Many boaters believe that to stay within the warranty for their outboard engine, they must run specific oil that is made by the same company that built the outboard.
All of the major outboard manufacturers sell oil and strongly recommend using it. Selling oil helps improve their bottom line, but it may not be the best product to use for that engine.
FLW Tour pro Bill McDonald, through his partnership with Lucas Oil, has become an expert on fuel systems, oils, and getting the most out of anything with an engine. He wants to make it clear that running Lucas Oil or any other brand for the matter, will not void your warranty. “
It is a myth, and many people do not realize they can run other oils,” he says. “Lucas Oil has a better quality oil with additives and use a virgin stock for their oil.”
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Meet or Exceed
The truth is that using another brand of oil is fine as long as it sticks to the fine print listed in the warranties where it says that oil “must meet or exceed standards” as these products will not void any warranties and have the quality required to keep your engine safe.
One warranty from a major outboard brand states, “severe engine damage may result from the use of an inferior oil.”
The threat of damaging your outboard and losing time on the water is scary, and it is true that low-quality oils can cause damage, but thankfully, Lucas Oil produces a wide range of oils including several for marine use that all meet and far exceed the standards required.
Oil is What They Do
The major outboard brands are all excellent at what they do. The power, reliability and emissions standards are the best we have ever seen. Everyone makes a great outboard, but oil is not their primary business.
“They all make fantastic engines, but they do not make their own oils. Most of what is out there is made by a second or third party, and they add their brand labels,” says McDonald. Focusing on just producing the best oil allowed Lucas Oil to become a leader in the industry.
Not a Reclaimed Oil
One process that many oil producers use is to reclaim or recycle oil. While this process may seem responsible and an excellent way to recycle, it could lead to damage for high-performance products like marine outboards.
“So much of the oil that is on the market is reclaimed. Lucas starts with a virgin stock to make sure you are going to get the best performance,” adds McDonald. This ensures that the product is pure and allows your engine to run flawlessly.
Additives Matter
Besides just the oil, Lucas Oil has a host of additives they include to make their product even better.
“The 2-Cycle Oils have the famous additive package that includes smoke-free, ring free and things that nobody else has,” says McDonald.
These additives allow for the complete fuel system to be clear and free of damage to all of the critical components like fuel lines, fuel tanks and everything within your outboard.
The Eye Test
One way to see the contaminants and what your oil is made of is to check the area inside of your prop. With many oils, you will see black exhaust stains, and McDonald and other Lucas Oil pros have learned that is not the case with a product like the Lucas Synthetic Blend 2-Cycle Marine oil as it does not leave any lasting black streaks.
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Meet the Marine Oils
Lucas Oil offers both the High-Performance Semi-Synthetic 2-Cycle Land & Sea Oil TC-W3 and the Synthetic Blend 2-Cycle Marine oil, which surpass outboard requirements for all of the major brands.
Lucas Synthetic Blend 2-Cycle Marine oil is built for high-performance outboards that bass anglers run. It has the additives McDonald mentioned earlier to make sure that everything in the entire fuel system stays clean and running great.
The High-Performance Semi-Synthetic 2-Cycle Land & Sea Oil works great for just about anything with an engine. Lucas Oil says it is designed for everything from ATVs and motorcycles to chainsaws and outboards. One of the keys to this product is that it is a smokeless formula and was also designed to minimize common problems like spark plugs becoming fouled and rings sticking.
One of the best ways to ensure your outboard remains running like new is to take care of it. Regular maintenance, treating your fuel for ethanol and running the best oil available can pay dividends for performance and make it last longer. The common myth in the marine industry is that you have to use oil produced by the manufacturer or you will void the warranty. That is not the case, and Lucas Oil marine oils will meet and exceed all requirements.
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