Ok so I am in a popular south shore marine store today talking about my motor. So the guy is asking what kind of motor it is , and I tell him 1996 V4 90hp Johnson. He starts telling me those are great motors and they will run forever, just don't use west marine 2 stroke oil in the gas cause it will wear the engine down. He tells me to stick with the Johson lubricants. Now is he serious, or doing it so I buy his products?

I don't know if its a coincidence or not but i had a 1986 90hp johnson that was running great until i switched to a generic oil. At the end of the summer one cylinder was shot. ????? I use nothing but name specific oil now.

If it were me, I'd stick to the brand name. those motors cost too damn much to take a chance.

I think it's a case of use what you start with as long as you own your motor. I have a 2001 18 hp Nissan. I use the Tech 3 oil for two strokes they sell at Wal-mart. It says right on it approved for use in Nissan etc., etc. Never had a lick of trouble. Never used anything else either though. My bud Eric uses it in his 150 Johnson 2001 also. He has never had a problem as well. I keep my motor in top condition though. New plugs a couple times a year, new lower unit lube and pull and grease the shaft and prop assemblies at the start of each year. I keep it in my cellar nice and warm in it's original packing crate sprayed down with WD-40 before closing up the crate and sealing it for the winter.

Sounds like a Tony story. I use Mercury oil in my Merc and Yamaha oil in my Yami. I don't want to find out the hard way. I spend maybe $60 a year on oil. It's not a item to go bargain hunting on. The guys at Eagle warned me about West marine oil .

My local maine store says the same thing, it may be the same place as you. Rt 18 in Weymouth, the guy at the parts counter has saved me from making some mistakes more than once.

Thats the place...

i ran everything in my old yamahas. from wally world to citco brand. i didn't care if they blew up. they were 15 year old motors and went thru oil like water.
two 3 gallon res. would add 120 bucks per fill up if i use yamalube compared to 45 or so for cheapo stuff.
if your only using a case or so a year, i would stick to the good stuff.
less smoke too. i used to clear the marina out on cold start up.

Maybe it's a dealer thing, because I have been told the same,

I run a Merc, Opti Max and at $26/gal it can get expensive. (compared to generic)

I go through about 6 gal / year

BUT it's cheap compared to something going wrong.
small investment for a sound mind.

I have a old 89 Yamaha 175hp, I run Penzoil 90% of the time or Walfart oil, I have been told they are the same?? But I have not had a problem one bit!!
Which is great!! Cause I only spend like $10 a gal this way.

I swithed to Amzoil Synthetic a few years ago for my 200HP Johnson at $20 a gallon. Synthetic oil runs cleaner and produces a-lot less buildup in the cylinders which is the major cause of seizer in carborator outboards. It also smokes a little less. If I were running a motor on warranty, or running an OptiMax, or Etech I would run the factory stuff. Oil is expensive, but certainly not as much as a new motor, or down time during the summer.

West Marine oil is like a box of chocolates, you never know what your gonna get. It's always changing they just buy what is the cheapest at that time and slap thier name on it. I don't know if this is true on a 2 stroke, but I would think that constantly changing oil brands/types of oil wouldn't be good for the motor.

After talking with hteir mechanic today, I think I will start running the Johnson stuff, just have to stock up so I don't run out.

After talking with hteir mechanic today, I think I will start running the Johnson stuff, just have to stock up so I don't run out.

Specialist,,,,I always shop there too, great people.
Wait for the open house, the price may go down, or at least you get a store discount. I buy the 2 1/2 gallon jugs to save some $, then I refill my gallon jugs to keep on board.

See ya out there.
V

It's a scam, most of the dealers will tell you that to get you to buy the oil from them. Look at the API specs on the label, if the specs are the same it's the same oil.

i agree with mike

2 stroke oil,
whats that !!!
:biglaugh: :biglaugh: :biglaugh:
I've got a no smoke, smooth running, can barely hear it run
4 stroke !!!:kewl: :kewl: :kewl:

2 stroke oil,
whats that !!!
:biglaugh: :biglaugh: :biglaugh:
I've got a no smoke, smooth running, can barely hear it run
4 stroke !!!:kewl: :kewl: :kewl:

ya' , but, hows your oil change schedual?:laughs: maybe 50 hrs?
how much for 5 quarts and a filter?