Pennzoil Outdoor 2-cycle oil

[Panther]

I have a 70's era 20 HP mercury outboard that calls for 50:1, a 70's era McCulloch chani saw that calls for 40:1 and newer weedwacker and Mantis tiller. Is Pennzoil Outdoor 2-cycle oil a decent oil for those items?

I used to find a synthetic Pennzoil but can't find it now.

Thanks for your consideration.

 

[Johnny]

The Pennzoil Outdoor use to be called Air-Cooled 2-cycle. It is an excellent oil for your Chain saw and weed whacker, but I'm not sure out your outboard. Do you know what oil the outboard specs? API TC or API TCW-3.

 

[Panther]

No, not sure what the outboard's oil spec. is. I used to use a Mercury oil, but only use 5-10 gal of gas a year, so not too much oil. What's left over form the outboard I usually used in the other eq -- after doctoring to the correct mix ratio.

This is what the Pennzoil Outdoor says...

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.

 

[Johnny]

Okay, we are not talking about the same oil. The Pennzoil Outdoor 2-cycle that I'm talking about just meets API TC. What your talking about is an outboard motor oil and would work great in your boat. You can use it in the other applications, although the TC product would be better for them. You can usually find it at Wal-Mart, Advance Auto, and a few others. You will generally see it in either 4 oz or 8 oz bottles.

 

[Panther]

Forgive my ignorance here. I’m not too “up” on 2-cycle oils.

Is TC-W3 for water cooled engines, but TC for air-cooled?

Pennzoil says about this 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 NMMA TC-W3® oil.

Do some manufacturers just require the use of TC oil and TC-W3 would not be acceptable?

 

[Johnny]

Most air cooled mfgs like Sthil, Echo, Husky, etc., prefer a TC rated oil that's designed for air cooled engines, and most outboard mfgs want TC-W3 oils for their boat motors. Now, an outboard TC-W3 rated oil will work in chain saws, trimmers, blowers, etc., but not as well as a TC rated oil. Over a period of extended use the outboard oils tends to leave deposits in air cooled engines. One is low ash and the other is ashless.

 

[Panther]

Any advice on the best readily available TC-W3 and TFC oils?

 

[Johnny]

All of the majors are good. Not sure what all Wal-Mart sells, but the Pennzoil outboard is a very good product.

 

[another Todd]

Use a TC-W rated oil in a high performance air cooled engine and you will burn the piston. Been there done that.

Air cooled engines should use TC (used to be TSC) rated oils as these engines run hotter and their lubricant requires better high temp and anti seize additives. These additives when burned create some ash which also helps cushion high speed parts. These oils are also referred to as "low ash" oils.

Water cooled engines never get that hot so their oil package does not contain the same high temp components, but may contain extra anti rust and anti corrosion elements. These oils are also referred to as "ashless" and will run cleaner (better for marine environment).

 

[grcmptrnrd]

I wouldn't bother looking for a TC oil for the air cooled equipment since that spec is ancient. ISO L-EGD and JASCO FC or FD are the current specs to look for in an air cooled oil. The cheapest is Citgo Sea and Snow oil, about $12/gallon. I believe (but not 100%) that it is the same oil sold in quarts and pints as Superguard Air Cooled 2-Cycle Engine Oil.

I've been running this in all my equipment for a couple of years with no issues, including one of the Chinese 2 cycle generators for 150-200 hours near full load.

 

[TylerL]

Does Pennzoil still make an air cooled TC rated oil?

I can't seem to find the air cooled only stuff in any stores.
Everything I see is not TC rated, it's TC-W3. Do I need to look harder?

 

[Johnny]

Yes, they still make it.

 

[MrMeeks]

Don't know if anyone will read this,but I have found pennz. outdoor to work very well in a poulan saw and bolens trimmer at 50:1.Both these tools spec. 40:1 ,but the oil shows up to 100:1 can be used. I won't go beyond 50:1 -very satisfied with the oil at 50:1 and the cost is only $3.49 qt.. What I need in these days of cutbacks and layoffs. Our local shell station will stop selling E0 and begin selling E10,and that bothers me.

 

[SWSportsman]

Originally Posted By: MrMeeks
Don't know if anyone will read this,but I have found pennz. outdoor to work very well in a poulan saw and bolens trimmer at 50:1.Both these tools spec. 40:1 ,but the oil shows up to 100:1 can be used. I won't go beyond 50:1 -very satisfied with the oil at 50:1 and the cost is only $3.49 qt.. What I need in these days of cutbacks and layoffs. Our local shell station will stop selling E0 and begin selling E10,and that bothers me.


Okay...so at $3.49 a quart exactly how much money are you saving by mixing at 50:1 instead of the recommended 40:1?

 

[MrMeeks]

My trimmer starts much easier with the 50:1 and runs cool with very good power.THe Bolens trimmer uses a carb. that cannot be tuned,and the leaner ratio allows the engine more fuel.I'm not too concerned with saving money here.The pennz. runs just as well as amsoil interceptor and another syn.I purchased at the Polaris dealer.

 

[super20dan]

i have been using penzoil full synth outboard oil all summer in my lawn biz and everything runs great on it. not quite as good as amzoil or mobil 2t -but its tons cheaper