AMSOIL is pretty good stuff!

I have been using Amsoil for years and really like it. But I don't think their 2 stroke oil is TCW3 certified. I read that everytime the formula is tweaked a little the oil has to go through re certification. Amsoil is good 2 stroke and I will continue using it.

Fun fact.
Mercury Optimax oil is not TCW3 certified.

I have been using the yellow jug oil for several years on my old Merc Black Max 175. To be honest, until the prices got so high I just used whatever I saw on the shelf. But now I have been using the cheaper alternative, and monitoring the engine. Bore scoped the cylinders and I cannot see anything that looks suspect. I watch the temp on the engine primarily, and no issues. Heat is the first sign of a problem, and I run a temp gauge along with the Merc temp system. Luckily I removed my oil injection system on the old Mercury back in 95, so I can manual mix. The total engine hours has a "comma" in the number but I don't know the actual value. I do run some seafoam, and a cocktail of additives thru the engine every now and then. I agree, the prices of 2 cycle oil by the gallon is pretty high. Pennzoil premium plus is about 22$ vs Quicksilver (34-36$) from Wally world. Don't overthink it, just make damn sure you have good water flow and a functional temp gauge.

I wonder if it makes a difference which one you use as I see and hear of problems all the time with all kinds of boat engines . After 50 years of boat engines I will say there all just looking for a reason the blow up. The best thing I have found is to not listen to people who tell you to run wide open all the time. Doing that is just dumb. Even a democrat should no better lol.

AMSOIL is pretty good stuff!

Whether it be outboards or vehicles I don't think the manufacturers sell oil that is optimized for their engines.
Never have.
None of the reviews even rate manufacturers oil higher than the other oils. Its a way to make money by selling an oil that may or may not be any different than other oils.

Buy what you want and if you feel better by buying manufacturers oil then do that. Its worth it just to not worry about it.

I've used Pennzoil, Mercury and several others. The only thing I can recommend that should be followed is always use the same oil or know your oils. Some don't mix with others very well.

Jay Smith, famous for his racing engines said that any TCW3 oil was good up to 7k rpm. Do not use full synthetic in steel sleeved engines until you rev em up.

I will take his word since he rebuilds a lot of engines and has seen it all.



I don't trust mechanics that say only buy manufacturers oil. Its always higher by about a 1/3 and most of the time isn't any better.
Outboard or car.







I talked to him last year prior to getting my motor rebuilt. He told me he was the engineer who developed the additvie package for the Pennzoil XLF oil and that is what he suggested running in my motor. The guy who built my motor also suggested the same oil, he is a well known race motor mechanic as well. It's all I've ran in my motor since the rebuild and I've had no issues. Smokes less too.