Newb to boat motors but not combustion engines - gear oil and engine oil Q's.

[tunerauto]

Ive done the search and not come up with the answers Im looking for but hey , thats what a forum is for. Asking questions.

I just purchased my 1st boat and itstarted right up with muffs after sitting all winter long. Need to replace the battery though.
I want to do a full outboard tune up and need to buy the manual aswell.
Its a Mercury 500 thunderbolt 50hp outboard 4 cylinder 2 stroke.
Is there engine oil or are the pistons lubed by the oil in the fuel? If so what brand , type and wieght is recommended .
What brand and weight of oil goes in the lower end? Is it gear oil or engine oil? What weight ?
Can synthetics be used ?
What type , brand of spark plugs are recommended?
What brand , type of grease is used on portions of the outboard and in the zerk fittings?

Thanx

 

[QC]

Re: Newb to boat motors but not combustion engines - gear oil and engine oil Q's.

Welcome aboard tunerdude!

A couple of things . . . You need to remove the link in your Signature. Take a look at the guidelines, Jus' one of 'dem thangs

Two cycles do not have crankcase oil, just the pre-mix in the fuel or oil injection. I'll let the Mercury guys help out on that though. Do a little searching in this section, lots of threads regarding the rest of your topics. Good luck!!!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Newb to boat motors but not combustion engines - gear oil and engine oil Q's.

Your engine requires Two cycle outboard oil that is branded TCW-3 on the container. It is mixed at a ratio fo 50:1 (one pint in six gallons). Use outboard lower unit lube in the lower unit (synthetic or regular). Any marine grease can be used on the zerk fittings.

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: Newb to boat motors but not combustion engines - gear oil and engine oil Q's.

Also keep in mind that you should replace the rubber orings any time you take the lower unit gear lube plugs out.

And don't make the mistake i made, there are 2 plugs for the lower unit, one all the way at the bottom, just above the skeg and another towards the top of the lower unit. there are 2 plugs right there though, 1 is for flush, not oil.

 

[tunerauto]

Re: Newb to boat motors but not combustion engines - gear oil and engine oil Q's.

Thank you.
Removing sig as we type.
Champion or NGK plugs?
How much gear oil in qts should I pick up?
Need to find a Mercury or O/B facility in Salem Oregon for O rings etc.

Weeeeee........... LOL

 

[Paul DuLaney]

Re: Newb to boat motors but not combustion engines - gear oil and engine oil Q's.

Ngk on Merc
Two tubes of oil and squeeze tubes using the bottom hole till it comes out the top.Then while holding tube in,put top plug in then bottom in. Now get your lower unit level with ground when you do this.if you want to get particular you can use a level on the cavitation plate if you want or just eye ball it well.On the oil thing My dad used merc oil in his 30hp in 1956 till he sold it in the late 70's and I've used it in all my boats since I bought my first one in 1978.

 

[tunerauto]

Re: Newb to boat motors but not combustion engines - gear oil and engine oil Q's.

excellent on the NGK's as thats what I run in all my cars and my customers cars.
Seems weird to fill from the bottom up. Gravity isnt going to cause it to just drip out while Im filling it up?

 

[QC]

Re: Newb to boat motors but not combustion engines - gear oil and engine oil Q's.

All outdrives and OB lower units fill bottom to top. The pump or tube of lube screws onto the bottom (drain) hole. Pump in until it runs out of the top (vent) hole. Replace vent plug, remove pump or tube, quickly re-insert drain plug. A tiny bit messy, but no air this way . . .

 

[rjlipscomb]

Re: Newb to boat motors but not combustion engines - gear oil and engine oil Q's.

The vacuum pressure created keeps the oil from flowing out, the air at the top can't expand. Kinda like a ketchup bottle or shotgunning a bear (did too many of those as a kid).

 

[tunerauto]

Re: Newb to boat motors but not combustion engines - gear oil and engine oil Q's.

gotchya

 

[QC]

Re: Newb to boat motors but not combustion engines - gear oil and engine oil Q's.

shotgunning a bear (did too many of those as a kid).

LOL . . . there are just too many jokes right there Torture, but I'm leaving it alone