Home › Forums › Bass Cat Boats › Mercury Premium Plus Oil!
Does anyone have a Mercury Pro XS and use any other oil, besides the Mercury or Quicksilver Premium Plus Oil? I am only asking because I saw that Academy carries Penzoil Premium Plus TC-W3 and it is half the cost of the Mercury branded oil. Both brands have the same specs on the bottle. Just curious.James
Technically speaking, Pennzoil MAY be the same as Merc/Quicksilver, but I know that while Ive run nothing but Merc oils over the years, Ive had no engine problems of any kind. I also know that when others have had issues, there was a question about what oil was run.Im a bean-counter–and I did a quick cost benefit analysis, and if you assume you run 50 gallons of oil per year (way more than most), and you buy it at $20/gallon bulk price from your dealer, thats $1K on oil. If you save $5/gallon with cheaper oil, and nothing happens, you save $250. Thats it. Most recreational anglers will never save that in a year. Just not worth the risk for me. Im running Merc/Quicksilver Premium Plus in my 250 Pro XS.Mike Whitten/Germantown, TN
I use to run it in my pro max and it ran fine so I picked up a 2.5 gallon jug the other day for my Yamaha sires II and it also is running just fine. It is the same specks and all came from pretty much the same hole in the ground if you ask me. Im not sure if it will affect you warranty though, but is definitely half the price.
Never understood why someone would want to save a few dollars on a little cheaper oil for such an expensive toy. According to merc techs their oil has additives others dont. Maybe they do and maybe they dont but I am going to go with the best because it is cheaper in the long run.
I asked a question and never indicated I was using it. Mercury doesnt make their branded oil, they farm it out. I currently use Mercury Oil. Of course Mercury is going to say that their oil is the best or no one would buy it. They do have a marketing strategy. I was just curious if anyone had any experience with the Pennzoil brand.James
I use the penzoil brand. It smokes up a little more, but thats pretty much it.Dan Yonan. ———————————————————
Heres my .02 worth on this… Mercury designed and tested the proXS motors on Mercury Premium Plus. Oil is the life blood of all motors be it your outboard or your truck or any thing else that burns gas or diesel. So lets say the Merc oil is $30. a gal and Brand X is $15.00 a gal. and the average guy uses 5 gal. of oil per season..Thats $75.00 difference per year and over 10 yrs. would be $750.00.. Is it worth $75.00 or even $750.00 over 10 years to risk a oil related powerhead failure on a powerhead thats average cost is around $8,000.+..I dont think so..When you look at the big picture the oil cost is one of the lower expenses of all …Sherm
I buy my oil in bulk from a dealer 19.95 a gallon. #1 supporting my local dealer, Academy, BPS, etc…has never been there to help when my motor needed service or I had a question on it. I priced Penzoil for 14.95 the other day and go through about six or seven gallons a year.It cost me about 2.91 extra a month to use the factory oil, support my local dealer (its nice to see them for something other than a gripe about my motor being broke once and a while:) and KNOW if I have a problem Merc is going to stand behind me without questioning what kind of oil I am using. I KNOW this because I did have a problem with another Merc and one of the first things asked and checked by the regional tech rep was the oil tank. HMMMMMM, which brand should I run???????????
JohnM17s comments are the feelings we would have shared. BCB
Ive been running Pennzoil since the early 90s with zero issues.Now, here comes the “BUT”….I have only owned EFI engines, not the DFI or Pro XS technology. My 200 EFI was new when I bought it in 97 and the 96 model 175 EFI that I now have was a “used” motor that the previous owner had bought. I run the Pennzoil Premium Plus Synthetic Blend XLF(for older engines). I ran a NIB 95 model 175 on my Sabre with the oil as well. AND, this was after warranty period expired on these engines. I am very comfortable with the EFI technology of that time that I have confidence in this oil.I cant recommend changing, that is each persons choice. I wont bash the brand either. Just my two cents.Last edited by jignpig on February 2nd, 2010, 11:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.96 Eyra/12 Mercury 175 Pro XS with 2015 single axle trailer2017 Victory Gunner
© 2026 Bass Cat Boats

