Another oil discussion....who hasn't had enough of those!?! ;)

[dougamclean]

That was just to draw your attention..

But seriously, how many of you here remove the old oil from your machines and replace it with fresh seasonally..?

As I understand, 2 stroke oil does have a shelf life..4-5 years in the bottle. Once opened and in the tank of your ride..1-2!! Or at least that is what I've read..

After that time the friction modifiers and anti-oxidizer additives start to break down..not to speak of the contaminants and moisture that get in.

Now it seems to me these old 2strokes I've been on the hunt for, I'm up to 5 now in the last couple months, have had their oil in the reservoir for an untold amount of time.

One machine in particular I got was a garage find..at least 5 years sitting. I opened the oil jug cap and the oil smelled like an old oil worker's boot...

I've just purchased a pump and a couple gallons of good quality oil..I'll be pumping out and disposing of it, then refilling with fresh. Paying special attention to draw out from the rotary gear sump too..

If you don't burn thru a whole tank a season..it seems as logical as changing the oil on a 4stroke to me!!

Anyone else do this?

 

[WhiskeyD]

No

 

[mikidymac]

No, it doesn't go bad. I am still using seadoo oem oil from the 90's.

The only reason to remove and replace it is if you are not 100% sure it is API-TC rated oil or if you are switching brands. you should also change the inline oil filter when switching oil also.

 

[dougamclean]

No, it doesn't go bad. I am still using seadoo oem oil from the 90's.

The only reason to remove and replace it is if you are not 100% sure it is API-TC rated oil or if you are switching brands. you should also change the inline oil filter when switching oil also.

Well on the 'going bad' I think our opinions differ..processed petrochemical products all have a shelf life. Then add environmental exposure once the it's removed from it's original bottling..

I will definitely be draining and refilling these machines of mine, if for no reason but I have no idea what the previous owners may have used!!

I'm always just a bit surprised that more don't consider it important to remove/change it..while still standing at the pulpit about the minute differences between the different types and effect it will have on their machine!!

I personally always either consume or remove the fluids before storage..especially due to the fact our machines sit for more months of the year than they are used up here in the Great White North!!

 

[lagojaguarasp]

That was just to draw your attention..

But seriously, how many of you here remove the old oil from your machines and replace it with fresh seasonally..?

As I understand, 2 stroke oil does have a shelf life..4-5 years in the bottle. Once opened and in the tank of your ride..1-2!! Or at least that is what I've read..

After that time the friction modifiers and anti-oxidizer additives start to break down..not to speak of the contaminants and moisture that get in.

Now it seems to me these old 2strokes I've been on the hunt for, I'm up to 5 now in the last couple months, have had their oil in the reservoir for an untold amount of time.

One machine in particular I got was a garage find..at least 5 years sitting. I opened the oil jug cap and the oil smelled like an old oil worker's boot...

I've just purchased a pump and a couple gallons of good quality oil..I'll be pumping out and disposing of it, then refilling with fresh. Paying special attention to draw out from the rotary gear sump too..

If you don't burn thru a whole tank a season..it seems as logical as changing the oil on a 4stroke to me!!

Anyone else do this?

OIL DISCUSSIONS ARE THE BEST!

If you really are going to draw out the oil from the rotary gear sump, could you take pictures of the procedure? I have read about about it being done but never actually seen a REAL tutorial!

 

[dougamclean]

OIL DISCUSSIONS ARE THE BEST!

If you really are going to draw out the oil from the rotary gear sump, could you take pictures of the procedure? I have read about about it being done but never actually seen a REAL tutorial!

I've already done it..sorry, no video or pics done at the time.

It was surprisingly easy..here is the whole procedure I used.

I bought $50 12v oil change pump off amazon.

1/ Used it I sucked out the oil from the tank 1st.

2/ Following that I removed the low oil hose that feeds oil to the rotary sump from the bottom of the oil tank and connected the hose to my pump. Be sure to put a rag under the outlet fitting on the bottom of the oil tank..to catch the small amount that is left. Turned on the pump and sucked the oil out backwards from the sump..once the drain line from the pump ran clear and the sump was empty, I shut off the pump and reconnected the hose to the bottom of the oil tank.

