TCW-3 in 2 stroke lawn mowers, OK or Not?

[Chimo]

H Guys

Is it safe to use water cool boating TCW-3 in a Victa lawn mower instead of the air cooled 2 stroke oil? ( ie at 200ml per 5 lt ULP )

Don't have air cooled stuff but have plenty of the TCW-3

thanks in anticipation ::)

Cheers
Chimo

[ptcruiser]

Yeah,::)::) will be fine always use old O/B fuel in my mowers.

[Roo]

I once used O/B oil instead of Mower oil by mistake.......@ 25:1 it was quite a smokey affair untill it finally seized. or should i say Gummed up and died. had to pull it down and clean all the goop out (well, not me but the mower mech did). maybe it was just my crappy old mower!! I didn't know what was going on untill the mech. asked top see the oil bottle and i realized what i'd done.
Cheers Roo.

[Chimo]

One foot in each camp guys, not feeling confident at the moment ............. more input needed or may have to go shopping!

Cheers
Chimo

[finga]

For the price of a bottle of oil I'd be buying a bottle of the right oil purely for peace of mind.

[BM]

TCW oils are designed for watercooled applications not air cooled operations and as such the make up is different.

If I were being flippant I would say yep, use it and IF the shits itself then at least you knew it may occur.

Or buy a bottle of ther lawnmower stuff and stick it in there.

Cheers

PS. I would use the TCW oil but I would also gracefully accept if I killed the engine. Although I wouldn't be keen to put it in my 12hp slasher....

[tigermullet]

Used TCW3 for years in the lawn mower, whipper snipper and leaf blower. Never a problem but, of course, it could be just luck and the fact that none of the machines run for very long on each use.

I also use TCW3 in the flash lube system of the LPG converted car - it works exactly the same as the recommended flash lube oil (but at a fraction of the cost)and is an excellent upper cylinder lubricant.

[Cheech]

I have been using it in mine for the last couple of years.

[Roughasguts]

Hmmm depends how much you like your mower chimo.
TCW 3 will burn at a colder engine temp eg water cooled motor.

(or should I say a non presurised non sealed cooling system with out a radiator cap and a thermostat that opens around room temperature)

So in theory will be all burn't up way before your air cooled 2 banger even gets warm, let alone hot.

But I did ask this question to the place I bought me leaf blower from eons ago and he said the same, the TCW 3 won't lube as well, at the much hotter temp of the air cooled motor.

[Buddy Mania]

Not OK. Seriously, don't.

[Hamish73]

bikes run the same oil for air cooled and water cooled so I can't see the difference being that severe.

[Spaniard_King]

been using it in me Victa and the whippy for 10 years :)

[timddo]

why use it on mowers when it cost an arm and leg. I just buy cheap woolies oil, for $7, Mowers seems to run well for the last 4 years,

[artesian]

motor mech mate of mine used sump oil - his old tired two stroke mowers seemed to thrive on it.

I'm too chicken:-)

[nigelr]

Caltex Revtex semi-synthetic Super 2T.
Best I've used in 10 years as a mowing contractor. Our 2 stroke gear gets flogged hard every day, this oil burns and lubricates better than anything, and is very well priced, especially by the 20ltr drum.
TCW3 - in a pinch maybe, but I'd be sticking with the horses for courses approach. I do all my own equipment maintainance, IMHO oil that doesn't burn/lubricate properly will surely cause you dramas sooner or later.
Cheers.

[Hamish73]

motor mech mate of mine used sump oil - his old tired two stroke mowers seemed to thrive on it.

I'm too chicken:-)

Just quietly, I think he is having a lend of you mate ;)
I know guys that have used it to get home (out in the bush) but as a long term oil it will kill the engine, at absolute best roul plugs like they are going out of fashion

[Roughasguts]

Hmmmm now theres a scary thought, Our outboard is designed to run at a colder temperature than any air cooled two stroke.

So a special oil is developed to almost completly burn and lubricate at the colder temperature.

Now once our outboard stops cooling properly, could be a number of things slowing down the cooling water or even stale fuel. Then our outboard gets extremely hot, blistering paint on the head and such.

But what is probably causing the major internal damage then, is the wrong bloody oil yes the TCW-3 that would have all burnt off and stopped lubricating the bores and crank.

So maybe that has got to be the best reason I know of to go synthetic oil, I don't know but hopfully that still lubricates at a lot higher temperature.

[Vitamin Sea]

I to have been using TCW 3 in my victa and wipper snipper for years, not a problem, both still start first crank

Regards

[Roughasguts]

I to have been using TCW 3 in my victa and wipper snipper for years, not a problem, both still start first crank

Regards

You may not appear to have any problems. Buuuut has it done any, and is it continuing to damage the internals of your motors.

You can't tell from looking at the motor if the rings are shot, the bores and piston are scored ,the bearings have just about had it in the crank, and gudgeon and the compression is getting low.

Cause non of the above will really effect how the engine starts, unless there completely stuffed, then it's to late.

[Chimo]

Thanks for all the input on this guys.

Given the motor has been rebuilt once after 20 something years of using the mower air cooled oil I have chickened out and got some more of the proper stuff so I'll see if it still starts after 5 or 6 years off while I was using a B & S 4 Stroke unit.

Thanks again all.

Cheers
Chimo

[Vitamin Sea]

You may not appear to have any problems. Buuuut has it done any, and is it continuing to damage the internals of your motors.

You can't tell from looking at the motor if the rings are shot, the bores and piston are scored ,the bearings have just about had it in the crank, and gudgeon and the compression is getting low.

Cause non of the above will really effect how the engine starts, unless there completely stuffed, then it's to late.


Mate..

Mower is 13 yrs old now, been running on mixtures including TCW 3 for at least 10 yrs, can't be to bad for it

regards

[Roughasguts]

13 year old lawn mower, mate that's alright.
He he I would be looking at ways to destroy it so I could get a new one.