I use a two cycle outboard oil that meets the TCW3 specs and use a quart to about 20 gallons. The TCW3 specs are the current specs for the outboard marine industry.
If you do some searching on the differences in the oils, you will find that the aircooled 2 stroke oils do not have the high viscosity that the marine 2 stroke oil does and also that the marine 2 stroke oil is designed to lubricate parts that are held at a constant temperature whereas the air cooled oil is not as thick and is designed for bursts of power usage followed by periods of light use, as opposed to the constant demand for power, and there fore lubricatoin that the marine outboard environment calls for as well as the deuce. The example given is that a marine outboard runs at a pretty steady rpm for hours if necessary then is shut down at the end of a run.
That this oil provides lubrication is pointed out in the article and I am sure that some of it is due to the formulation of the 2 stroke oil which includes highly volatile additives to improve the distribution of the opil additive in the fuel. I tried using straight motor oil and found it just does not seem to lube the IP system as well.
When my deuce is running happily, it is as smooth as a sewing machine with not noises other than what you would expect. When I am not running the 2 stroke marine oil, I hear more noise from the injector pump and injection system which manifests itself as a change in the rhythym and the addition of some diesel rattle that really should be there. I have owned and operated truck diesels over the years and up until the new ULSD came along this was never an issue.
I trust the information that others have gathered on the ULSD issue and when I read that IP systems failed due to a lack of lubricant in the fuel my alarms went off regarding our older mechanical injector systems.
I urge everyone who is concerned with this to do some simple searches and find out for themselves what is at stake. This also varies somewhat as to which state you are in and whether they have implemented ULSD as of yet. Here in the communist state of New York, we are of course following the every move of the People's Republc of California who have already adopted these standards.
RL
RL