3/ then removed the oil feed hose to the injection pump and sucked the oil from that line with the pump. Then replaced the inline filter and black oil line with clear and left the hose off the injection pump for the moment.

4/ Poured 1 quart of new oil into the tank for the next steps...
a/ allowed the oil feed line to the pump to refill with new oil by gravity flow until the air was out..then reconnected it to the injection pump.(this way I didn't have to re-prime the injection pump. The small bit left in the pump and lines will burn thru quick enough)
b/ next I removed the sump oil return hose from the top of the oil tank and connected it to my pump. Turned it on briefly until is started to draw the new oil to make sure the sump was refilled and purged of air. Then reattached the upper hose..

Lastly another 3 quarts in until the tank was filled..all done.

I'll be doing it on another machine next..I'll be sure to video the next time to share!

 

[burtshaver2021]

I’ve never removed the oil seasonally. I do however remove the oil when it’s a new to me machine and I’m unsure of which oil they were using or I know they were using the wrong oil

 

[lagojaguarasp]

I've already done it..sorry, no video or pics done at the time.

It was surprisingly easy..here is the whole procedure I used.

I bought $50 12v oil change pump off amazon.

1/ Used it I sucked out the oil from the tank 1st.

2/ Following that I removed the low oil hose that feeds oil to the rotary sump from the bottom of the oil tank and connected the hose to my pump. Turned it on and sucked the oil out backwards..once the drain line from the pump ran clear and the sump was empty, I shut off the pump and reconnected the hose.

3/ then removed the oil feed hose to the injection pump and sucked the oil from that line. Then replaced the inline filter and left the hose off the ejection pump for the time being.

4/ Poured 1 quart of new oil into the tank for the next steps...
a/ allowed the oil feed line to the pump to refill by gravity flow to remove the air..then reconnected it to the injection pump.(this way I didn't have to re-prime the injection pump
b/ next removed the high oil return hose from the rotary sump and connected it to my pump. Turned it on briefly until is started to draw the new oil to make sure the sump was refilled. Then reattached the upper hose..

Lastly another 3 quarts in until the tank was filled..all done.

I'll be doing it on another machine next..I'll be sure to video the next time to share!

Nice! Looking foward to it!

 

[dougamclean]

I’ve never removed the oil seasonally. I do however remove the oil when it’s a new to me machine and I’m unsure of which oil they were using or I know they were using the wrong oil

I won't say you're wrong for not doing a seasonal change..I suppose it all depends on frequency of use of the machine and other environment factors.

And if I'm being truthful, nor do I 100%. But if I don't use one of my machines much thru that year and it stays in the tank for more than one season, I might remove the oil and put it into a higher turn over machines the next or give it to my buddy for his old Johnson outboard to get it burned. I won't let it sit in a machine for multiple years..

Fresh oil and fuel for every season prevents lubrication related issues and carb problems..I'm sure everyone will agree on that. Whether they do it or not is up to them..

Sleds in the winter, boat and PWC in the summer..a fresh start of fuel and oil is my regiment.

 

[WhiskeyD]

There is no reason to change your 2 stroke oil seasonally even if it does technically break down. 2 strokes have been around a long time now and if this was causing a problem then everyone would be doing it now. I've run 10yr old oil in my 650/750 yamahas and kawis, they will eat anything. A high compression race engine only gets fresh oil though.

 

[mikidymac]

There is no reason to change your 2 stroke oil seasonally even if it does technically break down. 2 strokes have been around a long time now and if this was causing a problem then everyone would be doing it now. I've run 10yr old oil in my 650/750 yamahas and kawis, they will eat anything. A high compression race engine only gets fresh oil though.

Exactly.
Like I said, I have run seadoo oil that was bottled in the 90's and oil in my skis that have sat for years. Not a single oil related issue, or any issue for that matter in 35 years. This is speaking oi oil injection with clean oil in the oil tanks.
The only thing I have seen kill engines is dirty carbs and running out of oil, never a single oil quality or age related issue.
Now a race engine should be premixed and fuel absolutely goes bad taking the oil with it. I also would never run premix in a ski that sat for more than a couple months and do drain my old fuel every season.

But the key here is if it makes you feel better and it is your ski then absolutely do what you are comfortable with. There is nothing wrong with that.