Re: 1960 Merc200 22 HP Gas to Oil Ratio
Bob Grubbs told me it was OK to use 50:1 TCW-3 in my 1962 Merc 110. The 1960 may be a different deal. I'd suggest contacting Grubbs. If you get a manual original to your motor, it will not give you the definitive answer, since the manual will have been printed prior to the development of modern oils. The oil recommendation, as I understand it, depends on the formulation of the oil (new oils are far better than the oil was when your motor was built) and the internal design of your engine--specifically whether it has bronze bearings or needle bearings. Bronze bearings require more oil.
This information has been gleaned from reading many posts on this topic, including the FAQ's on this site. I am not a qualified engineer or technician, just passing along the results of my own research. You will find the experts do not all agree. In broad strokes, more oil than recommended can cause more smoke, plug fouling and possibly more carbon buildup. Less oil than recommended can cause horrible damage. Obviously, to take it out this weekend you'd want to err on the side of safety while you figure out what's best for your motor in the long run. And if the motor hasn't been run for a long time, extra oil may be a good idea to get the innerds all lubed up.
