Is Oil from "Wal Mart" ok to use?

[Jolicious]

Motor oil for my Johnson 200 Venom (1999 model) is something like $22/gallon.  I notice at Wal Mart tonight they have Penzoil outboard oil for $28.5 for 2.5 gallons.  Is this oil ok to put in my oil rezerve tank?  I have the auto-inject thing...

Thanks guys!

[Team_Dougherty]

Jolicious,

I have seen this topic beaten to death in many forums around the internet. I think some of them have almost evolved into knock down, drag out brawls.

I can tell you what I do. I use the Wal*Mart brand super tech TCW III in my outboard. It costs around $8.00 a gallon. It is even listed on the NMMA website as being TCW III certified.

http://www.nmma.org/certification/programs/oils/registeredoil.asp?y=TCW32006&s=OilName

This is required by outboard manufactures for their outboards. If you scroll down the list you will see that the Wal*Mart brand is made by Shell. You will also see that Shell also makes the Pennzoil brand.

I have used the Wal*Mart Brand, and other less expensive TCW III certified brands, in my 1985 outboard since I have owned it and never had a problem. I also use it my weed wacker, chainsaw and other 2 cycle engines with out a problem.

If your outboard manufacture says to use TCW III rated oil. I feel you are safe using the Pennzoil brand or any other brand of oil as long as it is TCW III rated.

I, like you, can not justify spending $30.00 a gallon for two cycle oil just because it says Mercury Marine on the bottle when you know the do not have an oil refinery and Shell or Exxon or someone else made it for them. I much rather spend $10.00 a gallon for something I know works and has never let me down.

Paul

[Jolicious]

Paul,

Thanks for your reply.  

As a (hopefully) service to the other members, I would like to let everyone know that I just got off the phone with a johnson Rep (Ben).  He said that as long as the oil I was using had the "TCW -3" lon the label, that it would be ok to use.  He also mentioned that sometimes the after market oils don't have all the smae conditioners in their versions of oil, so he reccomended using their "Carbon Guard" every other tank of fuel or so.  Not sure if I really need it or if he's just a good salesman  ;D  But, after hearing from Paul and tlaking to Johnson, I am going to give the Penzoil a shot!  If any of you want/need to call Johnson, I thought I would include the phone number for reference : 847-689-7090

Tigh lines!

Joe

[TLBassin]

Speakin on this topic......I also use oil that is cheaper.  Being a college student, I can hardly put the gas in the boat and go on a regular basis much less pay $30 for oil (thats a day plus some on the lake in gas).  This past spring at the BPS Spring Classic, I bought the Citgo brand (which BPS was featuring, and is TCW 3) and was on sale by the case for $9.  $9 for 4 gallons of oil cannot be beat, and so far I am pleased with it too.

[dtherrien]

Use the pennzoil blended oil.....its very good oil.

[Hot Rod]

For what it is worth, I recently bought a Johnson 150.  The dealer said "You don't have to use the Johnson brand, use any oil you want as long as it is TCW 3/NMMA certified except the Wal Mart oil."  He didn't say why not to use it though.

I've ran the Penzoil too with no problems yet.

[RobDar]

My father worked at a lab in a refinery for years and years...I asked him this question a few years back

here is what he told me...

The requirements of most manufactuers USUALLY has to do with the oils ability to maintain viscosity under condition. Meaning that...if your boat has a recommended RPM of 5500-6000 WOT...the suggested oil maintains a a good viscosity under those conditions...

IT IN NO WAY MEANS IT IS THE ONLY OIL THAT WILL...it is likely the manufacuer only tested a handful of oils.

Viscosity; an oils ability to maintain viscosity, and oil Clarity ( cleanness)  is the major difference in oils...so long as you are using an brand name oil ( like Penzoil) you will likely never notice the difference and not damage your engine. The Cheap off brand oils ( Habib's Oil Company of East Belt Buckle Ohio)  break down easier and have more impurities.

( in a two stroke since the motor is supplied with fresh oil continiously the impurities are the issue ...in a four stroke it is the breakdown of viscosity). Unless the manufactuer is looking for a specific additive ( Chrysler Transmissions as an example need a particular quantity of detergent in the oil) a good quality oil is a good quality oil...and many of the WAL Mart type brands are made by the big refineries anyway...

