2 Stoke oil- Can I use TC-W in an air cooled TC engine?

[Slacker]

I've got a gallon jug of outboard 2 stroke oil that I no longer have the outboard for.
Can I run the TC-W (w=water cooled) 2 stroke oil in my air cooled 2 stroke engines? I know TC-W is made for water cooled engines, but will it hurt my air cooled chainsaw engines?

 

[Diamondpilot]

I would not do it. Get a quart of air cooled 2 cycle oil for $3 at Auto Zone and it will last you 5 years unless you are working commercial. Give the TCW oil to a buddy with a boat and then he will owe you one. Not worth risking even my cheapest piece of 2 cycle equipment, my $89 weed eater, over a few bucks.

Chris

 

[LBrown59]

I would not do it. Get a quart of air cooled 2 cycle oil for $3 at Auto Zone and it will last you 5 years unless you are working commercial. Give the TCW oil to a buddy with a boat and then he will owe you one. Not worth risking even my cheapest piece of 2 cycle equipment, my $89 weed eater, over a few bucks.

Chris

Good Advice.

 

[NIdaho]

Sure you can use outboard oil in your air cooled equipment, just be prepared to have to teardown that equipement for problems such a stuck rings, carboned up ports, plugged up mufflers, . . .

Really, save your self some headaches (and money in the long run) go buy yourself some good quality synthetic 2 stroke oil for air cooled and use it. Personally, I use the Amsoil 2-stroke, I pre-mix it at 100:1 and run it in the weedeater, power blower, 3 Husqvarna chain saws, the wife's "mini-tiller/cultivator, . . . you only need one gas can for everything. It doesn't matter what mix ratio the unit originally called for, just run the 100:1. Been running this for years without a single problem. Infact, my brother was over a couple of years ago and ran out of saw gas for his old yellow beast. I said just use some of mine. after a couple of tank fulls he thought his saw was running so much better that he has never gone back to his 40:1 ratio of some cheaper oil.

 

[20 20]

I'll be the bad guy here I have used the TC-W in all of my air-cooled engines {I know bad bad man}. Had a deal and ended up with a couple gal. then got ride of my liquid cooled machine. I do mix it at a higher ratio so maybe that's why I've had NO problems. Been trying to use it up for a couple years. So I can say I have used it with NO trouble for some time{years}. With that said I will be buying the right stuff when this runs out.

 

[lightninboy]

I am currently occasionally utilizing some old outboard oil in a Stihl chainsaw and I don't forsee any harm coming from it. On the other hand, I wouldn't use Stihl oil in a water-cooled outboard.

 

[20 20]

Lightninboy, I with your opinion about the other way around being worse.

 

[firefighter jim]

Agree with the others, however,,,,,,,,,,,,I am presently using up a gallon mixed with Havoline TC-W3. It is also rated as a TC (air cooled). After it s gone I've decided to stick with Stihl 2 cycle (After much reading on the subject).

 

[Richard]

Anyone here ever use Klotz? I remember back when I was a teenager with a dirtbike (Yamaha YZ-465) and my neighbor had his Suzuki 250. We'd buzz around the woods that were behind our houses. I always knew when he'd show up out there. If I could not see him, I could ALWAYS smell his exhaust.

It sounds really weird to say that it smelled good!!

Something about bean oil??

You have various comments to your question.... what I'd suggest if you want to explore it further is simply call the manufacturer and ask them. I once did that regarding the Klotz bean oil mentioned above (since I wanted to smell it again when I had my Maico 490) but, the guy at Klotz said something like the bean oil was more sticky than the regular stuff and unless I was tearing my engine down every now & then to clean/rebuild it (I wasn't) that it might leave more residue in my engine than their other oil.

I was going to use this oil in my bike (now sold), backpack blower, string trimmer, chainsaw.....

Never bought any because of his comments. Used the more 'normal' stuff

 

[bp fick]

As stated, find a buddy or someone with a boat and do him a favor. Shoot, ship it to me, I got a 25hp Merc outboard.

Air cooled engine run much hotter and appreciate the specific oil. It won't break the bank. Wally's runs stuff pretty inexpensively.

 

[ToadHill]

I remember working at a gas station while in High School. One customer had a 2 cycle Saab, we just threw in a quart of 30w with each 5 gallons of gas. Not that it answers your question but just an interesting fact.

 

[lightninboy]

I have used Lawn Boy 2-cycle oil for years in the trimmer and the blower. It has no API rating on it but is ashless and for all 2-cycle gas engines. It is reputed to actually be CITGO SUPERGARD Marine Plus Two-Cycle Engine Oil, TC-W3, may also be used in many air-cooled two-cycle engine applications requiring API Service Category TC.

Go figure.

 

[lightninboy]

I was doing some research.

Briggs & Stratton, 2 Cycle, Ashless Oil, Recommended For Use With Lawn-Boy, Toro & Ryobi Branded Power Equipment.

Master Mechanic, 2 Cycle, Ashless Oil, Ideal For Lawn Boy, Toro, Ryobi & Other 2 Cycle Outdoor Power Equipment.

MTD 2-Cycle Small Engine Oil
Required for 2-cycle engines on single-stage snowblowers
Can be used for 2-cycle trimmers, edgers, chainsaws
Smokeless Formula
Premium low-ash oil eliminates smokey emissions

"ARNOLD" UNIVERSAL ASHLESS 2- CYCLE OIL
Good for all 2-cycle engine needs including gasohol.

