Nautic Pro TC-W3 Oil

[Tom Lyons]

I recently went to K-Mart to see if I could find a bargain in the store closeout sale. I found 12 quarts of a 2-cycle engine oil called "nauticpro." The label says it is TC-W3 certified oil. It also says it is a Johnson-Evinrude product and mentions the "Outboard Marine Corporation" too. Anyway, I got the oil for the ridiculous low price of 24 cents a quart!! I have a very old engine (1974 Merc 850) so I wonder if anyone has heard of this brand of oil and whether it is good quality. Would hate to ruin my pristine Merc.

 

[bob-o p]

Re: Nautic Pro TC-W3 Oil

if it looked good ,i would consider running it if i was in your shoes, but i would check first just like u r doin.

 

[JB]

Re: Nautic Pro TC-W3 Oil

Any TC-W3 oil will work fine in your Merc, 5Hawgs.<br /><br />Sounds like you got a heck of a deal.

 

[ob]

Re: Nautic Pro TC-W3 Oil

The oil is no good.Send it to me for 30 cents per quart for testing.

 

[bret walters]

Re: Nautic Pro TC-W3 Oil

at full price it was cheap oil --- you get what you pay for. this should really stir up the boards.<br />The 3 things that cause outboard engines to fail most often are; lack of proper maint./improper use, cheap oil, poor quality fuel/dirty fuel system. <br />This is not a knee jerk opinion, just 20yrs of seeing outboards on daily basis.

 

[Oil Man]

Re: Nautic Pro TC-W3 Oil

I agree with merctech! And I'll stir it more!<br /><br />You get what you pay for in oil. Cheap oils do not have the best additive packages to resist corrosion. Probably the top killer of OB engines. They also build up more deposits on your plugs and behind your rings, causing you to spend more money on spark plugs and "de-carb" products. Sure, people will say "I've used cheap X-mart oil for 10 years and never had a problem", just like some will say "I've smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for 10 years and never had a problem". You just don't always see the long term effects.<br /><br />If your local gas station had a sale on gasoline that they had laying around for a year, would you buy that and put it in your OB?<br /><br />Dave

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Nautic Pro TC-W3 Oil

Well said Oil Man. Double ditto.<br /><br />While its true E/J made that oil, it may not have the best addative package. They were trying to compete pricewise.<br /><br />Good luck!

 

[ob]

Re: Nautic Pro TC-W3 Oil

TCW3 web page

 

[bret walters]

Re: Nautic Pro TC-W3 Oil

well from a professional outboard techs. point of view, I like junk oil and stale fuel and boaters that would rather have their boat in the shop instead of on the lake/bay/river. it keeps the bills paid and the paycheck coming in. I really was just trying to pass along some insite as to what does happen all to frequently to outboard engines.<br />questions to boaters? how much oil do you use? how much do you save verses the premium oil? and does it equal the price of a premium six pack of beer? how much money did you spend on your engine? how much did you spend on your tow vehicle/daily transportation? do you put the cheapest oil you can find in all of your engines ie.; cars, motor cycle, lawm mower, atv, tractor, snow machine, weed wacker,ect.? <br />I personally use amsoil in all 4 strokes and mercury premium + or yamaha 2-m in water cooled two strokes.... and cheap onsale beer.

 

[Tom Lyons]

Re: Nautic Pro TC-W3 Oil

Easy does it everybody. I never said I was going to use the oil. That's why I checked first. Thanks to all who responded. I figured it was cheap oil, but I'm only out $3 so no big loss.

 

[V156]

Re: Nautic Pro TC-W3 Oil

I've seen that same oil at walmart and wondered how GOOD it really was. After reading this board and talking to mechanics,boat owners and my Dad I decided it's really not worth risking my motor for cheap-o oil. So I bring my gallon jug and get the oil for $12 from my dealer plus it gives me time to talk to my mechanic for some tips. It's worth the time to go get the motor makers oil and have piece of mind about it. Like the old tv spot said-"You can pay me now or pay me later"<br /><br />Dutch.