[Hot Rod]

Any professional two-stroke mechanics out there?  They'd be the ones that would know as they deal with it everyday.

I took a lawn mower in for repair a couple years back because it wouldn't start no matter what I did.  It was a four stroke so this is apples to oranges but I'm just using it as an example.  Turns out the valves wouldn't close properly because they were covered in deposits.   The mechanic says "let me guess, you always use XYZ brand gasoline in it".  I said "yes, how did you know".  He said he's seen hundreds of motors that were otherwise well taken care off with the same problem because they use XYZ brand gasoline.  It has too many additives for small motors while it is fine for automotive motors.  I use another brand now and the motor starts 1st pull everytime and has for the last 3 years since I had it repaired.  Needless to say, I don't ever run XYZ brand of gas in my V6 outboard either just to be safe.

It is a smaller regional company so I know they get their fuel from a major petroleum company.  Just wish wish I know which one b/c I'd stay away from that fuel too.  Could be a diffent blend though.

Anyway...

I'm sure well versed outboard mechanics could tell you whether the higher priced oil is worth it or not.  They see it all first hand and most aren't trying to sell you on the higher priced item like the guy at the parts counter.

[Jolicious]

Here is a quote from the Penzoil.com website about the oil that I bought at Wal Mart:

I copied and pasted this directly from the Penzoil.com website.  I am in no means an expert of internet stuff, so if it's not good do this, please let me know.  Anyway, I figure they won't mind becuase we are discussing their product, right?

Pennzoil® Multi-Purpose

2-Cycle Premium Engine Oil

   

A high performance 2-cycle engine oil meeting or exceeding the warranty requirements of all leading manufacturers of 2-cycle products including chain saws, lawn mowers, motorcycles and string trimmers, as well as outboard engines made by: Johnson/Evinrude, Mercury Marine, Yamaha, Suzuki, Nissan, Force/US Marine, Mariner, Sears and all other manufacturers requiring TC-W3® oil.

Pennzoil® Multi-Purpose 2-Cycle Premium Engine Oil is formulated to:

Protect against piston scuffing and ring sticking

Help keep spark plugs and exhaust port clean

Recommended for pre-mix, injector systems and direct injection systems. Good for water-cooled and air-cooled 2-cycle engines recommending NMMA TC-W3® products. Always follow the dilution ratio and oil performance level recommended in the owner's manual. For any use where NMMA TC-W3®, TC-W II® or TC-W® oil is recommended.

[Brad_Coovert]

I've used the Pennzoil TWC-3 outboard oil for years, both in my previous Johnson 115 Fastrike and my current Mercury 115 ELPTO.  I have never had any problems.  I do run the carbon guards every now and then, they do help clean the engines.

Brad

[Guest JoshKeller]

I'm using about a gallon of pennzoil every 2 weeks, and have yet to have any problems. Instead of buying carbon gaurd, I just run some sea foam deep creep with the gas every 3rd tank.

[Team_Dougherty]

JoshKeller,

Wow. You burn 50 Gals of fuel every two weeks in your boat a week. That is what I call fishing.

Paul

[Guest JoshKeller]

actually closer to 60 gallons.  My boat has a 18 gallon tank, and i generally burn about 1/2 of a tank a day, and I fish 3 days a week or so.

[Team_Dougherty]

I am jealous.

[Rattlinrogue]

I used the Penzoil brand for years with my 20 hp Evinrude,and it worked fine.When I bought a new 25 hp Yamaha I've used Yamalube because the salesman told me it was best to run it with my new Yamaha.The Penzoil worked as well as the Yamalube does.

[senile1]

I'm not a licensed mechanic but I performed all of the work on my motocross bikes in my younger days.  From everything I've read, and from most mechanics I've spoken to, using TCW III certified oil of any type is fine for your outboard.  

Regarding the breakdown of oil, in a two-stroke the oil doesn't really have time to break down since it flows through with the gasoline and is burned off.  Since a four-stroke has a sump for the oil, it cycles through the engine constantly and does break down eventually.  There might be something to the breakdown argument with a four-stroke engine, however, if you are changing your oil at recommended intervals on your four-stroke this problem should be of no concern.