TC-W3 Amsoil as UCL

[Falken]

I am not asking about the science behind any of this as it works for me.

We have horrible high methanol fuel in Montreal so I like adding Shell Nautilus TC-W3 outboard 2t premix oil to my gas tanks (Honda Fit and Mazda 3).

Anyway, I bumped into a bunch of Amsoil Full Synthetic HP outboard premix, but I have found they were pretty squirrelly about the "Ashless" designation.

I have watched videos about people dropping it into their Evinrude outboards and NO SMOKE AT ALL at 100:1 and these guys were cranking these engines WOT.

I really liked how Amsoil mentions that it has 30% more cleaners in it than the TC-W3 spec, so that would be worth it for the added cost as a cleaner and an UCL.

So, long story short, is the Amsoil TC-W3 great stuff as a UCL or should I stick to Shell? I am happy with what I currently use, was just hoping for an even better product, as this stuff lasts a long time for me at 2oz. (60 mL) a tank.

Please note on the back of Nautilus it CLEARLY states Ashless.

 

[Donald]

I would worry about damaging your O2 sensor.

Why are you thinking the gas needs extra lubrication?

I use it in my Cummins diesel but the mechanical injector pump requires lubrication in the fuel and the sulfur is gone and the current fuel is suppose to have lubricants but who knows.

But a gas engine is way different.

 

[Falken]

There are massive threads on this.

Donald, UCL such as Lucas (used in 4t gas engines) meet NO specs.

On the compression stroke, there leaves a lot of room to remove friction out of an engine. Any residual oils on the power stroke keep hard carbons from adhering to the piston head and cyl walls.

Most people mainly use this to slightly negate the dry effects of Ethanol that is mandated into gas, and lower sulfur (lubricates) to boot means a bit of ashless lube with cleaners help out your engine greatly.

At this point I can only say the but dyno likes this stuff as our weather is too erradic to calculate fuel economy gains. I can only say a "happier" engine.

I mainly got into trying this after a successful injection cleaning using Gumout, and it got me to thinking there is a lot wrong with our "greener" fuels and my extremely short tripping regimen that I can't help.

Engines like lubes where it doesn't interfere with combustion. They also love detergents that don't corrode...

You really have to research this as this topic has been settled at length on BITOG. If mechtech2 advocates something I am pretty open-minded to it.

For the cost and being no trouble at all, I plan on adding 2 oz. every time I fill up.

Can't wait for the Summer where I can get a tank of stable temp weather to validate other's claims of better mpg.

If the mpg doesn't change, I do believe it improves the fuel to a point so it is worth my time.

Remember, a 2t engine has plugs and relies only on this lubrication to avoid seizing, so they must put some good stuff in there to keep things from gumming up.

Anyway, 2 oz. per tank is almost nothing in any event. And that is why I want to go an extra step and be sure it is Ashles TC-W3 spec to be extra careful.

Finally, many people's cars burn more than 2 oz. of ENGINE oil per tank of gas, and that is full of ash and metallics, and their cars are fine. Many auto mfg state 1 Litre of oil per 1000 miles is an "ok" engine.

So this is, to me, harmless at worst.

 

[JHZR2]

Ive run the Amsoil Saber TCW-3 100:1 2-stroke oil in my cars quite a bit.

No issues to report after what is probably 50k miles of its use across three vehicles.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: Falken
and lower sulfur (lubricates) to boot means a bit of ashless lube with cleaners help out your engine greatly.


That is a diesel phenomena, and generally not relevant to gasoline engines.

Originally Posted By: Falken

Anyway, 2 oz. per tank is almost nothing in any event. And that is why I want to go an extra step and be sure it is Ashles TC-W3 spec to be extra careful.


The fact that it is almost nothing is a reason that would explain why it wouldnt make a difference if it were ashless. Your logic is backwards here. Of course since 2 oz is so close to nothing, that is why Id want the best lube with highest chance of surviving and providing some lubricity, which is exactly why I choose Amsoil quite often.

