2 Cycle Oil | Outboard Motor Oil - Part 14

Selecting Two Cycle Oil

Two stroke engines, in contrast to four stroke engines, do not have a crankcase. Instead, a two stroke engine needs the proper mixture of oil and gas to function. The two stroke oil is crucial to keeping the engine lubricated so it doesn’t lock up.

It is important when conducting maintenance on a two stroke engine that the correct oil and oil ratio is used. Consult with the owner’s manual to figure out which two cycle oil the engine needs. If you have lost the owners’ manual, then search online or contact an oil wholesaler for their recommendation. You don’t want to ruin your engine with wrong or insufficient oil!

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Troubleshooting Johnson Outboard Engine

Wear and tear occurs with any piece of seaworthy equipment, even equipment made by Johnson. Troubleshooting a Johnson outboard engine is fairly simple. Start by checking the fuel tank for low fuel, broken or damaged lines, and test the rubber fuel primer bulb for hardness.

If that all checks out, then take a look at the motor’s spark plugs for corrosion or buildup. Replace any dirty or damaged parts. Run a compression pressure check; any reading below 60 PSI means that you should hire a mechanic because you have larger problems. Of course, replacing the oil with Evinrude Johnson 2 stroke outboard oil is an excellent means of keeping your engine in working order.

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What to Do with Used Oil

Over 180 million gallons of motor oil are disposed of illegally each year. This number should be zero, but many people do not know the rules of what to do with used oil. Simply put, motor oil should always be recycled and never go into land fills or down the storm drain.

As previously stated, motor oil is 100 percent recyclable. When you go to replace your oil with some from your store of bulk outboard motor oil, make sure to save the old oil. You can either drop it off at an oil change center or auto parts store; they’ll add it to their own collection of used oil and drop it off at the proper recycling center. You can also call your local waste hauler and find out if they offer curbside collection – then you don’t even have to leave your own driveway!

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Storing Bulk Oil

We previously posted about the savings associated with purchasing motor oil in bulk, but what do you do once you have a 50 gallon barrel of oil? Obviously, you’re not going to use the motor oil all at once, so you need to properly store it. A shed or sheltered facility that is cool and free from moisture is an ideal storage spot.

Oil drums can leak, so you may want to store your bulk oil in an oil tank. These tanks tend to be more durable. Still, leaks can occur so check your oil tanks regularly for leaks. Clean up all spills immediately and replace or patch up leaking containers.

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Maintaining a Fleet

Do you own a fleet of small fishing boats? Or perhaps a fleet of boats for day cruises? Then you need to be smart with your money to keep your business afloat in these difficult financial times.

One of the ways you can save money is by purchasing bulk motor oil. Buying in bulk is far cheaper than purchasing oil as you go along. Also, you don’t have to sacrifice quality for a lower cost; you can still by your preferred brand of motor oil.

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Mixing 2 Cycle Oil

Many boat owners, particularly new boat owners, have questions about how to properly mix 2 cycle oil with gasoline. It is important to get the right ratio of gasoline to oil as too much oil can cause a fire, but too little oil won’t provide adequate engine lubrication. Start by dispensing the gasoline you will be adding to the tank into an approved container. Note down the quantity in the container.

Next, determine the ounces of fuel in your tank by multiplying the number of gallons by 64. Take the number of ounces and divide by 50, as the ratio for gasoline to oil is 50:1. The final number of that equation will be the number of ounces of 2 cycle oil you will need to add to the gasoline. Add the oil into the gasoline container, mix, and then add to your boat’s fuel tank.

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Compare/Contrast: Two Cycle Oil and Motor Oil

Not all motor oil is created alike. In fact, different motor oil is required for different engines. Today we will look at the difference between two cycle oil and motor oil.

Two cycle oil, like the Yamalube 2 cycle oil you might currently use, is needed, not surprisingly, for two stroke engines. These particular engines do not have a lubrication system so two cycle oil is mixed with gasoline to lubricate the engine while the fuel is used. Motor oil is used in four stroke engines and is typically kept in a separate reservoir from the gasoline. For lubrication, an oil pump transfers the oil to the engine.

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Welcome to Fish Week

Much has been written about techniques used to catch fish, but this week, which I’ve dubbed “fish week,” will focus on how to prepare your catch into a delicious meal. Let’s kick the week off with one of my favorite dishes: poached salmon. This simple recipe requires 1 to 1.5 pounds of salmon fillets, white wine, water, one small yellow onion, fresh or dried dill, parsley, black pepper, and a skillet.

Slice the small yellow onion into thin rings and place in the skillet along with a few sprigs of parsley and a sprinkling of dill. Cover the onion and seasonings with a half cup of water and a half cup of wine. Bring the liquid to a light simmer on medium heat. Once the liquid is bubbling nicely, place the fillets in, skin side down, cover the skillet and allow the fillets to cook for five minutes. Take the fillets out and sprinkle with black pepper, and now your dish is ready to serve! Of course, to catch beautiful salmon in the first place, you’ll want to make sure you’re using the proper 2 cycle oil on your fishing boat.

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Changing Oil in Honda Outboard Motors

Four-stroke outboard motors by Honda rank highly for reliability. In this post we’ll go over how to change the oil in a four-stroke Honda outboard motor. Start by taking the cowling off the motor; in some models there is a latch on the front and two on the back of the motor. Once the cowling is off look for the removal panel on the right side. Remove the panel to reveal the oil drain bolt.

At this point you’ll want to have a bucket and funnel handy to drain out the old oil. Replace the drain screw bolt and panel, then find and remove, and replace the oil filter. Add new synthetic oil outboard motor ready, typically about eight quarts. Put everything back in place and then check the new oil levels with the dipstick.

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Checking an Evinrude Outboard Motor

Checking your Evinrude outboard motor’s oil level should be part of your maintenance routine. It takes only a moment and can help prevent expensive problems down the line. Start by pressing down on the handle at the rear of the engine cover. This will loosen the cover so you can remove it and set it aside.

Look on the starboard side of the engine block for a large ring, aka the dipstick. Pull the ring to remove the dipstick, and then wipe the dipstick clean with a rag. Insert the dipstick back into the tube, withdraw it, and examine the level of the oil. If the oil is below acceptable limits, add Evinrude 2 cycle oil XD100.

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NMMA Certification

The National Marine Manufacturers Association tests and certifies the products of manufacturers. The goal of the rigorous certification process is to set a high standard for quality and safety. Currently, the NMMA certifies a variety of TC-W3 oils, FC-W oils, and FC-W (CAT) oils.

In the mission statement on their website, NMMA states, “To help boaters recognize lubricants that will give the engine life designed-in by marine engine manufacturers, the National Marine Manufacturers Association has developed a program for the certification of these premium quality lubricants.” NMMA certification is two-fold. First the oil additive packages are certified and then there is a registration of oil brands that use certified oils. Amalie Oil is one such brand that is certified under their XCEL Outboard and 2-Cycle Oil.

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How 2 Cycle Oil Works

Two-cycle engines have different requirements than four-cycle engines found in cars and lawn tractors. Oil and regular unleaded gasoline is blended together to create an enriched mixture that does more than just fuel an engine. For instance, two-cycle oil lubricates the engine while providing fuel.

When the mixture moves into the crankcase it pushes the piston up, creating a spark. Then, the spark ignites the fuel which sends the piston downwards. Thus, the power behind the two-cycle engine is created. A typical ration of oil to gas is 40 parts gasoline to one part oil or 50 parts gasoline to one part oil. Yamalube 2 cycle oil comes highly recommended.

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