On Sat, 3 May 2008 13:50:19 -0400, "Billgran"
wrote:


"John H." wrote in message
.. .


Bill, I just bought a new Key West with a Yamaha 150 hp 4 stroke. In your
opinion, should I even consider using an oil other than the Yamaha oil
recommended for the engine?



Damn, John H,

I missed the part in your post that you had a 4-stroke Yamaha and the
original poster of this thread was talking about 2-stroke TC-W3 oils.

Let me rephrase my original answer to you so it concerns 4-strokes. First I
have to thank HK for straightening me out as my mind was still occupied with
TC-W3 and I didn't read your question thoroughly. Sorry about that.

On 4-stroke oils, there is a fairly new certification system endorsed by the
oil blenders and the 4-stroke manufacturers, called "four-stroke,
water-cooled" or FC-W. Because an outboard may run in sal****er, sit unused
for long periods of time, and runs high rpms for hours on end unlike a car
motor, the industry wanted a spec for approved outboard oils. New owners
manuals now state what oil grades to use and say an FC-W certified oil if
you don't use an OEM lubricant. If you are into synthetics, surprisingly the
Amsoil 4-stroke oil is FC-W approved unlike their 2-stroke oils which are
not TC-W3 approved. Here is more info on the FC-W lubes:

http://nmma.org/certification/programs/oils/fc-w.asp

I did write a story on 4-stroke oils before the FC-W certification became
official but it is now out of date because many of the oil companies have
changed formulas over the last few years.

http://continuouswave.com/whaler/ref.../dukeOfOil.pdf

Bill Grannis
service manager


Thanks Bill!

I appreciate your time.
--
John *H*