Advice about oil/fuel mixture in old outboards

[redpackman]

I have four old outboards:  Two Champion 4K’s one 1941 Champion and a 1954/55 Mongomery Wards Sea King 5 (Gale 5D10).  These all used a gas oil mixture of 30w oil, but what is a safe mixture with a more modern two cycle oil made for marine outboards. The Wards/Gale recommends half a pint of 30 weight oil to a gallon, and I believe the Champions do the same. I have some Quicksilver and Quicksilver Plus two cycle marine oil on hand. What should the mixture ratio be with that product to safely run these motors which all do start and have decent compression?

 

[David Bartlett]

Red,

This is one of those subjects nobody wants to touch, so here goes. I use modern 2-cycle oils at the same ratio as the manufacturer specified. No issues whatsoever. Some folks use less, but I stick with what the people who made them recommend.

Just my $0.02

David Bartlett
Pine Tree Boating Club Chapter

"I don't fully understand everything I know!"

[Bob Wight]

Oiling ratio is a real Pandora’s box.    If your recommended ratio is 8 ounces per gallon (16:1) you might go 20:1 with modern day 2-cycle oil.   But I’m with David on this one – whatever the manufacturer originally specified, I stick with that ratio.   I figure oil is a lot cheaper than trying to find parts for an old motor if you have one seize up due to lack of oil.

Bob

1937 Champion D2C Deluxe Lite Twin
1954 Johnson CD-11
1955 Johnson QD-16
1957 Evinrude Fastwin 18
1957 Evinrude 3022
1958 Johnson QD-19
1958 Johnson FD-12
1959 Johnson QD-20
1982 Evinrude 25hp

“Every 20 minute job is only a broken bolt away from a 3-day project.”
"Every time you remove a broken or seized bolt an angel gets his wings."

[JACQUES]

gale oil mix

 

Joining AOMCI has priviledges 🙂

[Michael Anfossi]

Agreed. Stick with original manufacturers oil ratio

[Sam M.]

redpackman wrote:

I have four old outboards:  Two Champion 4K’s one 1941 Champion and a 1954/55 Mongomery Wards Sea King 5 (Gale 5D10).  These all used a gas oil mixture of 30w oil, but what is a safe mixture with a more modern two cycle oil made for marine outboards. The Wards/Gale recommends half a pint of 30 weight oil to a gallon, and I believe the Champions do the same. I have some Quicksilver and Quicksilver Plus two cycle marine oil on hand. What should the mixture ratio be with that product to safely run these motors which all do start and have decent compression?

 

If your two Champions and one Gale all took 1/2 pint to one gallon originally (16/1), it is still safe to use that ratio now.  However, I think some Champions originally called for 12/1, or maybe 11/1, so best to double check.

What is your 4th motor?  It might take a different ratio.

Also, the Gale information Jaques posted says it was updated in 1960.  By then, 24/1 was an increasingly common ratio for OMC-made outboards.  Your mid ’50s Gale should still take 16/1, as it is an earlier design.  I believe that the switch to 24/1 (for certain motors only) was introduced because a roller bearing replaced a plain bearing in the motors’ design.

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