What is considered the best TCW3 oil lately?

[Mark42]

Remember the good old days when there were lots of "discussions" about oil? LOL! Now it appears that no one gives a fig?

Anyway....

I have been using the Walmart brand of oil for years. Wondering if there is something better at not too much more cost? What is generally considered to be the best oil to use now?

 

[JustJason]

Re: What is considered the best TCW3 oil lately?

I guess it all depends on defineing the criterea for what makes 1 oil better than another.
My take on it, is if you have an older premix rig, you can run whatever you want and probably won't have a problem.
If you have and optipop, a yam HPDI, an ETECH, you need to run the newest manufactor spec oils.

 

[JB]

Re: What is considered the best TCW3 oil lately?

First of all, use only oil that meets the maker's spec for that outboard. For most outboards that is still TC-W3.

You are not going to find a provably better TC-W3 petro oil than SuperTech.

If you want provably better TC-W3 oil go to a synthetic blend or full synthetic. Pennzoil full synthetic is probably as good as any. You will usually have to pay quite a bit more for synthetic.

Do not be suckered by brand name hype or chemist's details about differrences in molecules that make no difference in daily use.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: What is considered the best TCW3 oil lately?

for the most part I am with JB.
my 85 120 jonnyrude with the 4 wire VRO pump ran over 1000 gallons of gas through it on wally world oil.
my dear old friend that I built a franken 140/120 looper ran over 20,00 gallons of gas over about 9 years, always ran wally world oil and was VRO.
when I took the motor out of service it still ran well, everything else was done.
the man showed me the fuel trip tickets every year and it was always 2500-2900 gallons per year.
old man aint scared to run nets and pots at all,sometimes both on the same day.
he still does it at age 77.
only now he runs an F50.
however on OX66 and HPDI yamaha that use an O2 sensor I reccomend yamalube simply cause I dont know what any oil additive may do to the O2 sensor.
my 175 Etec is programmed for TC dino oils but I run the XD100.
I also run the XD100 in my modified 9.9 and it works wonderful.
virtually no smoke ever.

 

[Mark42]

Re: What is considered the best TCW3 oil lately?

Thanks for the updates! Just wanted to be sure that there were no significant changes in oil that I should know about, especially before breaking in the rebuilt Johnson 90 I'm picking up this weekend.

The SuperTech oil has worked well for me over the years, in both the Force and Evinrude "big twin". So I'll follow the break in procedure, and for now will continue to run the VRO, just like I have on the Johnson 40 hp. So far, so good.

Actually, when searching the net for oil updates, I found a blog that said not to use synthetic oil during breakin because it can lube too well and not let the parts seat properly. Makes sense. Of course, it could be pure BS too. How can you tell?

For the foreseeable future, SuperTech will be in my tank.

 

[Mark42]

Re: What is considered the best TCW3 oil lately?

No one else has an opinion? All those heated debates over oil were just oil masturb*****?????

There must be someone else with some degree of experience with rebuilding power heads that can weigh in on whether or not Walmart tc-w3 is as good as BRP and Mercs own branded oils.

Not trying to start a fight, just want some input to be sure I am getting a full 360 view of the 2-stroke oil market. This has been a very quiet topic these last two years or so. Six or more years ago, members like oildoc and others had many views on oil. So I would expect that there are more and NEWER views on oil.

So.... Is Synthetic better than non-synthetic? Is the info I read about not using synthetic for breakin correct or BS?

Hey, it has to be said....

Thanks.

 

[robert graham]

Re: What is considered the best TCW3 oil lately?

I switched to Pennzoil 100% Synthetic several years ago and it seems to smoke less and produce less carbon on plugs, especially during lots of trolling and slow running. I also use the Ringfree and Stabil Marine all the time, with a fuel/water separator. No problems at all, so far!

 

[Brewman61]

Re: What is considered the best TCW3 oil lately?

I'm of the opinion that the products are more the same then they are different. If the oil meets tc-w3 it's essentially the same as any other oil meeting the spec. and the rest is just marketing.
Synthetics can be used to break in engines- several high performance cars come right out of the factory with fully synthetic oils.
Maybe in the early days of syn, there were some issues with this but with the stuff out there today I don't think it's a problem.

Some people only run break in oil for a relatively short duration, then change it out. In that case it may make more financial sense to use the non syn.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: What is considered the best TCW3 oil lately?

I'm with JB on the subject.

 

[robert graham]

Re: What is considered the best TCW3 oil lately?

Yep, everybody has their own thoughts, ideas and opinions on these things. While I run the 100% Synthetic Oils now,I used to run the Yamalube for many years and never had any problems with it. I'm still running the original(1999) spark plugs without any issues at all, but most folks change plugs every year. Whatever works for you, then go for it! Good Luck!

 

['96 Charger]

Re: What is considered the best TCW3 oil lately?

