posted 05-05-2003 10:05 AM ET (US)         

Running the proper oil will not hurt you. Running the incorrect oil MAY.

posted 05-05-2003 01:53 PM ET (US)            

The reason high priced outboard oils are high priced has zero to do with performancce and a lot to do with advertizing.

Every "test" has concluded that TCW-3 oils are essentially equal and all meet all non-DFI engine needs..

Wouls Mercury, or any other maker, tell you in the manual to use TCW-3 oil if there was any risk. . . ANY RISK??

posted 05-05-2003 02:52 PM ET (US)            

I hope you're right! I just insalled a 2003 Merc 225 Optimax (ended up being the best all around deal within 500 miles). The Owner's Manual says: "Mercury of Quicksilver Optimax/DFI 2-cycle engine oil is recommended for your engine. If Optimax/DFI 2-Cycle engine oil is not available, we recommend using Mercury or Quicksilver TC-W3 Premium Plus 2-Cycle Oil. Severe engine damage may result from use of an inferior oil."

That's a mouthful. It says they recommend the Merc/Quicksilver products. It doesn't say they DON'T recommend other comparable products. If I sold a product, I'd recommend mine over others... It also says severe damage MAY result, not WILL result with an inferior oil. Who makes the inferior oil? Is OMC inferior? Yamaha oil? Chevron TC-W3 (I have 31 quarts left)?

Related, but likely not as critical. The manual says about the pwer trim fluid: "Add Quicksilver or Mercury Precision Lubricants Power Trim & Steering Fluid. If not available, use automotive (ATF) automatic transmission fluid." Not OMC or Yamaha?

JB - you also mentioned "non-DFI engine needs". Are DFIs that different?

Then go back to some of the other comments - why take the risk? You shouldn't take the risk if there is a risk. But if there is no risk and its advertizing? Brings up another question, do we all get medical tests because there is a risk we may get something? Jeez, we'd spend all of our time at the doctor, or not drinking beer. Drinking 47 times your weight in milk each day is likely risky...

I still don't know the answer, I would like to see something published that says using OMC oil in your Merc is fine and Chevron TC-W3 works great in a new Optimax.

posted 05-05-2003 05:33 PM ET (US)            

You guys may have also noted that Opti oil does not have a TCW3 rating. That does not mean it's not up to the TCW 3 standard. According to the guru, I can't remember his name, the Opti oil is far and away a better product than TCW 3. He said that Mercury just doesn't want to go through the process of certifying the Opti oil, as TCW3, at this time.

Back to the original question: I seriously doubt that OMC TCW3 oil would harm your new 225 Merc. But considering the price of a new engine that little bottle of oil is worth peanuts. I would probably just add a little OMC oil to the Quicksilver oil until I used the OMC oil up.

phatwhaler out.

ps: Any of you guys notice how Opti oil in a regular 2 stroke just does't smell right? I've been inhaling 2 stroke fumes since I was about two years old, so I'm programmed to associate that smell with good times. Therefore I'll stick with TCW3, Wal Mart brand.

posted 05-05-2003 07:06 PM ET (US)            

Disclaimer: I am not an expert on outboard engines, outboard engine oils or any thing else for that matter. I haven't done any tests on outboard engines, outboard engine oils, TCW, DFI or otherwise. Anything stated in this post or the preceding post are merely my opinions based on my training and experience. Sorry I can't give ou guys the Mercury engineer's name as I am 500 miles from my rolodex.

posted 05-05-2003 07:38 PM ET (US)            

That means a DIFFERENT SPEC oil. Optimax, HPDI and Ficht are examples of DFI engines. Do not use DFI oil in a non-DFI engine.

Anecdotal "evidence" that high priced oils perform better than other TCW-3 oils is just that, anecdotal, and offered by someone who has an agenda to sell a particular oil.

Check the warranty on your non-DFI engine. If it requires you to use TCW-3 oil, that means TCW-3 oil will not cause damage to your engine, no matter what crap the marketeers and retailers of their branded oils preach.

posted 05-06-2003 10:18 AM ET (US)            

Personally if I am running my old cross flow I'll burn lubrimatic, OMC and quicksilver, whatever I have on hand. Why? becuase she is old and tired and I can afford to lose her should she decide to go. By the same token in our tired Chevy yard truck we dump the gas we take out of the boats, she runs on it fine, but just around the yard. On the otherhand in my wifes new Audi, I insist on high octane and the best oil and filter. Yes the car is under warranty but I cannot afford to lose it and the peace of mind is worth it. Same goes for a new 225efi which I do not own, but if I did I would burn the recommended oil and gas, for all the same reasons. When your out spinning 5000+ rpms thats just one less thing on your mind. What is that worth?

The dock discussion about TWC-3 = TWC-3 is an old debate ( does it ever get settled?). But this started out as a discussion about a few gallons of leftover OMC oil and the promise to use Quicksilver once the OMC was gone. My reply was just dump the OMC and go on with it and depsite all The TWC-3 discussion, it stands. Mustang its all in your hands now.

posted 05-06-2003 10:26 AM ET (US)            

After we finished a run of the "premium" hotdog rolls we would set up to do a run of "store brand" rolls.

The entire set up consisted of changing the bags at the packaging station.

posted 05-06-2003 05:03 PM ET (US)         

I do believe that the engine branded oils are probably better, mostly because of de-carboning additives, but I prefer to add these myself, and then buy the "other" oils.

posted 05-07-2003 02:10 PM ET (US)            

We all know the we should be burning 89 octane in our OB's. Some meet the motor fuel octane standards and some do not. How do we know??

When I owned a Sea Doo PWC, they required you to run Sea-Doo oil. The rotary valves required the oil to be ash free. Never had a problem.

posted 05-08-2003 03:54 PM ET (US)            

As for using Opti oil in EFI or Carbed engines, this is NOT recommended.

This comes directly from Mercury Marine's website.

"*OptiMax Oil is ONLY for use with OptiMax Outboard engines and is NOT approved for use with EFI or Carbureted engines manufactured by Mercury Marine, nor is it recommended for use with engines from another manufacturer. "

http://www.mercurymarine.com/optimax_faqs#1043

posted 05-10-2003 11:15 PM ET (US)            

WMT 55.80 close Friday !!!

posted 05-12-2003 01:33 PM ET (US)            

Carbeurated - Any TWC-3 oil is just fine for your carbeurated engine. The standard is made for these engines.

EFI - you should probably use a better national brand oil, rather than the cheapest available. TWC-3 will work fine. Manufacturer-specific isn't required, but if you'd rather spend the bucks, it certainly won't hurt.

posted 05-14-2003 10:41 PM ET (US)            

merc premium, that has been produced for years, passed the tcw3 standard when it was tested. other brands of tcw2 oils did not, fact.

merc premium "plus" is semi sythetic{sp} and has a carbon guard feature in it.

if you have an optimax,that is under warranty,and has a powerhead failure mercury CAN, at there descrection, have the oil tank on the motor sent to them for testing. to see what "kind" of oil was used, fact. {yamaha is the same way}

the only diff in the yamalube and merc premium plus is the dye that makes the color of the oil, fact.

merc and yamaha care about the long life of your engine. penn, lubromatic,wal-mart, joe blow oil corp. these people care about selling oil. buy the cheap stuff if you want.....it makes no diff to me.

just like a post i read, you can tell what kind of oil someone has been running, fact.