Re: outboard motor oil
I'll agree with that in part - I feel all OEM oils are similar, as are MOST after-market brands. <br /><br />Keep in mind, that TCW-3 is a minimum standard. Although an oil meets the standard, it doesn't necessarily mean you want to use it, especially if you're running a hi-dollar, hi-horsepower outboard. It costs a bundle to have an oil tcw-3 tested and certified. The OEM's (Merc, JohnnyRude, Yamaha, et al) have a lot at stake in protecting their motors, where it might not be such a big deal to the refiner who makes the 2-stroke oil you can buy at your local mini-mart or wally-world.<br /><br />I tell my customers that TCW-3 is a minimum standard, on a scale of 1 to 20, its about a 10. The OEM oils are at least an 18 on that same scale. That's not saying you cannot use the bargain brand, but if you do, you should perform a little more maintenance than normal - in the form of decarbonizing more often. I also recommend against mixing brands of oil. I've seen a couple of instances in the past where jelling occurs. Yeh, I know it's rare, but it happens.<br /><br />I guess I would say if you're running an older (out of warranty at least) motor of 75 hp or less and you want to use the less expensive oils you'll probably be ok (keeping the maintenance thing in mind). But it you're running a newer model engine or a higher hp, run the best stuff you can afford, either the OEM's TCW-3 or something better (semi-synthetic or fully synthetic). <br /><br />Apollogies for the length of the post, it's just my difference of opinion.<br /><br />-John<br /><br />BTW - If you can find the back issue of Bass & Walleye Boats Magazine, there was a pretty good article on the TCW-3 oil standards and testing some time ago.
