Outboard Engine Oil

[cdnfthree2]

I've read strong opinions by both sides, so I'd like a consensus on whether or not it is safe to use any TCW3 rated outboard oil.

 

[JB]

Re: Outboard Engine Oil

Use it in what?

 

[ziemann]

Re: Outboard Engine Oil

To take JB's question a bit further, What kind of 2 stroke engine used in what kind of application?

This is far too broad- the answer is "it depends"...

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Outboard Engine Oil

I wouldn't recommend it as transmission fluid!

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Outboard Engine Oil

Wow another 2 stroke oil thread.
If it's TCW-3 it's O.K. by me !!!!!!!!

 

[JB]

Re: Outboard Engine Oil

It is safe to use any oil in a 2 stroke outboard that is required to meet the warranty as stated in the Owner's Manual.. Some early DFI engines required a special spec oil. All others require TC-W3.

 

[cdnfthree2]

Re: Outboard Engine Oil

Ok, I was in the dark on that one and still don't know about DFI. If it's under warranty, I'd use whatever I was told to in order to comply. Basically, what I want to do is to get opinions from experienced boat users as to the quality of say Penzoil or Wal Mart brand TCW-3 ($10 gallon)versus Mercury or Johnson ($25 gallon or whatever) and not the opinions of dealers. Mechanics opinions are highly valuable too, but most are employed and by those who make money by selling their high dollar products. Last mechanic I spoke to said "Yeah, they might say any TCW-3 is good enough, but will they pay for the repairs if it's not?" Well, I doubt that they would as I doubt he or anyone else would either regardless of whar oil I used without a fight. So It looks like you'd agree that TCW-3 regardless of manufacturer is suitable to or exceeds the needs of a 2cycle outboard in most cases.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Outboard Engine Oil

If I can buy an "expensive" oil at the same price and sometime less than "all the same" oil does that make it a "all the same" oil or an "expensive" oil.

The thing that a lot of people over look in this TCW debate is that TCW is a minimum performance standard. If you think an oil that performs to a minimum set of standard is OK to save a couple of bucks, go for it.

Do yourself a favor and read the TCW performance criteria and decide for yourself what's best for your engine.

 

[cdnfthree2]

Re: Outboard Engine Oil

No one wants the minimum. I am just a little bit sceptical as to the superiority of the "premium." I believe this question has no absolute answer.

 

[JB]

Re: Outboard Engine Oil

Check SuperTech and the expensive "brand name" oils and see who really makes them. See if any are listed on the bottle as "meets TC-W3 minimums". All will say "Meets or exceeds all. . .".

Synthetics and blends have a legitimate claim to be better for the engine and the environment. I guess that makes them eligible to charge more.

I have no intention of paying for advertizing, marketing and merchandising costs that inflate the price with no proven superiority of the product.

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: Outboard Engine Oil

One point of "logic" or "rationalization" (take your pick) that I use is to apply the same standards I use for motor oil for my car:

I buy the correct weight, but never consider the brand. I just use what the oil change place or mechanic has in stock. These are always just name brand oils (Quaker, Penn, Valvo, etc.), but nothing "special".

In my younger days when i did all my own oil changes, I would tend to avoid the cheapest generic or house brand oils - but not for any rational reason. buy name brands, but among that group, I'd buy whatever was cheapest on the day I bought it.

I do the same for TCW3: I buy certified TCW3 for the same reason I buy the recommended weight for my car's driving conditions. I "tend" to avoid the cheapest house brand oils, but for no particular reason. I buy whatever name brand oil is cheapest the day I buy it. For the past couple of years that's been either Castrol Super Outboard or Quicksilver.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Outboard Engine Oil

Here we all go again. If your motor has a requirement for 2 stroke oil that meets TCW-3 requirements then you should use a 2 stroke oil that meets TCW-3 requirements.
If your motor has a requirement that says it must use a name brand TCW-3 oil then that is what you must use.
I can understand it for warranty on a new motor sticking with the manufacturers recommended brand if that is a requirement for coverage but that is it.

 

[Mn Warrior]

Re: Outboard Engine Oil

One point of "logic" or "rationalization" (take your pick) that I use is to apply the same standards I use for motor oil for my car:

I buy the correct weight, but never consider the brand. I just use what the oil change place or mechanic has in stock. These are always just name brand oils (Quaker, Penn, Valvo, etc.), but nothing "special".

In my younger days when i did all my own oil changes, I would tend to avoid the cheapest generic or house brand oils - but not for any rational reason. buy name brands, but among that group, I'd buy whatever was cheapest on the day I bought it.

