ratios just because I feel like it might protect the friction bearings a little more (I have no proof of this), and because it's cleaner and supposedly more biodegradable than dino oil. However, I personally would not run it in a V4 if I had one because of the high cost. I think regular dino oil has been proven to do the job well. I use mercury quicksilver conventional dino oil for my '98 yamaha 90hp, for example. I don't see any sludge from the lower unit, either.
JMO,
JBJ

Is the QuickSilver you're talking about the Premium brand?

I see they have a Premium Plus as well which appears to be a synthetic oil.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: Is Synthetic Outboard Oil Worth The Extra Cost?

I typically use a good name brand dino oil. Always worked well for me.

 

[levi_tsk]

Re: Is Synthetic Outboard Oil Worth The Extra Cost?

i like the blended dinosaur sauce mixed with the high tech stuff - seems like the best of both worlds and not nearly as expensive and the full synthetic and i deffinitely notice less smoke especially on my older motors where i mix 16:1

 

[jmw129]

Re: Is Synthetic Outboard Oil Worth The Extra Cost?

i like the blended dinosaur sauce mixed with the high tech stuff - seems like the best of both worlds and not nearly as expensive and the full synthetic and i deffinitely notice less smoke especially on my older motors where i mix 16:1

Hey Guys,

Thank you for your opion. I need to clarify where I'm at maybe you'll be able to help me out here.

I'm a bit torn because I started boating last season. My engine is a 1988 Evinrude 120hp V4.

I made the mistake of running 89 octane and halfway through the season my mechanic jumped me about it and told me that I need to add "Ethanol" treatment if I used 89 in addition to that the treatment is supposed to keep the engine from building up carbon.

I noticed shortly after that I was having a rough idle?

I have been using Super Tech Marine oil.

If I switch to a Synthetic Oil, use 87 or 91 octane, and decarb my engine will the rough idle go away?

You read all kinds of MARINE OIL claiming they are ashless, burn cleaner, have less build-up in your engine.

What if I ran regular ashless marine oil with seafoam treatment with every outing?

Your expeirence relating to my questions?

 

[JB]

Re: Is Synthetic Outboard Oil Worth The Extra Cost?

No, you don't need to put "Ethanol treatment" in your gas unless you are going to store it for a while. Marine StaBil would be the right stuff then.

Neither the oil you use nor the fuel is going to cause or cure idle problems. Doing a link 'n' synch should clear that up.

Outboard engines have been performing very well for many many years without all the snake oil crap the hucksters want you to dump in them, and they can continue to do so with simple, regular TLC.

 

[DJ]

Re: Is Synthetic Outboard Oil Worth The Extra Cost?

No, you don't need to put "Ethanol treatment" in your gas unless you are going to store it for a while. Marine StaBil would be the right stuff then.

Neither the oil you use nor the fuel is going to cause or cure idle problems. Doing a link 'n' synch should clear that up.

Outboard engines have been performing very well for many many years without all the snake oil crap the hucksters want you to dump in them, and they can continue to do so with simple, regular TLC.

Agreed. If it is set up correctly, clean, and you do due maintenance-no worries.

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: Is Synthetic Outboard Oil Worth The Extra Cost?

Yeah the Octane rating of the fuel is not gonna have anything to do with and Ethanol treatment, I'd probably try and use the 87 as most of the experts say it will run best on that, since that's what it was designed for.

Personally I treat my fuel with Star Tron all season long. My boat sits in the water, with usually no less than 60-70 gallons in it, and I'm not gonna take a chance of any phase separation happening for the cost of a $15 bottle of treatment. I don't even consider the BS they say about it keeping carbon lower or anything, I use it strictly to treat the Ethanol, I've seen too many problems. Make sure you have a good fuel/water separator also.

Doing a decarb isn't a bad idea, especially if you don't know the history of the engine, but it's not a miracle in a bottle cure for a rough idle, it's just part of preventative maintenance. As the experts above me mentioned, checking that it's set up correctly will make it run right.

I personally don't trust the Super Tech, it smells like ammonia to me. I'm kind of up in the air as far as dino vs. syn, but JB's post above pretty much makes the most sense. Use what you are comfortable with, some guys swear by different things. I personally use the XD-50, I get it in bulk for $26 a gallon and buy 5 gallons at a time, and it's piece of mind, plus I can use the same oil all season long since I can get it in bulk around the corner from me, it's easy and I know it's decent oil.

 

[jmw129]

Re: Is Synthetic Outboard Oil Worth The Extra Cost?

Yeah the Octane rating of the fuel is not gonna have anything to do with and Ethanol treatment, I'd probably try and use the 87 as most of the experts say it will run best on that, since that's what it was designed for.

Personally I treat my fuel with Star Tron all season long. My boat sits in the water, with usually no less than 60-70 gallons in it, and I'm not gonna take a chance of any phase separation happening for the cost of a $15 bottle of treatment. I don't even consider the BS they say about it keeping carbon lower or anything, I use it strictly to treat the Ethanol, I've seen too many problems. Make sure you have a good fuel/water separator also.

Doing a decarb isn't a bad idea, especially if you don't know the history of the engine, but it's not a miracle in a bottle cure for a rough idle, it's just part of preventative maintenance. As the experts above me mentioned, checking that it's set up correctly will make it run right.

I personally don't trust the Super Tech, it smells like ammonia to me. I'm kind of up in the air as far as dino vs. syn, but JB's post above pretty much makes the most sense. Use what you are comfortable with, some guys swear by different things. I personally use the XD-50, I get it in bulk for $26 a gallon and buy 5 gallons at a time, and it's piece of mind, plus I can use the same oil all season long since I can get it in bulk around the corner from me, it's easy and I know it's decent oil.

I'm going to experiment and see if I notice any difference between regular marine oil vs synthetic oil.

I will also try 87 octane with regular marine oil then synthetic marine oil with 87 octane throughout the summer and see if I can feel, smell, and see the difference between the two.

I figure if the oil is being burned out the exhaust vs a regular motor where the oil is used over & over then maybe regular marine oil isn't much less of quality / engine protection.

In my car I only use synthetic because the oil is constantly being cycled through the engine over a 6,000 period and don't want to risk having weak / broken down oil in my cyclinder.

What is the chance of certified marine oil (regular) breaking down or being very weak in terms of lubricating the cyclinder walls / protection provided inside an engine if the mix is correct?

 

[hidef]

Re: Is Synthetic Outboard Oil Worth The Extra Cost?

Any oil marked TC-W3 will serve you well I don't care if it is synthetic or dino. I currently use Pennziol Synthetic (It was given to me for free) and have had no issues with it I have also used Castrol, BRP oil, Quick Silver and no name from Canadian Tire as well as Walmart's two cycle oil and never had any issues with any those either. As far as breaking down it won't happen because two strokes burn the oil before it ever has time to breakdown like oil will in a four stroke. Use 87 octane and premix it 50:1 or fill your oil tank with what ever you like if you are still using the VRO system. I do use a fuel conditioner all the time because my engine can sit for two or three months at a time between uses.