Two Stroke Engines Alive and Well

Two Stroke Engines Alive and Well

While two stroke engines have received a lot of criticism due to their excessive pollution, the two stroke engine is still alive and well and newer models designed to have lower emissions are in development. The two leading manufacturers of two stroke engines are Mercury and Yamaha. Mercury quit building traditional two stroke engines for a short period after 2005, but then brought back its models over time. Yamaha offers more than a dozen different two stroke engines that boast the latest in low emissions innovation.

While two stroke engines are still available at large, not all people swoon over the older engines. Two stroke engines burn about 30% more fuel than a low emissions four stroke engine, and can also be harder to start, won’t troll or idle at a smooth rate, and make more noise. Most two stroke engines also require pre-mixed fuel, and there’s always the chance of needing to replace a fouled spark plug. For two stroke owners, it’s a good idea to purchase bulk motor oil for these engines that can be guzzlers.

Did you like this? Share it:

Save Money and Increase Outboard Performance

Save Money and Increase Outboard Performance

While saving money and increasing the performance of your outboard motor might sound a little too good to be true, it’s possible with a few simple changes. In the long run, these changes will help your outboard motor last longer and also cut maintenance and fuel costs.

First, it’s important to use a propeller suited for your boat and style of boating. Propeller size and pitch affect fuel efficiency, and selecting the right propeller can help to save a lot of money. It’s also important to use high quality gasoline and oil. Running low octane gasoline hurts your fuel economy. For oil, it’s a good idea to purchase bulk outboard motor oil to save on cost, and ensure that it’s a high quality oil to avoid fouling spark plugs and other engine components. While it might seem insignificant on face, it’s also a good idea to keep the weight down on your boat. Having extra weight from all the extra stuff that tends to accumulate can cut into your fuel economy.

Taking these steps will help to save money and also ensure your boat lasts longer. Remember too, even if an investment costs a little extra at the moment, it will pay off in the future.

Did you like this? Share it:

World’s Largest Two Stroke Engine

biggest-2-stroke-engine

When we think of two stroke engines, often we imagine smaller motors used in outboards, motocross bikes, and jetskis. However, the world’s largest two stroke engine is 89 feet long and 44 feet wide; the size of a house! The engine is called the Wartsila-Sulzer RTA96-C, and it’s a two stroke diesel engine that is manufactured by Aioi Works in Japan. These enormous two stroke engines are designed to power super oil tankers and container ships. These engines often use a single propeller for simpler maintenance, and despite what people might think, the single propeller design has proven to last for a longer span of time.

These enormous engines consume about 39.5 barrels of bulk motor oil per hour. That means, in the current market, it costs about $34 to power these engines every minute! That’s an amazing amount of oil consumption, but with an engine the size of a house, it doesn’t seem all that unrealistic.

Did you like this? Share it:

How 2 Cycle Engines are Lubricated

How 2 Cycle Engines are Lubricated

2 cycle engines are unique from 4 cycle engines in several ways, but the most notable is the absence of an oil sump on the 2 cycle engine. Because there is no oil sump, lubrication is done by mixing 2 cycle oil with the fuel. The 2 cycle oil is burned upon combustion of the air and fuel mixture. Direct Injection engines differ from this model because the fuel is injected into the combustion chamber while the oil is injected into the crankcase. Direct Injection engines have a higher power density than most two cycle engines due to this fact.

Because 2 cycle engines use a mixture of 2 cycle oil and gasoline, their lubrication system is considered a “total-loss” type. Direct Injection engines have higher combustion temperatures, which causes them to require more lubrication than traditional 2 cycle engines that use the oil/gasoline mixture.

Did you like this? Share it:

Reducing Outboard Motor Emissions

Reducing Outboard Motor Emissions

It’s well known that the two cycle outboard motor, because of its design, produces more pollutants than the standard four cycle engine. In fact, a two cycle engine using conventional mineral oil can produce almost fifty times the CO2 as a four cycle engine. This is an alarming fact, but with new technology, these emissions can be cut by a significant amount. Synthetic two cycle outboard oil has been available for a while now, and in comparison to mineral oil, it is much less harmful. In addition, there are new two cycle engine oils that are derived from animal fats and other renewable resources that have the same effect on performance in outboard motors but cause much less exhaust.

In these times when the condition of the environment is of chief concern to millions of Americans and people around the world, it’s important to embrace new green technologies for the betterment of the environment as a whole.

Did you like this? Share it:

Interesting Information about Oil Tankers

Interesting Information about Oil Tankers

The tank ship, often referred to as a tanker, was conceived in the later years of the 19th century. Prior to this, it wasn’t practical to transport liquids over significant distances, but with the invention of the tanker, substances like oil, chemicals, fresh water, and molasses could be transported over the ocean. The oil tanker is one of the most common tank ships because most countries around the world need crude oil for refinement and all sorts of industry. However, there are dangers posed by tank ships that involve spillage of the liquid cargo in the open ocean. Bulk oil spills, like that of the Exxon Valdez, caused significant environmental damage and generated controversy around the world.

However, provided the proper precautions are taken, tank ships allow transport of all kinds of valuable liquid cargo, including bulk oil. Tank ships are essential to the health of the world economy.

