2 stroke outboard oil

[Henry]

Since the price of 2 stroke oil is rather expensive. Any recommendations on a good quality oil for a good price that doesn't break the wallet?

[CaptWoody]

The Pennzoil blended oil has a good reputation.

[Henry]

Thanks. I will check it out.

[T-Topless]

Use all Premium Mercury oil here - but mechanics have told me to use the cheapest 2-stroke oil you can find. Not sure I agree ...

[Juan]

I usually used Quicksilver when I had my 2 stoke Yammie, it was cheaper than most and still a good product. In my opinion...Use anything you can find as long as it has a TCW III rating...

[Simple Man]

[quote author=juan board=yamahaoutboards thread=2317 post=12914 time=1360937394...Use anything you can find as long as it has a TCW III rating... [/quote]

I've used bulk quicksilver (bought in a 55 gal drum and shared with buddies) in my 225 Promax when I owned a Bullet bass boat. The rest of the boats I have owned got Walmart oil, both premix and oil injected motors. I never had a oil related problem of any nature. I do think whatever you use you should stick with in oil injected motors. I don't believe in mixing oils in a reservoir because I have heard stories of gumming issues attributed to this.

[BoutTime]

Before I became an Amsoil dealer I had used the pennzoil blend.
The only problem I see with using the "walmart" or big box store brands is you never know who's oil you are using, and it generally is not of the highest quality. Most big box stores like Walmart buy whatever is the cheapest on the wholesale market at the time they are buying, so this month it may be pennzoil, last month may have been mobil, etc.
I look at it this way: spend a little more now on quallity oil or pay the price of a re-build later.? Fram oil filters used to have a commercial on TV where a mechanic said "pay me now for a quality oil filter or pay me later for a rebuild" I believe in that theory.

[Simple Man]

Feb 15, 2013 13:52:29 GMT -6 BoutTime said:

Before I became an Amsoil dealer I had used the pennzoil blend.
The only problem I see with using the "walmart" or big box store brands is you never know who's oil you are using, and it generally is not of the highest quality. Most big box stores like Walmart buy whatever is the cheapest on the wholesale market at the time they are buying, so this month it may be pennzoil, last month may have been mobil, etc.
I look at it this way: spend a little more now on quallity oil or pay the price of a re-build later.? Fram oil filters used to have a commercial on TV where a mechanic said "pay me now for a quality oil filter or pay me later for a rebuild" I believe in that theory.

You make a valid point with the quality of oil and I "sort of" agree but as Juan said if it is rated (TCW III) then it meets a certain quality standard that is sufficient for outboard 2 cycle use. I used quicksilver in my Mercury Promax 225 because it was under warranty(which really doesn't matter but I didn't want any crap) and mainly because it was a high performance racing motor that was run harder than the average boat motor. I felt better with the higher quality oil as a "warm fuzzy".
As for different manufacturers and quality of Walmart oil, I used Walmart oil extensively from 1988 until 2008. During that time frame I saw one color/consistency change and it was a wholesale change (I think around the time the new TCW III rating came out). I've always heard that Ashland oil(Valvoline) made Walmart's oil for them and the color/consistency is consistent with Valvoline (used to work in a parts store in the late 80's and had the opportunity to compare a lot of oils on a color and consistency basis). If Walmart changes manufacturers of their oil, you definitely don't see evidence of it in the appearance of the oil (and ALL brands of two cycle oil that I have looked at, look different in some way).

[BoutTime]

[quote author=simpleman board=yamahaoutboards thread=2317 You make a valid point with the quality of oil and I "sort of" agree but as Juan said if it is rated (TCW III) then it meets a certain quality standard that is sufficient for outboard 2 cycle use. ------- If Walmart changes manufacturers of their oil, you definitely don't see evidence of it in the appearance of the oil (and ALL brands of two cycle oil that I have looked at, look different in some way).[/quote]

Since sometime shortly after the four stroke outboards came out ALL two stroke outboard oil has been blue in color for two reasons; The Oil is dyed blue to make it easier to recognize it in gasoline and to give it a different look from four stroke oils.

As for the "meets a certain quality standard" think about this re-processed and/or oils recycled by the oil manufacturers meets the min. standard... But I don't want to use it in any of my motors. - Just my opinon - to each his own..

[chris1368]

By no means am I an expert but only what I have seen with my own eyes and what we (Dad, Friends, and I) have used for the last 15 years is Yamalube 2M. This is counting anything from a Yamaha 115hp all the way up to twin 250hp OX66 and several pairs of 200hp HPDIs (different boats) and have never had a problem with cylinders that had thick Carbon buildup. I have seen that same buildup in a couple of Mercury and OMC 9.9 to 25hp 2 strokes because of cheap oils used. We buy in bulk at $17 a gallon (today's price) and as BoutTime said, I rather pay a little now ($3-4 a gallon more) than pay later for a complete rebuild. And as anyone with a boat can testify, outboards are not getting any cheaper!

[seagristle]

A Merc/Yammie certified tech told me that the difference between Yamalube and quicksilver premium was the Quicksilver had additives already mixed in where as you have to use Ringfree with the Yammie oil.