I do have a bottle of Nautilus from the last time I was in a CT store... havent used it but will with confidence.

FWIW, Walmart SuperTech is the most disgustingly stinky TCW-3, and Havoline seems to be the least stinky.

 

[Falken]

JHZR2, I was thinking the same thing about the TC spec. Not enough ash to really matter.

Thanks for your input will definitely pick up the Amsoil TC-W3 and not worry too much about the Ashless not being mentioned, just needed to get a respected BITOG'er to vouch for the stuff.

I have a lot of confidence in Amsoil products, it is just that people really note the Ashless is important as a UCL. Also negates overdosing a bit more too.

The reason I wanted to go Amsoil synthetic TC-W3 in the first place was the same as yours - to hope it survives past the 23 degrees after TDC to lubricate as much as possible coming down as well. Second, the 30% higher detergency that Amsoil claims.

Besides being stinky, does the Supertech work well?

Have you personally experienced MPG gains? I have to wait a LONG time to test that as we are in cold snap season. I won't see stable enough temps until June to note small increases like that.

Thanks!!

 

[JHZR2]

Does st work well? I can't tell any difference from brand to brand honestly. It's just the stink, which I could detect in my trunk when I had it in a bottle. For diesels we know it adds lubricity from the diesel place study.

I know when my BMW had a noisy fuel pump, tcw-3 of any brand, MMO, Lucas and fp60 all quieted it and I couldn't distinguish a difference.

 

[Vikas]

I *think* Walmart TC-W3 works for me. I had tried Pennzoil TC-W3 and my recollection is that it did nothing for me. I could be all wet but the price of Walmart TC-W3 is very cheap and I do not see any downfall of using it in high mileage engine. One can always try the $2.00 12-oz bottle from Walmart which can treat 60gal of gas. Try it and see if it works for you.

 

[dailydriver]

I use either the Red Line Watercraft Injection Oil, or the Amsoil Saber stuff, whichever I can get easier.

 

[Clevy]

I would worry about damaging your O2 sensor.

Tc-w3 is Ashley's and will not harm 02 sensors,nor will it foul plugs unless grossly overdosed for an extended period of time.
I use tow-w3 in every tank of fuel in every vehicle I own. I put 100000kms on my mustang before it spit a plug with tc-w3 in every tank. It's only been in the past years that I fine tuned the dosage. I was putting 1 ounce per gallon and it didn't foul any sensors or plugs. I now dose 1 ounce per 3-4 gallons and have had no issues whatsoever. I even dose my Harley.
Tc-w3 has detergents which will clean the fuel system,at least maintain cleanliness anyways and seems to negate the drying effect of ethanol in my carb'd equipment.
Gallons are cheap at Walmart. I've been using the castrol stuff lately but I used the Amsoil watercraft stuff as well.
I like the idea of upper cylinder lubrication.
Anecdote.
My cousin has a ford ranger with 450k kms. It's smokes at start up for. Few minutes. I put tc-w3 in with the fuel and the smoke at start up lessened to the point it's almost imperceptible.
I think an upper cylinder lube also lessens wear since both the top and bottom of the cylinder get lubricated.
And it costs 20 gallon. A gallon lasts me a month which includes the generators and compressors. It's pennies and those pennies can save me dollars down the road.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: Clevy
Tc-w3 is Ashley's and will not harm 02 sensors,nor will it foul plugs unless grossly overdosed for an extended period of time.

You just did this on a phone, didn't you?

 

[Falken]

Haha Garak nice catch

 

[Clevy]

Originally Posted By: Garak
Originally Posted By: Clevy
Tc-w3 is Ashley's and will not harm 02 sensors,nor will it foul plugs unless grossly overdosed for an extended period of time.

You just did this on a phone, didn't you?

iPad. But yeah. I meant ashless. Too late to edit

 

[Garak]

I knew it had to be an iSomething.