West Marine 2 Cycle Premium Outboard Oil

[nelsonlui]

I went to WM to buy some Quicksilver 2 cyclefor my 2000 Mercury Optimax 200 HP. I noticed that they had a sale for the West Marine brand for half the price ( $15 vs $30 ). I asked the salesman if he had any feed back from customers on the WM brand. Apparently, they are made under the same specifications as the Mercury Opti Oil and the Quicksilver. He mentioned there has been some feedback on the motor smoking a bit more with the West Marine Brand. Has anyone used the WM brand for their engine? If so, can I get some feedback on it? It's about half the cost and I am seriously thinking about switching over.
Thanks,

Nelson

[Team Davies]

I would only run it when I don't have any other oil smokes to much.

[CharleyA]

Thats all I've run in my Merc 225 ProXS since it was new.

My engine doesn't smoke at all.

[doug77]

Im not sure about oil but I do know we bought antenna connections for my shop(installs)They were supposed to be the same as Shakeshere_they werenti threw away 100 of themThey were made of a cheaper alloyI think they beat up the manufacture on price and put their name on it.Tha manufacturer then skimps so they can make a profit at the cheaper price-this of course is my opinion

[mark poulson]

Just be sure it won't void any warranty.

[TonyL]

Thats an expensive gamble if yer motor doesn't like it...

[Bill K]

It is basically true that oil is oil, however the different brands vary due to the additives that they place in theirs.
But the lead brands, Mercury and Johnson/Evinrude, have what the outboards need and they have the best track record over the long haul. So it just is not worth saving a little to gamble on less costly oil for your engine. Bill K

[Glastron 1]

Tried the West Marine Brand in my 200 Merc, I believe it does smoke more than the Quick Silver. Just bought 80.00 worth of Quick Silver and am going to dump the WM product. My motor never smoked on the Quick Silver before adding the WM stuff.

[CharleyA]

I know its peace of mind that keeps most of you paying inflated prices for brand matching oils so I get that.

Fact is though that as long as you are using TCW3 approved Premium or Synthetic oils designed to run in certain injection type 2-stroke's (EFI or DFI mainly these days) your manufacturer's warranty will not be voided if you encounter problems.

After 3 years running the West Marine Premium in my 225 Pro XS......no problems so far. And about $10/gal saved over Merc/Quicksilver oils made in the same factories overseas. Our oils are also designed with additive packs (Exxon) to be run in Yamaha, Evinrude, Suzuki, Nissan as well as all Merc's and old Johnson's.

[RichThiel]

I concur with Charley A. Learn this from the Redman day when Sonny Reynold ran it here on the west coast...The trick is once you start on an oil....You never want to change it out for somethin else.

He told me years ago that at the time Citco made all the oil for the outboard motors (at the Time) (THUMB's if you know the abbreviation) and as Charlie said, just put in the additives has required by the manufacturer.

Has long has it states TCW-3 your safe under warrantee's. Here's a great example....say your in the Amazon and your 150 miles from the neariest city. In the City there's just a Honda Dealer and your runn'in a merc....its 300 miles to a merc what are you going to do? All say TCW-3...????

Rich

[Jim Moulton]

This Subject comes up all the time. Tcw-3 ratings are the miniumim requirements. HOWEVER ALL O.E.M. OILS FAR AND EXCEED THIS REQUIREMENT. If you want to save a few bucks on your fishing I think I would find somewhere besides my $14,000 engine to save it. I read a great article on this and they strongly recomened O.E.M. OILS. Besides there are plenty of Marine dealers out there that sell Bulk two stroke oils at a good savings. Save your jugs and save on oil. Hope this helps jim

[SKTR 20i]

http://www.bassboatcentral.com/oilreports1.htm

Check out this link.

John.

[Kevin]

Jim hit the nail on the head. I wouldn't run anything other than OEM suggested oils. It's just not worth it. Just like anything in life, you get what you pay for!