Common debate and I think any TC-W3 two cycle is probably fine but I have always felt comfortable using the Mercury DFI two cycle with its additives in my Merc 250 Pro XS. Best(most affordable) place I’ve bought it is Rockwall Marine. They carry it in bulk and fill their own gallon jugs for sale. Way cheaper than any retail I’ve found. Not convenient but once a year or so when I’m east of Dallas I run by and stock up on a handful of gallon jugs.

Wally World in Azle has been carrying the Quicksilver DFI oil for around $39.00 a gallon
Bought 2gallons Sunday

It doesn't ALL come from the same place but your right there are just a few refineries and many brands come from the same place, my after discussing brands with someone that works in the petro industry go with quicksilver premiumplus/DFI (same as mercury) or penzoil premium plus/XLF

I've been using Premium Plus in my ProXS for 7 years and no issues. Just recently replaced original spark plugs that still looked fine. I spend $19.95 per gallon at Academy....

Doubt it makes a huge difference, but I'm going to use what the manufacturer recommends. I've used both Mercury/Optimax DFI (it's the same stuff as previous poster's said) in my Optimax based on availability.

I wonder why Merc recommends that you use their DFI oil? Maybe they make a nice lil profit off of it? I only run the DFI oil but I really and truly believe its all the same chit.They only recommend that you use their oil, never do they say you MUST use it. Have buddies who only run Quicksilver and they are fine. Eventually they all blow up no matter what oil you using.

Almost nobody uses what the manufacturer recommends in their car.
Motorcraft and Mopar and ACDelco all surely make fine oil but its just a marked up average oil.

Same with 2 cycle motor oils. Ask a rebuilder who's rebuilt hundreds or thousands of them and they will mostly tell you that motor oil is usually not the reason the motor failed.

By the way, DFI oil was not even available till several years after they started making the Optimax. Also....
MERCURY DFI OIL IS NOT TCW3 RATED.

I used Pennzoil Premium Plus for years but have not owned a direct injected motor for a couple years.

I use the Mercury DFI Synthetic blend. Whats best place to buy that around DFW only place i seen it was 40$ a gallon.

Yeah they came out with it after those engines earned the nickname Opti-Pop!

The DFI synthetic blend is designed to be more easily "atomized" during injection, and to burn quickly and completely. Simply more suited for direct injection engines. Just buy the quicksilver brand DFI, if you choose, (I don't), but bulk is the way to save money/ re-use jugs. Just because a motor doesn't blow up using it, doesn't mean it's the optimum for it.

Except mercury states DFI oil is optimum for Optimax, not using it leads to more carbon deposits in the engine which leads to boom

DFI came about mostly because so many were spending lots of time idling around when side imaging came out. Idling is where these engines run the dirtiest. Mercury Racing recommends Premium Plus
or Merc. Racing oil (very expensive), not DFI. I believe they assume the racing crowd will not be idling much.

Amsoil HD Marine problem solved . Lower unit gear oil also.

My understanding is the DFI oil has a better additives package than Premium Plus to help combat carbon build up. Again, I asked from a standpoint of needing oil in a pinch, but will continue to use DFI oil when available.

When my powerhead went out Chuck at service told me if you weren't using Premium Plus in a 225 or 250 that the warranty was void. That's what he sells and I believe he and Perry are the experts so I use Premium Plus.