Mid1980's Mercury 2cyl 35hp Spark Plug Question

jimmbo

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Definitely pick up as my next gallon. I see it it is about twice the price of the Penzoil, but you do get what you pay for don't you. Also assuming I will want the 2 stroke version..Thanks
While a lot of Oils(3rd Party) are said to Meet the TCW-3 Spec, that spec is over 30 yrs old. The Engine Manufacturers have Skin in the Game, and they know that if an Engine blows Up, throws a Rod, etc, People will cuss and swear at the Engine Brand, because to them Oil is Oil. I suspect the OEM Oils Exceed the TCW-3 Spec... For the Few Extra Dollars per Season, I always ran Mercury/Quicksilver or OMC Oils. I know them's Fighting Words on the Board, and there will be Posters saying Brand X is Fine, "been running it for X number of years, and engine Never Blew Up... It is their Motor and their Money and they can run whatever they want... As was it my Engine and Money
 

airshot

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Nice to know I'm mixing rich. If can use less that's fine. getting too pricey.

What do you use per gallon..

If you don't mind me asking.
At the end of the season or last tank of fuel for the season I will use a pint to.my 18 gallon tank. Thru the season, so just add a few ounces to each filling ( about 12-13 gallons typically) . SeaFoam, Lucas fuel treatment, and Startron have all worked well... I use them to keep the fuel and combustion chambers clean from buildup. Before the E10 fuels came out, we did the same thing with "gumout" carb cleaner, just added a couple oz. to each filling to keep things working well. People often ask me why my boat engines run so smooth at idle, even for longer periods of time at very low RPM. Some folks call these snake oils and other names, but for me, they make a difference. In my 60 yrs of boating, never a fuel gunk issue, and my motors run so smooth, I find it well worth the pennies it costs to add.
I always buy used boats and motors and first thing to do is flush out all the gunk from the fuel/ carb systems. If needed rebuild carbs with factory kits. After getting everything adjusted properly, the added maintenance additives keep me from having to reclean things again down the road.
 

airshot

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Pennzoil has been around as long as I can remember, the mechanic I worked for back in the 60's always used it so it has stuck with me. Never had an issue in my 60 plus years of boating. The current Merc 40 classic that I own was bought at the Cabellas as in Dundee Mi. when new. Original owner was told to use Pennzoil in the oil injected system by that Mercury dealer and has its whole life and I still use it today. Motor still runs like the day it was new. Idles so slow and smooth you can almost count each cylinder fire. Guess I am not gonna try to fix what isn't broke !
 

3rdMarDiv

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At the end of the season or last tank of fuel for the season I will use a pint to.my 18 gallon tank. Thru the season, so just add a few ounces to each filling ( about 12-13 gallons typically) . SeaFoam, Lucas fuel treatment, and Startron have all worked well... I use them to keep the fuel and combustion chambers clean from buildup. Before the E10 fuels came out, we did the same thing with "gumout" carb cleaner, just added a couple oz. to each filling to keep things working well. People often ask me why my boat engines run so smooth at idle, even for longer periods of time at very low RPM. Some folks call these snake oils and other names, but for me, they make a difference. In my 60 yrs of boating, never a fuel gunk issue, and my motors run so smooth, I find it well worth the pennies it costs to add.
I always buy used boats and motors and first thing to do is flush out all the gunk from the fuel/ carb systems. If needed rebuild carbs with factory kits. After getting everything adjusted properly, the added maintenance additives keep me from having to reclean things again down the road.
That sounds just fine to me. I mix up a 6 gallon so 2 oz sounds better than 6 oz..LOL Yea, I agree and have used seafoam in all gas forever. There is a guy on youtube and he pulls the head off a small motor, shows the buildup and then replaces it. He then pours a cap full into the carb while the engine is running. He does this several times and removes the head and shows the results. Looks to do a really good job. I use it for the E10 and carb cleaning and hope that it decarbons the cylinder some as well.

Just ordered some Mercury power tune and will be running that through the motor as well.

Thanks
 

3rdMarDiv

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There are Much Better Snake Oils than SeaFoam for cleaning the Rings, Merc's Engine Tuner, and BRP's Engine Cleaner, as two. CTC makes a decent one too.

Oil should be a Good TCW-3 and mixed at 50:1. Any more is wasting Money, cause if a Bearing is running Smoothly with 50:1, more Oil isn't going to make it run Smoother.
Ordered the Merc Power Tune and before I use it I wanted to ask how much you use. Do you run through the entire can, 4-5 shots? I see how to use use it, but there is no info on how much. Personally, I would use a lot just to be sure, unless that would not be good.

Thanks Again
 

cyclops222

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Showing TCW-3 oil containers would prevent some new people from buying 4 stroke and mixing it at 50 : 1 ratio.
 

3rdMarDiv

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When I see 4 stroke I think oil sump and slinger to lube the internals and a secondary firing to burn off any waste left within the chamber. When I see 2 stroke I think no sump or slinger and duel purpose of lubing the internals and meant to combust in the chamber.

But, on average, I believe most people have no idea.

I got the reference to the branding reference plus it says, in large letters, 4 Stroke...LOL But, you guys are the experts and if you said "no, use the 25w-40 4 stroke as it is the best also for 2 stroke motors", I may defer to your judgment.

