snowmobile oil?

[eurero]

Well, I went to buy some 2 stroke oil, and all I could find that said it was for air-cooled and oil injected 2 cycles was Chevron snow mobile oil. I'm assuming it doesn't really matter?

[Wheelman-111]

Greetings:

It will probably be just fine. But for under $10 a quart at a Honda dealer, why take a chance with "probably"?

[eurero]

Greetings:

It will probably be just fine. But for under $10 a quart at a Honda dealer, why take a chance with "probably"?

The nearest honda dealer that sells the stuff is 25 miles from here. I'm not exactly flush with time during the week, so I tried to find something that would work here in town. What are the tech specs for the OEM oil, as far as viscosity and whatnot?

[eurero]

No more input?

[Bear45-70]

No more input?

What's to input? You refused the good advise on the grounds that Honda-san is 25 miles out. So what more is there to say? Oh and I wish the nearest Honds dealer was only 25 miles out.

[eurero]

No more input?

What's to input? You refused the good advise on the grounds that Honda-san is 25 miles out. So what more is there to say? Oh and I wish the nearest Honds dealer was only 25 miles out.

Surely someone knows the viscosity rating of the OEM oil.

[Bear45-70]

I don't remember ever seeing a viscosity rating on a 2 stroke oil, even when I attended numerous 2 stroke schools it was never mentioned. All 2 stroke oils mixes with the fuel in all cases, so viscosity doesn't mean much like it does in a 4 stroke.

[mousewheels]

Surely someone knows the viscosity rating of the OEM oil.

Honda doesn't put it on their bottle, nor on factory sites with info on GN2. Like Bear, I've never seen viscosity as a specified number for 2 stroke oil.

[portable]

http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/hpi.aspx
heres a link for a company that list its viscosity

[eurero]

I don't remember ever seeing a viscosity rating on a 2 stroke oil, even when I attended numerous 2 stroke schools it was never mentioned. All 2 stroke oils mixes with the fuel in all cases, so viscosity doesn't mean much like it does in a 4 stroke.

OK. I was under the impression that the TC-W3 was the viscosity (with TC standing for two cycle). I guess I'm a bit mistaken. What does the W3 stand for then?

[portable]

http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/hpi.aspx
go back to the attached link and scroll down to the bottom there is a chart giving the various viscosity scores at different temperatures, as viscosity changes with temperature. im pretty sure the WS is a standard that the oil would have to meet. manufactures specify standards that must be maintained for spicific parts of thier products (IE. trasmissions, gear cases, pumps,engines.....) many of todays synthetic oils meet or exceed thoses standards.

[Lunytune]

Issue with Hondasan oil is the debate over quality.

Technically, any quality 2 cycle oil will work. There is a difference between premix and injector. Opt for the injector oil, which the snowmobile probably is. It should say on the container. If not sure, use as premix in the fuel tank until you can drive that 25 miles to Hondasan.

[Bear45-70]

I don't remember ever seeing a viscosity rating on a 2 stroke oil, even when I attended numerous 2 stroke schools it was never mentioned. All 2 stroke oils mixes with the fuel in all cases, so viscosity doesn't mean much like it does in a 4 stroke.

OK. I was under the impression that the TC-W3 was the viscosity (with TC standing for two cycle). I guess I'm a bit mistaken. What does the W3 stand for then?

Nope, TCW-3 is for Two Cycle, Water cooled and it is the 3rd level of TCW rated oils. When they started rating 2 cycle oils the standard was set as TCW, no number. A specifically built Johnson/Evinrude V4 engine was used to test the oil. Engine was run with a set program of load, RPM and oil ratio over a specific length of time. If the engine fails, no rating. Well that is if the engine fails 3 out of 3 tests, no rating. Pass once and you get the rating. Engine manufactures never allowed an oil that ever failed once to be sold under their names. Pass all three or forget that formula. Not so with Penzoil or any other oil producer, passing once is good enough for them. As oil injection, higher horsepowered engines and EFI then DFI came along the engine manufacturers asked for and got high oil ratings, hence the TCW-II and TCW-3. Still, just remember the engine manufacturers will guarantee their engines if you use their oil. If you don't then it is on you.

It is not a good idea to run TCW oils in air cooled engines as the air cooled engines run a lot hotter than water cooled engines, since the water cooled engines have an unlimited supply of cold to cool water and 143 degree thermostats, which air cooled don't have.

[Wheelman-111]

Greetings:

What makes an oil "Premix" or "suitable for injection systems", if anyone knows?

I axt this because I'm a fan of Synthetics, but Honda's 2-stroke Syn offering is labeled for "Premix". Good ol' GN-2 states OK for both.

That said, the oil in the tank of this SR with 33 miles was blue - like HP-2 Honda synthetic. Still is... So far so good.

[Bear45-70]

Greetings:

What makes an oil "Premix" or "suitable for injection systems", if anyone knows?

I axt this because I'm a fan of Synthetics, but Honda's 2-stroke Syn offering is labeled for "Premix". Good ol' GN-2 states OK for both.

That said, the oil in the tank of this SR with 33 miles was blue - like HP-2 Honda synthetic. Still is... So far so good.

I have neve been able to get a definitive answer on air cooled oils but all TCW oils swing both ways, at least that is what we were told in school ever year since TCW appeared on the scene.