would you mix 2-stroke oil brands???

[sergioy]

I just got an '89 200 hp Suzuki, and I just found out from the old owner that he used Penzoil brand oil in it. Unfortuantely I had already bought a different brand (Citgo). Is there much difference in 2 stroke oils? I know this question gets kicked around here alot. I don't really have any qualms about using a cheaper brand, but mixing it?

 

[malagaoth]

Re: would you mix 2-stroke oil brands???

i suspect that a lot of them come out of the same big tank at the refinery!

 

[Dhadley]

Re: would you mix 2-stroke oil brands???

Check on the price of a rebuilt powerhead and then come back and say youd use a cheap oil. I'd bet you wont. The Pennzoil TC-WIII is a very good oil. The Pennzoil Blend is even better and at $10 a gallon is very reasonable.

 

[willamettejeff]

Re: would you mix 2-stroke oil brands???

If they're both TCW-3 certified then it should be ok to mix them. It is a requirement of the standard. Wouldn't use cheap unknown brands though even if they are "certified".

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: would you mix 2-stroke oil brands???

Both Dhadley and Wilamettejeff have made valid points I think.<br /><br />First off, forget about using cheapo brands.<br />Second, always use well-known TC-W3. Part of the TC-W3 spec is that different brands must be compatible, which means that yo can mix them without harm.

 

[sergioy]

Re: would you mix 2-stroke oil brands???

Well, since I really value the advice that I receive here I am going to go ahead and buy Penzoil and stick with just that.<br /><br />Thanks...

 

[LubeDude]

Re: would you mix 2-stroke oil brands???

Citgo is not a cheap brand and is a great high quality oil. If it is readily available, there is no reason not to use it. Mixing it with Pennzoil is fine also.

 

[Bwalker]

Re: would you mix 2-stroke oil brands???

Citgo makes all of Yamahas oils.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: would you mix 2-stroke oil brands???

But thats not to say the Citgo brand is the same as the Yamaha oil. Citgo makes lots of brands of oil. Everybody has their own additive package.

 

[Scali]

Re: would you mix 2-stroke oil brands???

I mix oils all the time.<br />The place I bought Castrol wont order me a case & the shelf is often empty, the place that sells Penzoil is 12 miles away & sometime sold out, Merc oil is easily available but a little pricier.<br />I mix the 3, have been all summer..no problems

 

[Flubadub]

Re: would you mix 2-stroke oil brands???

About 14 years ago, when a gallon of gasoline was less expensive than 2-stroke oil, I thought that if the label on the container said TC-Whatever, the oil was ok. Not so, at least in my experience. I grabbed a couple of gallons of Wal-Mart 2-stroke oil thinking I could save some $$$. I could not believe how crappy the engine ran. Noteable power loss, smoking and there seemed to be a lot of soot on the prop. I could see a "sheen" on the water around the motor at the marina. I drained the injection tank and have used one brand of oil since. I'm sure that today there are lots of oil that are compatable and could be mixed or substituted. Personaly I would wait until the tank is low before switching. Also, it would enable you to see the results right away. I'm sure when you read where I used Wal-Mart oil, you said, "There you go..." Try this on for size... and correct me if I got the details wrong. An Alaskan MD-80 went down off the coast of California because a jack-screw failed in the tail section. The reason it failed was because it had little or no lubrication as a result of mixing two non-compatable lubricants that if used alone, either one would be ok. At least you are already on the water if something does happen.

 

[sergioy]

Re: would you mix 2-stroke oil brands???

I went ahead and purchased a gallon of Penzoil. I was curious as to any noticable differences and opened the Cingo bottle. The big difference that I say right away was the color. The Pezoil is blue where Citgo is green. There also seemed to be a distinct difference in odor. Come to think of it Waly world brand is also blue An I have read on this board where some folks thought that penzoil also makes Wally worlds oil sometimes. <br /><br /><br />guess i'll go ahead and keep the Citgo around and see if there is any noticable difference. For right now all I can tell is different color, smell and size of my wallet after purchase. Citgo = $4.89, Penzoil = $12.89.

 

[kkj]

Re: would you mix 2-stroke oil brands???

If an oil is called "Castrol" it has to be good!<br />But, on the other hand, I am from Europe

 

[Scali]

Re: would you mix 2-stroke oil brands???

If you use the cheaper TCW 3 just do an extra decarb & add some seafoam .<br />The only TCW 3 I would avoid is Starbright..<br />I like Citgo's 4 stroke oil for cars, good stuff for the $..<br />If I could find Citgo 2 stroke oil for 4. 89 a gallon where I live i'd snatch up a couple cases

 

[Bwalker]

Re: would you mix 2-stroke oil brands???

"But thats not to say the Citgo brand is the same as the Yamaha oil. Citgo makes lots of brands of oil. Everybody has their own additive package."<br />If you believe that I got a bridge I will sell you. Getting a tcw3 oils certified isnt cheap and it would make no sense to make two oils with differant formulations that satisfied the same requirements. I would not be supprised at all if the only differance between the two is the color.<br /> Yamaha oil in Canada is made by Esso. Same color, and even the same jug, just a differant label.

 

[Bwalker]

Re: would you mix 2-stroke oil brands???

FWIW Citgo also makes oil for Redmax,and Echo power equipment.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: would you mix 2-stroke oil brands???

Originally posted by Steve Elisberg:<br /> About 14 years ago, when a gallon of gasoline was less expensive than 2-stroke oil, I thought that if the label on the container said TC-Whatever, the oil was ok. Not so, at least in my experience. I grabbed a couple of gallons of Wal-Mart 2-stroke oil thinking I could save some $$$. I could not believe how crappy the engine ran. Noteable power loss, smoking and there seemed to be a lot of soot on the prop. I could see a "sheen" on the water around the motor at the marina.

Now here is an honest man. I know of at least two others on this forum that have had the same experience, But they have kept quiet about it for some unknown reasons. <br /><br />Im telling you that there "IS" a difference, believe it or not. You probably will not blow your engine from using it, but I believe it will like you better if you dont.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: would you mix 2-stroke oil brands???

Oil performance will vary from brand to brand and mixing oil brands in an oil injected engine is not a good idea due to gealatin formation. It still happens today with some, TC-3 oils. It was a big problem 15 years ago, not so much today. But, why run the risk?

 

[Scali]

Re: would you mix 2-stroke oil brands???

" why take the risk " ?<br />No choice, either mix or stay @ the dock, the stores run out of my brands ..

 

[SeaJayacas]

Re: would you mix 2-stroke oil brands???

I read on another board that if you mix oils, or use the non-approved brand that the engine will automatically self destruct and blow into a mushroom cloud the first time you exceed 2,500 rpms. So the motto of the story is never, ever, ever uses cheap oil. The experts have all spoke and they can not be saying these things if they are not true.<br /><br />Oh yeah, the same experts used to preach years ago that using any gas in your car lower than high test was a formula for disaster.