I do the same for TCW3: I buy certified TCW3 for the same reason I buy the recommended weight for my car's driving conditions. I "tend" to avoid the cheapest house brand oils, but for no particular reason. I buy whatever name brand oil is cheapest the day I buy it. For the past couple of years that's been either Castrol Super Outboard or Quicksilver.

In many cases, the cheapest house brands are name brands sold in bulk to the supplier and repackaged. Ask the sales person who makes the oil in their containers, if they can't tell you, don't buy it. (ie:Harley Davidson oil is actually Castrol). Use whatever meets the requirements for your engine and you feel you want to spend. Synthetic oils may enable you to run a leaner mixture, thus spending less per gal. of fuel.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Outboard Engine Oil

In many cases, the cheapest house brands are name brands sold in bulk to the supplier and repackaged. Ask the sales person who makes the oil in their containers, if they can't tell you, don't buy it. (ie:Harley Davidson oil is actually Castrol). Use whatever meets the requirements for your engine and you feel you want to spend. Synthetic oils may enable you to run a leaner mixture, thus spending less per gal. of fuel.

But more overall for the mixture due to the price of synthetic ???

 

[Kev144]

Re: Outboard Engine Oil

Working at a marina, i get 50% + off merc peformance oil. Buy 2 10 litre jugs at the price that everyone else pays.

 

[cdnfthree2]

Re: Outboard Engine Oil

I'm a little enviouis, but I'm sure the marina is still amking money even at 50% off. I'd say that's a testament to merc/johnson's ability to overprice oil and such based on name recogniotion and fear.

 

[marquette]

Re: Outboard Engine Oil

here in minnesota we have a store chain called fleet farm. their house brand oil is called "resolute". i know it smokes more and leaves more scum in my test tank than name brand or synthetic oil does. does it lubicate the motor better or worse who knows but it has to be worse for the evironment with all the scum it produces. so for me i spend the money on better oil (preferably synthetic) for the environment because we all want cleaner water to boat in. that being said i don't run any big hp outboards anymore so i am not sucking down a gallon everytime i go out. i might have a different opinion between $5 and $20 gal if i was still using that amount of oil. i don't know about other parts of the country but here the boat dealers often in the winter or early spring have specials on the name brand oils by the gal or by the case that almost make it as cheap as generic oil if a person can get motivated to think about summer outboard oil when they are still ice fishing.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Outboard Engine Oil

Here we all go again. If your motor has a requirement for 2 stroke oil that meets TCW-3 requirements then you should use a 2 stroke oil that meets TCW-3 requirements.
If your motor has a requirement that says it must use a name brand TCW-3 oil then that is what you must use.
I can understand it for warranty on a new motor sticking with the manufacturers recommended brand if that is a requirement for coverage but that is it.

I think we're getting "recommended" and "required" mixed-up here.
I DO believe in using the "recommended" TC-W3 oil in a unit that is new, through the warranty period, just to keep the Indians from sticking you with arrows if something goes astray even though it may not be an oil issue.
I rebuild outboards as part of my living-complete rebuilds and custom high-performance powerheads-on these NON-new outboards, I run a straight dino TC-W3 for 50hrs. I then move to a TC-W3 syn blend for 25hrs at which point I move to amsoil hpi full syn, NON TC-W3.
TC-W3 is NOT "required", it is "Recommended".
On my personal rude 200, I'm just past 800 hrs total, a bit over 700 on syn non TC-W3. I have at times, while testing props, let this engine go to well over 7000RPM.
I change plugs once a year as I put "about" 250-275hrs a year on this engine. On this V6 my compression now is the same to slightly higher than it was at 75hrs., which tells me there is no carbon or coking building-up in the ring lands. I own a bore-scope I use to inspect Turbine engines and have found that inside my cylinders, I still have the very obvious cross-hatch patterns with zero vertical streaking.
I will NOT push the brand, but I can offer my experiences with synthetic oil.
The debate will never end, so use what you feel comphy with.


By the way...this statement; "If your motor has a requirement that says it must use a name brand TCW-3 oil then that is what you must use."...
This is against the law unless the manufacturer supplies you with the said brand of oil for FREE.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Outboard Engine Oil

Point taken on recommended and required. However my V4 looper 140hp has the same compression now as when I got it with a lot of hours and using the cheap and cheerful 2 stroke oil that "meets or exceeds" the TCW-3 specifications.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Outboard Engine Oil

That in itself is also a good point....regular oil (TC-W3)and an engine in great shape.
I run the HPI, or full SYN because of the RPM I allow my engine to turn and I like the Idle it provides as well-no or very little smoke.
Use what makes you feel good.