The outboard mechanics around here say that Pennzoil Marine will blow an engine in a heartbeat. It's enough to make me stay away from it especially after the experience I've had with Pennzoil and short trips. A knocking engine after only 2000 miles on a pan of oil is a little scary. Only run Castrol dino oil in the truck now. In the boat I run Quicksilver Premium Plus. Funny thing is when I bought my boat the color under the cap was Supertech blue. It's a 96 model Yammie 200 with original powerhead and 120-125psi on all 6 cylinders so it must have protected it well.

Now, my issue is I have problems with carbon building up on my plugs.

 

[imported_Skippy]

Re: What is considered the best TCW3 oil lately?

Comment: purged for not agreeing with the Forum elders

 

[F_R]

Re: What is considered the best TCW3 oil lately?

The outboard mechanics around here say that Pennzoil Marine will blow an engine in a heartbeat. It's enough to make me stay away from it especially after the experience I've had with Pennzoil and short trips. A knocking engine after only 2000 miles on a pan of oil is a little scary. Only run Castrol dino oil in the truck now. In the boat I run Quicksilver Premium Plus. Funny thing is when I bought my boat the color under the cap was Supertech blue. It's a 96 model Yammie 200 with original powerhead and 120-125psi on all 6 cylinders so it must have protected it well.

Now, my issue is I have problems with carbon building up on my plugs.

I must be doing something wrong then. I have been using nothing but Penzoil 100% Synthetic TC-W3 for several years now and my motors hasn't blown yet. Well, my doc does say I have a slow heartbeat, but I can't believe it is THAT slow!!! The powerhead on my 1984 Johnson has never been touched yet, except for changing the spark plugs one time---and they didn't need it that one time.

If any oil has passed the NMMA test for TC-W3 certification, it will NOT blow motors in a heartbeat.

 

[1stgenbird]

Re: What is considered the best TCW3 oil lately?

I use the Walmart oil with no issues. I believe it is re-branded to Walmart by Quaker State.

 

[JimS123]

Re: What is considered the best TCW3 oil lately?

I never went to WalMart for anything as important as my outboard motor, so I don't know what price they charge for oil. The cheep Pennzoil is $3 a gallon cheeper than premium Mercury oil, and $5 a gallon cheeper than the top-of-the-line Merc.

So, in other words, the $ I can save a year won't hardly buy me a case of premium beer.

If my car breaks down on the way to work, so sorry, so sad. If my boat breaks down on Saturday, its a catastrophy. If it breaks down on vacation, its the world's worst disaster.

I don't own a boat to save money. I run Mercoil in my Merc and Yamalube in my Yami. No worries, nothing to think about and I can still afford the beer anyway.

 

['96 Charger]

Re: What is considered the best TCW3 oil lately?

My oil tank has a couple more tanks of gas left in it and think I'm going to go with Yammielube. Same when I change my lower unit oil this winter. I fill my oil tank two gallons at a time. To be honest though we just rebuilt the powerhead on my fishing buddy's '86 Johnson gt150 and with the exception of the scratch in the cylinder that the ring broke in the other five were in really good shape. He ran nothing but Premium Plus Mercury oil in it with slightly stouter than 50:1.

 

[1stgenbird]

Re: What is considered the best TCW3 oil lately?

You know the old saying "Opinions are like ******oles, everyone has one." If someone only wants to use a "brand name" oil, which is likely the same oil coming from the same refineries as the off brand but with a different color dye added, because it makes them feel better since they pay more for it so it must be superior, so be it.
So, when have you heard of an engine breaking down because someone used a certain brand of TCW3 oil? Sure, everyone knows someone who knows someone who swears their friend's uncle's outboard blew up because they didn't use Mercury oil in their Merc or Evinrude oil in their Rude, yada, yada, yada.
And then there are those that swear that the Mercury oil they buy at the Merc dealer, is somehow superior then the Mercury oil that Walmart sells. Ya know why? Cause their dealer told them so.
Bottom line, use what makes you feel good.

 

[ajgraz]

Re: What is considered the best TCW3 oil lately?

The best TCW3 oil is whatever you already have out in the garage

 

[imported_Skippy]

Re: What is considered the best TCW3 oil lately?

Comment: purged for not agreeing with the Forum elders

 

[JB]

Re: What is considered the best TCW3 oil lately?

A TC-W3 rating is NMMA's statement that it is good for your outboard and meets or exceeds every spec.

Shadetree statements that such and such TC-W3 petro oil is better for your outboard than some other TC-W3 petro oil or will harm your outboard are so much poppycock.

It can easily be proven that synthetic TC-W3 oils make less smoke, less pollution and less carbon than petro oils.

The only questions are whether you are willing to pay a lot extra for: 1. Brand X advertising claims or 2. Synthetic oil benefits.