 

[flatsman]

Re: Nautic Pro TC-W3 Oil

oil experts ---hahaha<br />can you imagine the lawsuits that could stem from this. How many oil manufacturers/ refiners are there ? Do ya think chevron , shell , Bp , Citgo , exon and the like would dare make something that would damge your engine to the point they could be carried to court and suffer the bad publicity. Not gonna happen. Do you folks buy oil for a ford car from ford , honda oil for a honda car from honda ? Wow folks , get a grip on it .<br />Just try not to purchase oil from the USA and it's friends .

 

[bret walters]

Re: Nautic Pro TC-W3 Oil

how many boaters that use cheap oil and have engine failures have enough money to hire a good enough lawyer that will sue to win a judgement to replace a engine worth less than 20,000.? you get what you pay for!<br />how many people died before ford and firestone finally recalled those tires? get a grip??? see this every week, people that will pay for professional advice and then do what their cousins, sister-in-laws brothers, plumber does with his boat. go figure

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Nautic Pro TC-W3 Oil

So I wondering where that Johnny/Rude/Merc/Yama/Suzi oil refinery is??? And who sells(Not Makes)the best oil and where? In other words, what makes the dealer oil any better than a discounters? There can't be that many suppliers of oil. Any thoughts on this?

 

[BillP]

Re: Nautic Pro TC-W3 Oil

I will stir this a little more...but first will say I use the eng mfgs oil unless in a pinch. I believe they know best for their product and second guessing them is beyond my reasoning.<br /><br />For what its worth...I have befriended a fair cross section of experienced outboard mechanics in 40+ yrs of running outboards. All have their preferences and there are many contradictions between the pros. Merc oil vs omc oil is probabably the biggest. Each says the other guy's oil runs dirty, doesn't lube, etc.. To make it better, a former omc warranty mgr of the commercial division for S.America, Bahamas and Bermuda told me use ANY tcw rated oil and decarbonize every season. He said NOT to worry about who made it as long as it was tcw oil. So, who you gonna believe?

 

[Scotty Van]

Re: Nautic Pro TC-W3 Oil

What about AMSOIL, a synthetic that is TCW-3 rated and doesn't smoke like the bargain brand probably will?

 

[Oil Man]

Re: Nautic Pro TC-W3 Oil

Most oils work for most of the people. But most people do not keep their engines long, or blame failures on something besides their oil.<br /><br />One example is internal corrosion. I bet merchtech will tell you that many of the engines that need service are due to internal corrosion. Here in the north, people put their engines away for the winter and it is a major problem. Sure, you need to take precautions when storing an engine, but good quality oil helps.<br /><br />Another example is "decarbonizing" the engine. I used to have carbon buildup problems in my outboard (Merc), and thought it was normal to replace spark plugs every year. I switched to Amsoil and have not replaced a plug in three years. I do not run any "decarbon" additives, and my piston tops and ring lands are clean. Decarbon additives are just treating the symptom instead of the problem.<br /><br />Oil is oil for the people that think Yugo is the same as Cadillac, and Buffalo tools are as good as Snap On. You get what you pay for. BTW, your dealer pays about the same for shipping costs on OEM oil as he does for the oil itself.<br /><br />Dave<br /><br />merctech -- please email me. I want to ask you about something off-board. ultimateoil@comcast.net

 

[johnp034]

Re: Nautic Pro TC-W3 Oil

I agree with you, Oilman. I used to buy cheap oil, gas and any other non-fishing related stuff I could save a dime on.. But boy I could sure spend the bucks on lures, rods & reels, planer boards, riggers. The way I figure it now is, If I use 3-4 gallons of oil a year in my outboard, whats $3-4 a gallon more for the best stuff made? I mean, its only goin' in my $10,000 outboard, and gonna take my wife and sometimes my Grandkids out in Lake Erie, so why scrimp on something so inexpensive? Its a no brainer!