Hey, I had a friend who went to his grave swearing that anything said about any oil was all BS and he only burned straight 30w only. I can still see him with a nice big smoke trail putt-putting down the river..LOL
 

airshot

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To many out there that think oil is oil.....then there are others that think..what oil ?
 

3rdMarDiv

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There are Much Better Snake Oils than SeaFoam for cleaning the Rings, Merc's Engine Tuner, and BRP's Engine Cleaner, as two. CTC makes a decent one too.

Oil should be a Good TCW-3 and mixed at 50:1. Any more is wasting Money, cause if a Bearing is running Smoothly with 50:1, more Oil isn't going to make it run Smoother.
Ran a can of the Power Tune, following the directions, through my motor and it really expelled a lot of crud. Went fishing the next day really notice a positive difference.

Since the motor is mid 80's and likely never had this treatment done before I'm thinking I may want to run through another can.

It's not on the instructions, but I've read that it's common to fog the cylinder overnight through the spark plug holes. Probably do that also.
 

airshot

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Ran a can of the Power Tune, following the directions, through my motor and it really expelled a lot of crud. Went fishing the next day really notice a positive difference.

Since the motor is mid 80's and likely never had this treatment done before I'm thinking I may want to run through another can.

It's not on the instructions, but I've read that it's common to fog the cylinder overnight through the spark plug holes. Probably do that also.
Fogging is for long term storage of more than 3 months not necessary for short term storage. Just add some of the engine cleaner to your fuel supply for a few runs to get it cleaned out. I add a small amount every time I fill my 18 gallon tank, keeps the engine purring right along.
 

jimmbo

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Ran a can of the Power Tune, following the directions, through my motor and it really expelled a lot of crud. Went fishing the next day really notice a positive difference.

Since the motor is mid 80's and likely never had this treatment done before I'm thinking I may want to run through another can.

It's not on the instructions, but I've read that it's common to fog the cylinder overnight through the spark plug holes. Probably do that also.
Fogging is the Term used for Spraying a quantity of Storage Oil into the Carbs, to coat the Rotating Assembly, protecting it from Corrosion during longer term Storage. Doing it, results in a Fog of Smoke.

Applying Power Tune via the Plug Holes is done when the Piston Rings are badly Carboned up. Power Tune is not designed for use as a Fogging Oil.

It is very good as a Water Dispersant, as in a Motor that has went under Water. Copious amounts of it sprayed into the Carbs and Spark Plug Holes while spinning the Flywheel will help get rid of the water. Of course the Engine must still be started and warmed up to insure all water is evapourated out of the engine.
 

3rdMarDiv

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Fogging is the Term used for Spraying a quantity of Storage Oil into the Carbs, to coat the Rotating Assembly, protecting it from Corrosion during longer term Storage. Doing it, results in a Fog of Smoke.

Applying Power Tune via the Plug Holes is done when the Piston Rings are badly Carboned up. Power Tune is not designed for use as a Fogging Oil.

It is very good as a Water Dispersant, as in a Motor that has went under Water. Copious amounts of it sprayed into the Carbs and Spark Plug Holes while spinning the Flywheel will help get rid of the water. Of course the Engine must still be started and warmed up to insure all water is evapourated out of the engine.
Likely, I was using the term fogging too loosely. I was referring to spraying the power tune into the cylinders and letting it sit overnight. The process reminded me of fogging, which yes, I preform on my motors at winter storage. I did not do that, but it seems to be a practice used by some in addition to the directions on the can itself.

Thanks for the information
 

3rdMarDiv

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Pennzoil has been around as long as I can remember, the mechanic I worked for back in the 60's always used it so it has stuck with me. Never had an issue in my 60 plus years of boating. The current Merc 40 classic that I own was bought at the Cabellas as in Dundee Mi. when new. Original owner was told to use Pennzoil in the oil injected system by that Mercury dealer and has its whole life and I still use it today. Motor still runs like the day it was new. Idles so slow and smooth you can almost count each cylinder fire. Guess I am not gonna try to fix what isn't broke !
Yep, I hear what you are saying as I've been using Penzoil in everything for very many years. That is except for my JD Tractor where I've stayed OEM for everything. The Penzoil Marine XLF is highly rated and is why I've been using it. Penzoil does smoke a small amount and I've been curios about smokeless, which, the Mercury says is smokeless. The Mercury oil being OEM also is a draw for me. I won't finish off my Penzoil this season so, I'll be giving it some more thought. Probably stay with the Penzoil as you say, if it ain't broke...LOL
 

airshot

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Yep, I hear what you are saying as I've been using Penzoil in everything for very many years. That is except for my JD Tractor where I've stayed OEM for everything. The Penzoil Marine XLF is highly rated and is why I've been using it. Penzoil does smoke a small amount and I've been curios about smokeless, which, the Mercury says is smokeless. The Mercury oil being OEM also is a draw for me. I won't finish off my Penzoil this season so, I'll be giving it some more thought. Probably stay with the Penzoil as you say, if it ain't broke...LOL
On my oil injected two stroke, I want to see a little smoke so I know the oil is mixing in. Would make me uncomfortable using a smokeless two stroke oil!
Upon cold starts, I turn the key and let the motor turn over a few times with no choke/fast idle to get extra oil mixed in, when it fires I do get a small cloud of smoke from the extra cranking, which makes me happy to see !
 
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