How to choose oil for boat engines. Motor oil for two-stroke engines: characteristics, features, the right choice Blue oil for 2-stroke engines

Motorcycles, snowmobiles, chainsaws and other equipment are equipped with two-stroke engines that require special motor oils. All about motor oils for two stroke engines, their features and differences from oils for four-stroke engines, as well as their selection and application - read the article.

What is motor oil for two-stroke engines

Motor oil for two-stroke engines (two-strokeoil, two-cycleoil, 2T oil) - specialized oil designed for lubrication of gasoline two-stroke engines internal combustion, which do not have a separate lubrication system.

Oil performs several main functions:

Lubrication of rubbing parts;
Protection of parts, components and assemblies from corrosion;
Extending the life of engine components;
To a lesser extent, it helps in cooling the engine by improving heat transfer between internal parts engine and its body parts (primarily with the cooling jacket).

As is easy to see, motor oils for two-stroke engines solve the same range of problems as lubricants for four-stroke units. However, 2 and 4 stroke engines have significant design differences, therefore the oils for them are not the same. Let's talk about this in more detail.

The difference between oils for two-stroke engines and oils for four-stroke engines

The two-stroke engine is a simple design, reliable and efficient power unit, which today is very widespread in low-power equipment. Engines from 50 to 500 cc. cm are installed on scooters and motorcycles, snowmobiles, chainsaws, lawn mowers, motor boats, various generator sets etc.

Most two-stroke engines, in order to simplify the design, do not have a separate lubrication system, but the rubbing parts in them must be lubricated. This problem is solved by adding oil directly to gasoline, which through the carburetor enters the above-piston (into the cylinder) and sub-piston spaces - here a gasoline-oil mist is formed (or rather, a fuel-oil-air combustible mixture), lubricating all rubbing parts. This mixture burns in the cylinder, and the resulting gases are released into the atmosphere through the purge window. Thus, a two-stroke engine consumes not only gasoline, but also oil.

Adding oil to gasoline can be done in two different ways:

Directly to fuel tank in a certain proportion to gasoline - a mixture of oil and gasoline enters the carburetor, where it mixes with air and forms a flammable mixture;
IN fuel-air mixture at the outlet of the carburetor - in this case, a separate oil tank is provided, from which the oil, using a metering pump, is supplied to the outlet of the carburetor, where it is mixed with the finished combustible mixture.

In any case, motor oil for a two-stroke engine has a number of features that distinguish this lubricant from oils for 4-stroke engines:

Good solubility in gasoline;
Low ash content;
Increased ability to form a protective film;
Stability of characteristics at high temperatures.

All these characteristics are determined by the operating characteristics of the oil. Firstly, the oil must mix evenly with gasoline, otherwise large oil drops will form, which will not be able to provide uniform lubrication of the rubbing parts. Secondly, the oil must burn as completely as possible in the cylinder, producing a minimum amount of smoke - this is ensured by the reduced ash content. Finally, the oil must effectively lubricate the rubbing parts, passing through the engine and at the same time being exposed to high temperatures(up to 300°C) - that is why it must quickly create a film on the parts and maintain its characteristics when heated.

These requirements determine the composition and characteristics of oils.

Types, composition and features of oils for 2-stroke engines

All oils for two-stroke engines have essentially the same composition:

The basis - base oil, obtained from petroleum or petroleum products;
Additives are complexes of various components to give the oil the required characteristics.

Motor oil with dispenser

Mineral and synthetic base oils can be used as a base; the former are obtained by distillation of oil, and the latter - through organic synthesis and other technologies for processing petroleum products and gases. The additive package includes solvents (to increase the ability to mix with gasoline), corrosion inhibitors, viscosity regulators, cleaning agents, antioxidants and other components. At the same time, both the base oil and additives are selected in such a way that they do not reduce the quality of the fuel and burn with the formation of a minimum amount of solid soot particles.

In order to regulate the quality and characteristics of motor oils, various national and international standards. Currently, there are four main standards developed by the American Petroleum Institute (API), the Japanese Engine Oil Standards Implementation Panel (JASO), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the National Association of US Shipbuilders (National Marine Manufacturers Association, NMMA).

Most of these standards establish the ash content of lubricants, their degree of solubility in gasoline, temperature ranges operation, cleaning effect and other qualities. The standards also require that the oil be colored blue or another color to reliably identify these materials and visual definition their degree of dissolution in gasoline.

In Russia there is no uniform standard for lubricants for two-stroke power units, domestic producers use their own specifications, which are often based on the above standards.

It should be noted that many manufacturers of equipment (especially chainsaws, gas mowers, lawn mowers and others) offer their branded oils for two-stroke engines with different markings - HP, HD, XP, etc. However, all these materials in any case comply with one or more of the above standards. Also on oil packages there is the marking “2T”, which only means the purpose of this lubricant for two-stroke engines.

How to choose and use the right oil for 2-stroke engines

The use of motor oils for two-stroke power units has its own characteristics. Primarily for motors various types Only lubricants recommended by standards may be used. For example, for motorcycle and snowmobile engines - oils according to APITC, JACO or ISO specifications, and for outboard boat engines - TC-W3 oils. And you should avoid using oils for four-stroke engines - they have a high ash content, and therefore lead to intensive formation of deposits on the piston, coking of the rings and other negative consequences.

Add oil to gasoline only in accordance with the instructions for the unit and lubricant. If oil is to be added to the gas tank, it is recommended to prepare the mixture in a separate canister in the following order:

Pour half of required quantity fuel;
Add the required amount of oil;
Add remaining fuel;
Mix the mixture thoroughly and pour it into the gas tank.

If a scooter, motorcycle or snowmobile has a separate oil tank, then the lubricant is simply added to it.

It is critical to maintain the proportions of oil and gasoline when mixing them. Depending on the instructions of the equipment manufacturer, the ratio of oil to gasoline can vary from 1:20 to 1:50. To ensure accurate proportions, it is recommended to use measuring cups or purchase oil in cans with a built-in measuring container.

With proper selection of oil and proper mixing with gasoline, the engine of a motorcycle, snowmobile, boat, chainsaw or generator will operate reliably and efficiently in all modes.

Oils for 2-stroke engines differ from motor oils for four-stroke drives in composition and structure. When choosing motor fluid for a two-stroke engine, you need to familiarize yourself with the operating principle of this type of power unit, generally accepted classifications and approvals of manufacturing plants.

A 2-stroke engine does not have a crankcase; it is lubricated by a mixture of oil and fuel, which completely burns in the combustion chamber of the engine cylinder. Motor fluids for four-stroke units do not come into contact with fuel. Due to differences in operating principles, lubricant manufacturers are required to different requirements to the properties of motor fluids for 2 and 4 stroke drives.

A 2-stroke engine requires oil that will burn completely in the combustion chamber without leaving sediment or soot. It is important that unburned oil residues entering the traffic fumes, were biodegradable.

For four-stroke power units, the main parameter of motor mixtures is viscosity - the ability of liquids to maintain their structure when different conditions operation to ensure the formation of a durable lubricating film on the drive elements.

Standards and characteristics

There are 2 oil standards for two-stroke drives:

2T - used for air-cooled power units;
TC-W3 - used in water-cooled engines.

By classification API motor Two-stroke drive oils are divided as follows:

TA - used for engines of small mopeds, motorcycles, lawn mowers;
TV - for powerful engines motorcycles;
TS - applicable for motors of equipment operating on land;
TD - designed for suspended drives.

Motor mixtures for two-stroke engines of motorcycles and other cars are classified according to JASO

FA - meet the requirements of developing countries;
FB - meet operating conditions in Japan;
FC - smokeless motor mixtures;
FD - smokeless motor fluids with improved characteristics.

If the fluid is selected correctly, it will extend the life of the engine, otherwise operational period use vehicle will decrease.

Watch a video about oils for 2-stroke engines:

Viscosity, base

2 stroke engines have design features, to ensure their normal operation, it is necessary to select oil that corresponds to the viscosity class specified by the manufacturer of the motorcycle, car and other units. Only the manufacturer can indicate the optimal viscosity for a specific engine type.

If the viscosity is too low, the oil will not protect engine parts from friction - this will lead to wear. power unit. Using a lubricant that is too thick impairs combustion processes, increases friction losses, and leads to increased carbon formation.

When choosing between mineral and synthetic motor mixtures, follow the rules:

Mineral water is used in worn-out engines due to the presence of a large amount of carbon deposits in them.
Synthetics are used in modern drives, equipped with an injection or dosage system. Synthetic fluids are characterized by increased properties, so pour them into power units with high mileage Not recommended.
Observe the vehicle dealer's approvals and recommendations.

There are BIO oils on the market that have accelerated biodegradation. Their price is 50% higher than conventional lubricants. This cost is due to the ability of combustion products to completely decompose in water; the BIO additive, which is part of these liquids, does not affect the operation of the engine.

Conclusion

Try to buy lubricants with characteristics that meet the vehicle manufacturer's recommendations. Incorrectly selected liquid will lead to coking piston rings, will cause increased carbon formation and accelerate engine wear.

Proper operation of the motor can be ensured by fluids with a competent selection of additives, an excessive amount of which (over 20% of the total volume) will lead to deterioration of the drive. Consider: correct ratio chemical elements are contained in certified products that meet international standards.

When selecting an oil-gasoline mixture for a 2-stroke engine, pay attention to the dosage specified by the manufacturer. If your engine must run on 1:100 fluid, do not use 1:50 mixtures. The resource of the drive depends on your attentiveness.

The life of a boat is largely determined by how long the engine runs. And the latter depends on the quality of the oil used. The correct choice of oil for two-stroke outboard engines allows for sufficient long term avoid the formation of corrosion. Besides, high-quality lubricant for two-stroke outboard engines ensures engine operation at maximum speed.

In specialized stores today, oil is presented for the following types of two-stroke engines:

synthetic;
mineral.

There are other types of lubricants, but these are very popular.

The main difference between synthetic and mineral materials lies in their basis: they have different molecular structures.

For 2-stroke outboard engines, oils of the first type are the most preferable, since they differ high stability. Similar materials can also be used after mineral ones. But if an unknown oil was previously poured into the engine, it is recommended to first fill in the flushing agent, and then use a synthetic one.

Due to the fact that the latter has a stable chemical composition, it provides the most safe mode work outboard motor. In particular, the synthetic base retains its viscosity regardless of the current temperature level. In other words, a 2-stroke engine retains its original characteristics for a fairly long period of operation. Moreover, synthetic oil maintains the integrity of individual structural elements, so the engine will not require repairs for a long time.

main feature mineral base is that it has a relatively low cost.

Using such a lubricant, the owner of a motorized boat reduces its operating costs.

The best choice of lubricant base is the one recommended by the engine manufacturer. For example, synthetic oil has increased fluidity. However, the engine design is not designed for such material. As a result, if the owner uses similar oil, he has to regularly deal with leaks.

To reduce operating costs, semi-synthetic materials can be used. They are a combination in certain proportions of mineral and synthetic oils. True, the quality of such materials is at a fairly average level.

Oil requirements

Motor oils perform the following functions:

prevent friction between individual engine components;
increase the service life of parts;
provide protection from negative influence environment to the power plant;
remove heat from moving components.

Each motor oil must undergo mandatory quality certification before entering the market. Lubricant for two-stroke engines is marked TC-W3. The main requirement of this standard is the absence of motor oil additives that contain metal anion compounds.

When using a lubricant that does not meet TC-W3, there is a high probability of rapid formation of carbon deposits on individual engine components, which ultimately leads to wear of the piston group elements.

The correct choice of oil for an outboard motor is based on the following conditions:

The material must have a minimum ash content. In other words, if this condition is met, the oil burns completely during engine operation.
The lubricating base is highly soluble in fuel.
It has good lubricating and anti-corrosion characteristics and can withstand sudden temperature changes.
If there is an engine with separate oil supply, the latter must have high rate fluidity.
When material enters a body of water, it should quickly decompose into individual components.

Compound

For two-stroke engines, it is preferable to choose a lubricant with an average viscosity. In such materials, the oil base occupies about 60%. Depending on the manufacturer, 5-17% of the oil consists of the so-called vacuum sediment, which is formed during the distillation of the initial petroleum product. This component provides the material lubricating properties due to what is different increased level plasticity.

The remaining 20% comes from special solvents that act as activators. They ensure mixing of the lubricant base with the fuel.

Synthetic lubricant

When switching to “synthetics” the owners boat engines quite often arise serious problems with them. This becomes especially noticeable when low-quality and cheap materials were previously used. In addition, to reduce operational properties engines are affected by non-compliance with oil change rules and the presence of foreign elements in the engines. As a result, cracking of the seals occurs.

Deposits of the mineral base come out gradually. If you replace it with a synthetic one, the residues are washed out almost immediately, which in the future can lead to rapid wear of the oil receiver mesh.

All of the above means that “synthetics” must be used from the very beginning. This approach avoids many negative consequences during operation of boat units.

deposits are observed in the engine;
the seals have lost their original plasticity;
during the “break-in” of the engine;
The engine has previously been overhauled.

The engines are “run in” immediately after purchasing the boat. At this stage, it is recommended to opt for mineral lubricant base. And after finishing the “break-in” of 2-stroke engines, you should switch to “synthetics”. This approach increases the operational life of the unit.

Among the most popular manufacturers power plants for boats include Yamaha, Suzuki and Tohatsu. It was said above that the choice of lubricant for motors is recommended to be made based on the recommendations for a particular unit.

For example, Suzuki brand installations work well on a synthetic base that costs 500 rubles or less. Yamaha models are characterized by increased reliability. Therefore, you can even fill them with automotive lubricants. As for Tohatsu, when using this unit it is worth using specialized materials. In particular, it is recommended to fill Quicksilver products.

In cases where the boat owner doubts that the motor can withstand working with “synthetics”, you can opt for a semi-synthetic base.

Engine operation without oil

If the oil base is completely used up, the engine will continue to operate for some time. However, with a prolonged absence of lubricant, the likelihood of failure of the power unit sharply increases due to the fact that strong friction occurs between the piston and the wall, which renders this component unusable.

In general, the choice is determined by the advice of experienced users and recommendations of manufacturers.