Mercury Engine Oil | Outboard Motor Oil - Part 34

Mercury or Bust

Have you ever played the why game? If you have kids then you know what I’m referring to. It’s when someone repeatedly asks you “why” in response to every explanation you offer up. It frequently ends in exasperation.

I recently got into another version of the why game called the “what if” game. A buddy of mine was trying to get me to budge on my favorite Mercury 2 stroke oil. “What if the local store was out?” “I’d go to another.” “What if they didn’t have it? What would you use?” “I’d go to another store or order it online.” This went on for a while until I eventually blew my top. Not the most mature reaction, but then neither was the game in the first place.

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Improve Outboard Performance

Do you have an older model Mercury two stroke motor? You’ve probably noticed that it doesn’t run as efficiently as it used to. This happens to every outboard, but there are steps you can take to return the engine to near-peak performance.

I recommend giving Rejuvenate a shot. It’s a Mercury 2 cycle oil that’s purpose is to clean up older two stroke engines. Originally, the oil was used by the U.S. military, so you know that it can withstand all sorts of gunk, fuel and oil variances.

 

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Advantages of OptiMax Oil

Increased demands are put on the lubricants used in an OptiMax engine. (An OptiMax engine is direct-injected as opposed to carbureted or electronic fuel-injected). To keep pace, the manufacturer recommends OptiMax oil.

You can buy individual containers or you can save some money and purchase bulk Mercury OptiMax oil. The oil has additional additives that provide an extra layer of protection. By using the oil, which can be mixed with Mercury Premium Plus, your engine will maintain peak engine performance for many uses.

 

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Extended Vacation

You’re probably wondering why I’ve been so silent on my blog lately. Well, the reason why you haven’t gotten your daily dose of my boating advice is that I’ve been enjoying an extended vacation. My wife and I are getting up there in age and our kids are mostly out of the house, so we used this vacation as a test run for retirement.

Of course, I also used this time to test out a lot of cool boats. I learned a thing or two from the people I met along the way. For instance, I’m now hooked on Mercury premium plus oil. A friend of mine swears by the stuff, and when I took his boat out, it handled like a dream!

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Give the OptiMax Engine a Whirl

This past weekend I took my new OptiMax Engine out for a whirl on the lake. Breaking in a new outboard can be a pain, but after the initial process, the OptiMax handled like a dream. After two hours I was confident that I knew how to handle the new outboard.

I called up my wife and kids and told them to head on over to the lake. I gave them a spin on the new outboard, which they enjoyed very much. After we pulled the boat out of the water, I showed my kids where to put in the Mercury OptiMax oil, so if they want to take the boat out they’ll know how to perform proper maintenance.

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Connecting Old Gauges

As you probably inferred from my previous posts, I recently bought an OptiMax engine. Thus far I’m enjoying it immensely. Before I could fill the engine up with Mercury OptiMax oil and take the boat out for a spin, I had to go to my local Mercury Marine dealership.

Long time readers of this blog know that I like to do most of the maintenance my boat requires myself. In this instance, I wasn’t sure that I could handle connecting the older style gauges on my boat to the new engine. Not wanting to screw up my pricey investment, I had my go-to mechanic work it out for me. He got everything squared away and I was able to take the boat out this past weekend.

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Mixing Oils

One question I’m frequently asked is: Can I mix oils? I’m a bit of a purest. I try to refrain from mixing oils, but I know that others mix oil with reported success. In an effort to give you the best information, I took a look at what the experts at Mercury Marine have to say.

To my surprise, they wrote that Mercury OptiMax oil can be mixed with other premium oils (from Mercury, of course). They wrote that more the oils can be mixed together without a negative impact on the outboard. There you have it; the experts have spoken!

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Advantages of Mercury OptiMax Oil

What are some of the advantages of using Mercury OptiMax oil? The obvious answer is that the oil was specifically designed for use with the high performing OptiMax outboard engine. To expand on the response: the elite OptiMax outboard puts more strain on lubricants than the average oil can handle.

Typical two-stroke engine oils cannot cope with the hotter operating temperatures and reduced oiling rates of DI engines. Mercury OptiMax oil has additives that give extra protection. In other words, if you want your OptiMax engine to run efficiently, then you need to use Mercury OptiMax oil.

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Breaking in an OptiMax Outboard

Breaking in a new outboard engine can be a daunting task. You want to be sure that the task is completed correctly in order to ensure optimal performance and longevity of the outboard. Before you begin breaking in a new outboard engine, particularly an OptiMax outboard, be sure to read through the Operation, Maintenance & Warranty manual.

Generally, keeping the throttle wide-open or idling for any length of time is to be avoided during the first two hours of use. In older two-stroke models, the process of breaking in required extra oil, but the OptiMax engines use specific computer programming to increase the oil mixture during the breaking-in process. In order for the computing to work, you first need to be sure that you have the appropriate amount of Mercury OptiMax oil in place.

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Adjusting the Choke on a MerCruiser

To increase the gas entering your MerCruiser cylinders, you’ll need to adjust the engine’s choke. The choke enriches the air and gas mixture that enters the cylinders, thus making starting a MerCruiser engine an easier task. Of course, before you begin, you should check to make sure that your boat has plenty of gas and Evinrude 2 cycle oil XD100.

First, tilt the motor so the drive system is submerged and then open the tank vent. Shift into neutral and set the choke lever between full and half full. Place the throttle in the start position and rip the manual cord (or press the start button on an electric starter). Adjust the choke back into the off position as the engine warms.

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Refresher Week

This week I’ve dubbed “Refresher Week.” I’ll be answering a number of questions that are frequently posed to me by friends and boating enthusiasts alike. You might read a post and think, “Well, that’s a no brainer.” Please bear in mind that we were all beginners once.

Today’s topic is: How to store bulk motor oil. Personally, I always buy my oil in bulk because it’s a true costs saver. The first thing I do when I receive my shipment of bulk motor oil is to check the drum for any leaks or weaknesses. If I notice any dings, I have a reserve drum that I can transfer the contents of the damaged drum into. Next, I move the drum into a safe, dry area that will be well protected from the elements and from extreme temperatures which can affect the oil’s viscosity.

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Deer Harbor

Another region of the San Juan Islands I love to explore by boat is Deer Harbor. The harbor is part of an unincorporated community on Orcas Island. Like the other San Juan Island communities I’ve described, the area is a hotbed for kayaking, whale watching, and fishing. The area is also known for its plentiful Dungeness crab, rock crab, and shrimp.

My wife and I particularly like boating in Moran State Park. The views of Mount Constitution are just tremendous. I would highly recommend breaking out your best outboard motor oil and heading over to Deer Harbor for a weekend of waterfront fun.

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