mixing oil brands?

[whosmatt]

just wondering what the implications are of mixing different brands of oil in the same batch of premix. i have a 6 gallon tank and usually mix 3 gallons at a time to start each trip with at least 3/4 tank... will i run into any trouble if i use a different brand in the same tank of fuel?

 

[NathanY]

Re: mixing oil brands?

Call me cheap, but I buy whatever is on sale. I mix different brands all the time and I have never had any problems, all of my motors are 20+ years old and still run. I might be lucky or it just might not matter, but DO NOT mix sythetic and conventional, but you probably knew that. Im not saying that it is for you, but that is just what I do. Others might not agree.

 

[radsrh]

Re: mixing oil brands?

I also have mixed brands in the past with no ill effect. What I found interesting is the DO NOT mix dino with synthetic, how come you can buy prepackaged oil blends?

 

[NathanY]

Re: mixing oil brands?

I have just always been told not to mix synthetic with conventional, because of the exact mix of the blend, it would be almost impossible for one to get that mixture right. I dont know if that is true, I have never tried.

 

[Jack Shellac]

Re: mixing oil brands?

I've never had any problems using different brands in pre-mix, but was told by the local Yamaha dealer to never mix brands in a self-oiler as some mixes will gel. Don't know for sure about this. Maybe he just wanted to make sure Yamaha sold the oil too.

 

[Oil Man]

Re: mixing oil brands?

You can almost always get away with mixing brands in pre-mix applications.<br />In injector situations, I always recommend minimizing mixing, and don't leave the mix in the tank for a long time. In other words, put your new brand of oil in the tank and then go use it. Don't mix it up and let it sit over the winter. The mixing problems and gelling happen over time, usually not immediately.<br /><br />Dave

 

[whosmatt]

Re: mixing oil brands?

thanks everyone. i'm just an opportunist, sometimes i buy oil at X mart, sometimes at the gas station...<br /><br />anybody ever notice that some of the gas station brands (texaco in particular) seem to smell more "chainsaw" and less "boat"??? nothing like coming back from a day of fishing and having your clothes smell like you've been cutting wood!<br /><br />strange.

 

[Oil Man]

Re: mixing oil brands?

I have to question how much money people are saving on cheap oil.<br />Most people only use a gallon or two in a year, so they save about 4 - 8 dollars a year. But they also buy sparkplugs to replace the fouled ones, and products to "de-carbonize" the motor. By the time you pay for the extra products and service to go along with the cheap oil, you may actually be paying more!<br /><br />Dave

 

[whosmatt]

Re: mixing oil brands?

Oil Man,<br /><br />are you questioning the quality of "gas station" brand oils? if so, i'm talking about texaco havoline tcw-III... should the same implication of quality from a brand name of motor oil apply to that company's 2 stroke oil as well? is there something in particular besides the rating to look for? I know this has been discussed before, but i was under the impression that any name brand would be as good (and can be mixed in the same tank) as the next.<br /><br />matt

 

[Oil Man]

Re: mixing oil brands?

Matt,<br />In my experience, yes, there is quite a range in the quality of 2-stroke oil. Remember, TC-W3 is just a minimum standard that the oil meets, and is not very hard to meet.<br /><br />There is much more to an oil than just the petroleum or synthetic base stock. In the petroleum stuff, the base stock is all pretty much the same. Cheap oils will have cheap additive packages and more expensive oils will have better additive packages. Better corrosion fighting, better detergents, better wear additives.<br /><br />Take the next step up to synthetics, and you get a better, cleaner burning base stock. Synthetics generally have better additives, so you get better overall performance.<br /><br />The oil is the most important thing you will put in your engine. There is a much wider range in the quality of the oil than there is in the quality of the gas you can put in it.

 

[hydrasports]

Re: mixing oil brands?

Oil man you are so right !! <br />I will confess, A while back I posted on here saying that all oil is the same, and why pay so much for motor manufactures oil (merc,yammie,bomb)when I can get penzoil etc.. for so much less.Ihave been running penzoil synthetic blend for 1 1/2 half year and it has performed great,I then ran across a special at my local dealership (55 gallon drum of ficht oil) for $605.00 = $11.oo/gal so i bought the drum,116 hours later I can honestly say oil makes a huge difference.I went to decarb my engine at my regular 50 hour interval and barely no carbon buildup was shown,The engine now sounds much more smoother at idle and smokes 50% less.My hole shot feels much stronger also. This mite not make sense that oil can do this cause i wouldnt beleive it if i didnt see it for myself either. I also troll alot and usualy change my plugs 3 times a season,I still havnt changed my plugs with the ficht oil. Im not saying ficht oil is the best,Im just now convinced oil makes an enourmous difference.

 

[KIWI MERCMAN]

Re: mixing oil brands?

Guys<br />Oil's aint oil's as they say,just a bit of opinon Outboard Companys have a vested intrest in suppling good oil for their products, oil companys have a vested intrest in making a profit.<br />But if you don't know, part of the TCW 3 rating is that all TCW 3 oil's must be able to be mixed with any other TCW 3 regardless of brand. What I do is stick with my brand of oil and if I can't get it then I'll use another Outboard Brand before I'll use an Oil companys oil.<br /><br />Kiwi<br />Still Home of the America's Cup

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: mixing oil brands?

Oil Man, You really seem to know your stuff. In your experiance what is the best two stroke oil brand out there?<br /><br />------------------<br />Flathead

 

[Oil Man]

Re: mixing oil brands?

Flathead,<br /><br />I think that in general, synthetic oils outperform conventional petroleum oils.<br />As far as brands, I've been using Amsoil Synthetic for a few years. Amsoil's synthetic injector/pre-mix oil has been around for more than 17 years. The price is also competitive with other brands of oil, even petro oils. Less than $20.00/gallon.<br />There is more info available at www.ultimateoiltechnology.com/marine.htm

 

[radsrh]

Re: mixing oil brands?

With a screen name of Oil Man and the suggestions of Amsoil, are you a dealer for Amsoil?

 

[Walker]

Re: mixing oil brands?

 

[V156]

Re: mixing oil brands?

I have to go with capt manny. I used to run the Pennzoil synthetic blend in my motor and thought I was saving money because I could get it at Walmart anytime. After talking to my mech,other boaters and most of all my Dad I started using Evinrude oil. You really don't save that much money in season and I have to admit the old girl does seem to perform better and sound smoother. Not bad for a 23 y.o motor.<br /><br />Dutch

 

[sloopy]

Re: mixing oil brands?

I have with no ill-effects! <br /><br />Just wanted to rack up the Mix'ers

 

[Jaxfish]

Re: mixing oil brands?

I know that the Manufacture's oil is the best, but who makes the oil for them?? I'm sure Yamaha, Mercury and Bomb.. don't have their own refineries to produce oil or do they?

 

[NathanY]

Re: mixing oil brands?

IMO I think that is all crap, oil is oil and it all does the same thing. If it didnt work then they could not sell it. Sure there might be some a little better than others, but the differences are very insignificant. I have rebuilt several 10-40 year old engines, and I cant see where one engine failed due to brand of oil. Most of the time they failed from improper maintenance IE fogging and impellors. Oil is certified TCW and also NMMA/BIA, and if they werent all good that sure as heck would not pass all this. <br /><br />As for decarb, I use decarb religiously, Merc Powertune. Have been for 5 years in the same engine. Pulled the head off and guess what I saw? CARBON BUILD UP ON THE PISTON AND HEAD! I think that decarb is a rip off, I no longer believe it works, I always followed the instructions. If you dont believe me, pull the head off your engine. You will see. Until you do though, dont call me crazy.