"ACE" 2-CYCLE PREMIUM ASHLESS OIL
Good for all 2-cycle engine needs including gasohol.

"ACE" 2-CYCLE LOW-ASH OIL
Good for all 2-cycle engine needs including gasohol.

Valvoline VV461 NMMA (BIA) TC-W3 Certified 2-Cycle Multi-Purpose Engine Oil
Provides excellent performance in lawn mowers, chain saws, string trimmers, outboard engines, jet skis, motorcycles and snow blowers
Valvoline's Multi-Purpose 2-Cycle Engine Oil - A general purpose oil for air-cooled, 2-cycle engines. Valvoline's ashless Multi-Purpose 2-Cycle oil is specially formulated for high-revving, small two-cycle engines, air- or water-cooled engines, pre-mix or injection engines, and engines requiring a gas-to-oil mixture.

PENNZOIL PREMIUM OUTBOARD AND MULTI-PURPOSE TWO-CYCLE OIL
It contains Pennzoil premium quality lubricating oil plus ashless additives and increased detergency to give the best quality protection in all types of high performance two-cycle engines calling for TC-W, TC-WII, and TC-W3 oils. PENNZOIL PREMIUM OUTBOARD AND MULTI-PURPOSE TWO-CYCLE OIL also exceeds the performance requirements of the API TC Service Classification which is commonly recommended for air-cooled two-cycle engines.

Echo has synthetic blend low-ash oil made by Citgo.

Stihl has low-ash oil, may be made by BP-Castrol.

 

[mrutkaus]

Don't use it, I screwed up my and my neighbor's snowmobiles years ago with some "bargain" two cycle oil meant for water cooled engines.

Mike

 

[Kernopelli]

I have to say, I don't know what to make of this subject. I have ridden 2 stroke dirt bikes, both air and water cooled since 1972 and with the exception of a YZ400E I bought new in 1978 that I ran on Golden Spectro exclusively, I have never paid any attention to the oil I have ran in my 2 stroke bikes, ATV's, chainsaws, weedeaters, blowers, etc. I know for sure, I have used a gallon of the Penzoil Premium outboard mentioned and a gallon of Wally worlds "all purpose 2strk oil" and a few quarts of penzoil and store brand "outboard" oil and a couple of cans of chainsaw oil in the bikes, atv's,weed eater and saws in the last year or so...with no problems with anything. We go through a lot of pre-mix, especially since we seem to be the "refueling station" for my 3 sons friends too. I have had very limited possible oil related problems w/ 2 stroke motors over many diffent engines and years. The only 2 strokes I have ever fried a piston in was the 400 that I ran on spectro exclusively and a 20 yr. old (!) Craftsman chainsaw. I had the crank bearings go south on a KTM 50cc motocrosser that one of the boys raced but I don't know anyone that's not rebuilding often in that class. My current water cooled woods bike has somewhere between 3-4000 miles on it w/ original piston and second set of rings and still runs like a top. I usually mix 5 gallons of whatever is cheapest at about 35-40:1 and burn it in everything air and water cooled we've got. I know oil technology has really advanced in recent years but honestly, I have had almost no problems regardless of type of oil burned in both air and water cooled 2 strokes. I have had far more top end problems w/ 4 strokes that I was actually somewhat "picky" about the oil I used.

I guess I should start paying some more attention to my oil but I'm not too convinced I will see any difference.

 

[mattman]

If I had a gallon of liquid cooled 2 stroke oil I would be dumping a little in my tractor and truck to help lube the fuel system. ULSD is kind of on the dry side compared to LSD of a couple years ago.

I would buy the air cooled oil for air cooled motors.

 

[lightninboy]

The TC-W3 oil I am using in the Stihl chainsaw is Valvoline.

Valvoline says on its website:
This product is recommended for all leading outboard engines, including the latest high horsepower units. Valvoline NMMA (BIA) Certified 2-Cycle Engine Oil will also provide excellent performance in two-cycle engines of motorcycles, chain saws, lawn mowers and snowmobiles.

I guess I have nothing to fear really.

 

[lightninboy]

The Stihl chainsaw quit working. I feared the outboard oil was to blame. The dealership fixed and tuned about everything on the saw, but he said the engine was internally good. I guess a Stihl, being well-built in the first place, is not overly fussy about what oil you put in it. However, I recommend using Stihl oil or its equivalent at least part of the time.

 

[clemsonfor]

They say it wont protect as well cause the oil will burn at lower temps designed for water cooled engines. Air cooled oil in a boat motor is said to coke up as it wont all combust as its designed for higher temps. i know some say they have done it 30 years and its fine, i dont think i would as cheap as 2 stroke oil is.

 

[brucew44guns]

I bought a new Stihl Magnum 660 saw and an F-250 Stihl trimmer a year ago. I have 2 other Stihl saws and a Stihl blower. I went for broke, bought the Stihl Ultra synthetic 2 cycle oil, mixes 50:1. All 5 machines purr like a Maltese tom cat. Start up like a dream come true, exhaust is not noticeable at all. There are several brands of oil that will work just as good, stick with a decent name brand, oil is cheap compared to replacing or overhauling. At one time, I used Union 76 2 stroke in TCW-3 in my saws, no trouble then either.