OptiMax Enginer Oil - What to use?

[BrentCar]

I bought a new '07 boat last year with a new '07 150HP Optimax motor. I also asked the dealer to sell me a case of oil for the motor so I would have plenty for the year. The dealer sold me the QuickSilver Premium oil to use with the boat. Recently fished with another OptiMax engine owner. He has an older 225HP OptiMax (maybe '02) and he told me I was crazy to not be using Mercury's OptiMax oil. He said that a very reputible engine guy from this area (within 30 minutes of Louisville) told him you have to use the Mercury OptiMax oil or you will have engine gumming problems. Anyone have any insight on this?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

[ss]

The best thing to do is check your owners manual or contact Mercury directly. Some Optimax motors call for Optimax oil and some call for Premium Plus depending on model and year. I would not take the advice of your buddy or some guy that says he is a mechanic. Do whatever the manufacturer recommends.

[rickhise]

not trying to walk over your post, but 2 different high volume deallers by me are strongly urging everone not to buy there boat gas till they need it, they are seeing carburator issues like they first saw with the gas years back when ethinol was being intro.....

advice is buy what you need trip to trip.
when i ask about fuel injected not near the issue as with conventional,

dont know if a fuel additive cures this

[Dave Stewart]

Like the man said...check your owner's manual and if you can't find the answer call your service manager at the dealership. The Optimax XS models use Premium Plus.

[Renegade Man]

[quote=BrentCar;318878]I bought a new '07 boat last year with a new '07 150HP Optimax motor. I also asked the dealer to sell me a case of oil for the motor so I would have plenty for the year. The dealer sold me the QuickSilver Premium oil to use with the boat. Recently fished with another OptiMax engine owner. He has an older 225HP OptiMax (maybe '02) and he told me I was crazy to not be using Mercury's OptiMax oil. He said that a very reputible engine guy from this area (within 30 minutes of Louisville) told him you have to use the Mercury OptiMax oil or you will have engine gumming problems. Anyone have any insight on this?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.[/quoteHere at Renegade Marine when we recive new motors the oil tank on the side of the motor has Premium Plus in it from the factory. We recomend to all our customers to run the same in new Optimax motors. If you are already running Optimax oil stay with it. If you have any questions you can give us a call at 270-259-0001. Jeff

[MagikSmallie]

I just bought an 07 murk opti 150 and was recomended by the dealer from guntersville to use quicksilver premium plus, personally i feel it doesnt matter as long as you always use the same brand

[BrentCar]

Thanks for all the great feedback. I pulled my manual and it says "Mercury OptiMax/DFI or Quicksilver DFI 2-Cycle Engine Oil is recommended for your egnine. If Mercury OptiMax/DFI or Quicksilver DFI 2-Cycle engine oil is not available, we recommend using Mercury or Quicksilver TC-W3 Premium Plus 2-Cycle Oil". I went out and got a gallon of the oil I am using. It is a grey bottle that says Quicksilver Premium Plus 2-Cycle Outboard Oil. Under that it says Advanced Formula for extreme marine operating conditions. It also says TC-W3 Certified down in the lower left hand corner of the bottle. It doesn't say anything about DFI on the front of the bottle. However, on the back of the bottle it says it is formulated specificlly to meet the demands of high horsepower and direct fuel injected (DFI) outboards. So I think I have the right stuff but just want to make sure. To many options make it pretty confusing. I plan on calling a few dealerships on Monday but it is eating me up wondering if I may have been using the wrong stuff.

[Col Forbin]

I think to make it easy, you should sell the optiMax and get a yamaha. Just kidding. I have found (around here at least)it is much cheaper to get your oil from a dealer or service center too. They get it in Bulk. I get mine from a service/dealer and save quite a bit from buying it a store - they get it by the barrel and will fill up a milk type jug for you. This way you know you are getting the right stuff and saving a little too.

[BrentCar]

Any suggestions for buying bulk oil in the Louisville area? I am all for that. I live on the east end of town but can go anywhere in the Louisville area.

[skinny]

try: Just add water marine on 31w. when i bought my boat they sold oil in bulk. if your down around green river lake in campbellsville. bring your empty jugs and stop at K&P marine off of 55. he will refill them, but call first 270-789-2182 a barrel doesnt last long....KP

[dc chopper]

There is one on blue lick by south park. one in shepherdsville on 44 east 2 miles from 65.

[Jbyrd]

Thanks for all the great feedback. I pulled my manual and it says "Mercury OptiMax/DFI or Quicksilver DFI 2-Cycle Engine Oil is recommended for your egnine. If Mercury OptiMax/DFI or Quicksilver DFI 2-Cycle engine oil is not available, we recommend using Mercury or Quicksilver TC-W3 Premium Plus 2-Cycle Oil". I went out and got a gallon of the oil I am using. It is a grey bottle that says Quicksilver Premium Plus 2-Cycle Outboard Oil. Under that it says Advanced Formula for extreme marine operating conditions. It also says TC-W3 Certified down in the lower left hand corner of the bottle. It doesn't say anything about DFI on the front of the bottle. However, on the back of the bottle it says it is formulated specificlly to meet the demands of high horsepower and direct fuel injected (DFI) outboards. So I think I have the right stuff but just want to make sure. To many options make it pretty confusing. I plan on calling a few dealerships on Monday but it is eating me up wondering if I may have been using the wrong stuff.

The Optimax oil is in a black jug and says Opti max dfi on it. I ask the Mercury rep what was the difference and he said the chemical compoud was different. The lubricating molucules in the opti oil are smaller. I ask why the xs models can run the premium plus and he said the pro xs models have larger openings in the reed valves than the plain optimax engines. Maybe that is why the xs modules are faster. Better use the opti max oil if that is what it calls for...............