MTD 2 cycle oil good for outboards?

[mickjetblue]

I found 6 small 2.6 oz. plastic bottles of MTD 2 cycle oil in the garage.
I bought it for a snow blower, but then went to a 4 stroke snow blower.

The label says the oil is for all outdoor 2 cycle machines, but there is no picture of
an outboard or any mention of an outboard motor.
Is this oil good for outboard motor use, or should I pass it on to someone who
can use it for other 2 cycle machines?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: MTD 2 cycle oil good for outboards?

If it does not have the "TCW-3" symbol on it, it is not to be used in outboard engines. The stuff you have is primarily intended for "air cooled" two-strokes like chain saws, weed eaters, leaf blowers, etc.

 

[DJ]

Re: MTD 2 cycle oil good for outboards?

NO! There is a difference between air cooled and water cooled 2-stroke oils. Primarily ash content.

Don't use it.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: MTD 2 cycle oil good for outboards?

Don"t do it.

 

[imported_Jimbo]

Re: MTD 2 cycle oil good for outboards?

The guy I bought a used lower unit from (Evinrude 70hp) did that, thats why he sold the lower to mee, the rest was trash...

//Jimbo

 

[marquette]

Re: MTD 2 cycle oil good for outboards?

i know that this oil won't offer all the rust inhibitors and what ever it is that helps keep gas and oil mixed that TW3 oil does but what makes it a air cooled vs water cooled 2 cycle oil? not too long ago we just used straight 30wt non detergent oil right from the auto parts store. i don't remember there being a differant 2 stroke oil for a water cooled johnson or a air cooled clinton.

 

[gss036]

Re: MTD 2 cycle oil good for outboards?

I don't have the answer myself, I just know I burnt up a new Husky chain saw using TCW3 oil in it. I didn't think it would matter either and I learned the hard way, only cost me a couple hundred $$ instead of several 1000 $$ for an outboard.

 

[Lone Duck]

Re: MTD 2 cycle oil good for outboards?

I found 6 small 2.6 oz. plastic bottles of MTD 2 cycle oil in the garage.
I bought it for a snow blower, but then went to a 4 stroke snow blower.

The label says the oil is for all outdoor 2 cycle machines, but there is no picture of
an outboard or any mention of an outboard motor.
Is this oil good for outboard motor use, or should I pass it on to someone who
can use it for other 2 cycle machines?

One difference is that some 2cyl oils burn off at different temps. than others If the oil burns off to fast you are not getting the correct lube for your engine. If it burns off to slow, then your crankcase gets loaded up with oil and tries to push it past the rings losing power and loading up your carb with oil. Your carb filter gets saturated with oil just like you mixed your fuel too rich.

 

[marquette]

Re: MTD 2 cycle oil good for outboards?

i just looked last night at fleet farm at the snow mobile 2 cycle oils because there are a lot of air and water cooled snowmobiles (oops SNOW MACHINES to now be politicaly correct). all of them said safe to use for air and water cooled. i don't doubt that differant oils burn off at differant tempatures but i would have always thought that a air cooled 2 cycle would run hotter than a water cooled 2 cycle. and if that is the case wouldn't the oil for a air cooled engine burn off at higher tempature. so here is the question "is anybody out there using a air cooled outboard having any problem using TW3 oil?"

 

[BillP]

Re: MTD 2 cycle oil good for outboards?

i just looked last night at fleet farm at the snow mobile 2 cycle oils because there are a lot of air and water cooled snowmobiles (oops SNOW MACHINES to now be politicaly correct). all of them said safe to use for air and water cooled. i don't doubt that differant oils burn off at differant tempatures but i would have always thought that a air cooled 2 cycle would run hotter than a water cooled 2 cycle. and if that is the case wouldn't the oil for a air cooled engine burn off at higher tempature. so here is the question "is anybody out there using a air cooled outboard having any problem using TW3 oil?"

Do some web searching and you can get the technical reasons. The best info I've found is on ultralight web forums where they show engines run with both types of oil in a controlled test. I used to fly ultralights and believe me the subject has no mysteries as to why/when you run specifically air or watercooled 2 stroke oils. The short of it is air and watercooled engines burn at different temps. Each has it's own properties for lube requirements. It's normally more of a long term problem with crud build up than totally trashing the engine with one run.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: MTD 2 cycle oil good for outboards?

Back in the "good old days," there weren't any choices of oils designed for specific engine types, so you used what was available.

It wasn't ideal, but that was how it was. Today, oil is vastly different. Additives, formulations, origins, and more are carefully engineered to do the best possible job in a specific type of engine.

Engine makers specify which type of oil should be used on their engines, based on engineering data, testing, and working with lubricant manufacturers.

Given that, why would anyone ignore those specifications? I've never understood that...not one bit. Among TCW3 outboard oils, there is a wide range of prices, so there's plenty of choice to go around. All will work in water-cooled outboards. Some may be better than others, but all meet the manufacturers' specifications.

Why would anyone use anything else? Then, there are specialty oils for the unique demands placed on them by chainsaws, snowmobiles, motorcycles, and other uses. Why would anyone use an oil not formulated for those unique situations?

This discussion keeps coming up again and again. There's no reason for it to. Use the oil type recommended for your particular engine and application. It's in the owner's manual. It's everywhere on this forum. Search for oil here and you could read for days.

Yes, you could use 30 weight non-detergent oil in old outboards that call for it. They ran then with it and they'll run now with it. But, why would you do that, either? TCW3 oil is designed to be used in water-cooled outboard motors. You have to use the same amount of it in your fuel as the old oil. You can't use 50:1 if your outboard calls for 24:1. It's still oil. It's just that it has a lower ash residue and your plugs won't foul like they always used to with that old oil.