Did you like this? Share it:

Lawnmower Won’t Start!

Lawnmower Won't Start!

When a lawnmower engine won’t start, there’s no need for distress… yet. The most common reason a lawnmower engine fails to start can be attributed to bad gasoline or an incorrect gasoline mixture. For two cycle lawnmower engines, it’s important to create the proper mixture of gasoline and two cycle oil. You should never use old or leftover gasoline, and never store gasoline inside the lawnmower. It’s not at all uncommon for gasoline to sour over the winter, so be sure to start fresh in the spring.

If you are storing gasoline or two cycle oil, be sure to store it in a cool, dry place away from any kind of sparks or flame. For gasoline cans, be sure to keep all the vents closed during storage. For two cycle oil, make sure you are using the right type, and make sure it is clean.

Did you like this? Share it:

Boat Engines with Oil Injectors

Boat Engines with Oil Injectors

Most newer boat engines and outboard motors come with oil injection systems, but older models will not. When using an older model of boat engine or outboard motor, it’s often necessary to premix your gasoline and outboard motor oil. Finding the correct gasoline to oil ratio is important, but it’s also important to use the right oil. When it comes to older boat engines and motors, most any TC-W3 certified oil will do. Manufacturers will tell you that you need a specific oil, but this is more an attempt to encourage the purchase of their products than an actual necessity.

Manufacturer branded oil contains special additives, and when purchasing a new boat engine or outboard motor, it’s a good idea to use the manufacturer branded oil to increase its longevity. But with older engines and motors, you can’t expect to prolong their lifetime by a whole lot purchasing expensive oil. In general, you can just buy generic TC-W3 certified bulk outboard motor oil from a retail supplier and it will work fine.

Did you like this? Share it:

Storing Large Quantities of Oil

Storing Large Quantities of Oil

When storing oil in barrels, it’s important to be aware of the proper safety precautions. First of all, it’s important to ensure that your oil barrels are secured and that there are no leaks. Even a small leak can be quite harmful to the environment. It’s also best to store bulk oil in a cool but dry location. If there is water runoff or water present at the storage location, it will be much easier for the oil to disperse into the environment. You should also ensure that the oil is stored on a flat non-permeable surface. If oil is allowed to seep into the ground it can contaminate underground water systems. In general, slab concrete or metal plates are the best for oil storage.

Perhaps the worst place to store bulk oil is in your backyard or some other location that is outdoors. Plants, wildlife, and even humans can be adversely affected by oil contamination. Be extra careful if you’re forced to store oil outdoors or near the ocean, lakes, rivers, and streams.

Did you like this? Share it:

Buying Outboard Motor Products in Bulk

Buying Outboard Motor Products in Bulk

When it comes to purchasing outboard motor products in bulk, there are a number of options to explore to find the best deal. Perhaps the most common outboard motor product that is purchased in bulk is oil. You can often find deals on bulk motor oil at local marinas, boat repair shops, and smaller retailers. It’s often possible to negotiate with owners of smaller retailers, but of course larger retailers have prices that are set by corporate and thus any bulk motor oil prices aren’t negotiable. Those smaller retailers are also great for purchasing filters, parts, lubricant, and grease in bulk.

If you don’t live in a location near water, chances are there are few retailers who sell parts in your location. Under these circumstances, shopping online is a good idea, but it’s also a good idea to browse online to compare prices. You might even find bulk outboard motor products with better prices than in stores.

Did you like this? Share it:

Synthetic or Conventional for Outboard Motors

Synthetic or Conventional for Outboard Motors

It’s not uncommon for an outboard motor owner to ask: “What’s the difference between conventional and synthetic oil, should I be using one or the other?” The truth is, most boaters go hundreds or even thousands of miles using conventional bulk motor oil, and never experience problems with their outboard motor. However, the reason synthetic oil costs more isn’t simply because it’s more advanced than conventional oil, synthetic oil also helps your engine to last longer. For boaters who take their boat on extended trips or use it year round, it’s wise to switch to synthetic oil to preserve the quality of your outboard motor. Synthetic oil works to preserve your engine when the engine is used frequently or under extreme conditions.

However, for most boaters who just use their boat on the weekends or a couple of times per week, using conventional motor oil works just fine. The chance that your outboard motor will wear out before you stop using your boat are slim provided you take proper care of the engine and only use it a few times per year.

Did you like this? Share it:

Motor Oil Re-Refinement

Motor Oil Re-Refinement

Contrary to popular belief, when motor oil becomes ‘used’ it’s not actually the oil that degrades in quality, but the additives within the oil. The oil refining process takes the dark odiferous crude oil, and refines it into the motor oil we use in engines. Through a similar process, we can also take used oil, remove the grit, combine additives, and allow it for reuse. The additives that go into motor oil are essential for preserving the quality of the engine. For example, if you were refining bulk outboard motor oil, you would need to combine additives that prevent water from entering the motor oil.

Re-refining is a newer process that became popular when oil recycle stations became popular in hardware stores, auto stores, and marinas. Through re-refining, people can conserve fossil fuels, and also help the environment. As oil prices continue their rollercoaster ride on the market, methods to use less oil will become much more important.

Did you like this? Share it: