2 stroke oil
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 208
Likes: 64
From: Asheville. NC
I use a capfull of Marvel Mystery Oil in my evo from time to time because unleaded gas doesn't have the lubricity for older (worn out engines). There is a case where a 2-stroke could need lubrication after detonation and the unburned oil then goes out the exhaust. In a 4-stroke the oil would end up in the sump which causes overheating and gumming. **** Facebook.
Last edited by mitchxout; Sep 22, 2018 at 11:10 AM.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 462
Likes: 87
From: Southern California
Sidenote here. I have a Honda scooter with auto oil injection. The fuel in it was 18 years old before I drained and replaced it 6 monhs ago. It started and ran fine with that 18 year old fuel.
FWIW.
FWIW.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 465
Likes: 122
From: Texas
I used to use that back in the mid 80s in my alky fueled drag car. It smelled cool, but it wasn't very good at keeping the fuel from corroding fuel system components.
These days, there are a bunch of high quality fuel additives that do a much better job. Alky fueled vehicles need something. Currently I use Red Line additives in my methanol fueled drag car. However, gasoline fueled vehicles don't need anything, unless your motor was designed for leaded fuels and the valve seats are the parent iron in cast iron heads. Aluminum headed vehicles have hard valve seats. So nothing is needed, except for something like "Stabil" if the thing is gonna sit for awhile. And even then, only if ethanol laced fuels are used. That fuel has a tendency to leave a film in components if allowed to sit and dry out.
If you were using E85, it would be good the use a fuel additive for that.
Two stroke oil? I wouldn't use it. It'll make the motor smoke and as others have pointed out, leave carbon deposits. Your stock breather system puts enough oil into the fuel charge as it is.
Octane boosters for high compression motors can be helpful for motor with high enough compression to be on the edge of detonation, but really only serve to slow the rate of combustion. If you are running high enough compression that it pings or detonates on pump gas, then use gasoline (race gas) formulated for that. Personally, I wouldn't build a motor for a street bike with compression that high. You'd only be able to ride it as far as fuel was available. Plus, most race fuels are illegal to run on the street. Fuel taxes and all. The Man needs his cut. But, in all seriousness, you'd never get called out on it unless it had to be smog checked.
These days, there are a bunch of high quality fuel additives that do a much better job. Alky fueled vehicles need something. Currently I use Red Line additives in my methanol fueled drag car. However, gasoline fueled vehicles don't need anything, unless your motor was designed for leaded fuels and the valve seats are the parent iron in cast iron heads. Aluminum headed vehicles have hard valve seats. So nothing is needed, except for something like "Stabil" if the thing is gonna sit for awhile. And even then, only if ethanol laced fuels are used. That fuel has a tendency to leave a film in components if allowed to sit and dry out.
If you were using E85, it would be good the use a fuel additive for that.
Two stroke oil? I wouldn't use it. It'll make the motor smoke and as others have pointed out, leave carbon deposits. Your stock breather system puts enough oil into the fuel charge as it is.
Octane boosters for high compression motors can be helpful for motor with high enough compression to be on the edge of detonation, but really only serve to slow the rate of combustion. If you are running high enough compression that it pings or detonates on pump gas, then use gasoline (race gas) formulated for that. Personally, I wouldn't build a motor for a street bike with compression that high. You'd only be able to ride it as far as fuel was available. Plus, most race fuels are illegal to run on the street. Fuel taxes and all. The Man needs his cut. But, in all seriousness, you'd never get called out on it unless it had to be smog checked.
Yeah we use Royal Purple in our alky fueled 57, still gotta go through the fuel system every off-season
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 256
Likes: 152
From: Iowa
So...I have been adding 2 stroke oil to my vehicles for about 4 years and to my Harley for the last 20,000 miles. If you go onto the bobistheoilguy forum you will see hundreds of pages of discussion that all refer to hundreds of pages of discussion that happened on the Corvette LS1 forum. The BobIsTheOilGuy ( which...all oil questions should go there...these guys actually test their oil. Imagine a whole forum dedicated to oil...LOL ) refers to this thread: https://www.ls1.com/forums/f48/been-testing-oil-91206/
As stated above...you are already mixing oil while riding your Harley if you have not done the bypass. Problem is this is regular 4 stroke engine oil. When they talk about adding 2 stroke oil to your 4 stroke gas they are specifying "TC-W3 marine 2 stroke oil". This oil is ashless and doesn't f-up your catalytic converter ( so they say ). Which means the stock Harley with a rebreather burning oil is probably no bueno for the cats. This isn't like mixing your CR250 at 32:1...
You mix the TC-W3 at 400:1 which is 1 oz in 5 gal of gas. Not a whole lot...and it DOES NOT SMOKE as some have stated.
So why would you use it? From my research I found that it doesn't harm the combustion of the gas as some have stated...but allows the gas to burn more uniform. It supposedly adds some octane to the gas...which any additive will...but only a fraction of a point. And yes...as stated before...modern gas is "dry" unless you have access to premium Top Tier gasoline.
There are many claims as to what benefits you get from adding it....and some have been mentioned here. Claims include the top end lubrication, easier starting, fuel pump lubrication, fuel injector lubrication, better gas mileage. In my vehicles I "think" I see easier starting and about 0.5 to 1 MPG better...which isn't much and is not scientifically verifiable.
At about 3000 miles I did the breather bypass. At that same time I started adding the 2 stroke oil. I was worried because my Harley is an air cooled engine that can run at a lot higher temps than a water cooled car. 20,000 miles later I can tell you that my bike runs awesome. This winter I did some work where I had to remove the heads...so I was curious as to what I would see. What I saw? It was relatively clean! There was a little carbon...I don't think you can escape that but I would say that the pistons where 60-70% carbon free and the area around the valves was carbon free too. I have seen some REALLY bad pictures of carbon buildup on Harleys...so I was happy.
TC-W3 marine 2 stroke oil is cheap. Does adding 1 oz per 5 gal hurt your Harley? I can say NO. Does it help your Harley? I don't know...
I would say if you have access to 90+ octane Top Tier gasoline...I would not do it.
I live in Iowa and ride back roads most of the time so the gas I have available is questionable...I have been adding it to the lawn mower gas, lawn tractor gas, edger gas...etc. and have not seen anything that would tell me it is harmful. My lawn mower is 14 years old so that's all I have to go on.
It's cheap...remember TC-W3 oil. Doesn't matter if it is dino or synthetic. If you don't mind wasting a little money and want to feel good like I do...go for it. Or don't do it and not worry about it.
All else aside...I would do the breather bypass based on what I have seen.
I don't have the ability to test all friction surfaces etc...I'm going to keep doing it.
Pin pulled...hand grenade tossed.
Last edited by Pachuco; Sep 22, 2018 at 05:16 PM.
Banned
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 21,413
Likes: 18,030
Been told NOT to add any oil or ATF in catalytic converter engine with oxygen sensors. Want to keep engine and fuel system clean with no oil emissions. Dont know if its true ot not.
I burn Chevron with Techron. It burns clean and keeps fuel system clean.
$.02 of knowledge.
I burn Chevron with Techron. It burns clean and keeps fuel system clean.
$.02 of knowledge.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,048
Likes: 492
From: Heart of Georgia
Many years ago my buddy and I were going deer hunting in my 64 Chevy pickup. I didnt have enough gas to make it there and all the gas stations were closed. All we had was a 2 gallon can of chainsaw gas. We didnt figure itd hurt anything so we poured it in. The truck barely made it back home. All 6 spark plugs were fouled so bad the thing would just barely run. And yes, the exhaust smelled like a chainsaw. After changing the plugs and filling it with fresh gas it was good as new. Lesson learned. Fill up your tank the day before you go hunting and never put chainsaw gas in your Chevy truck. Dont think Ill be putting any chainsaw gas in my Harley either. Its bad enough the government makes me put corn squeazins in it. As far as lubrication is concerned I just make sure it always has plenty of 20w50 in the oil tank.