Two-Stroke Engine Lubrication

Due to the nature of two-stroke marine engines, two-stroke oil lubricates the engine parts as it passes through the engine and is burned along with the fuel. Two-stroke oil can be mixed with the fuel physically or, in the case of direct fuel injection, combined with the fuel in the combustion chamber. This stands in contrast to four-stroke engines where oil sumps circulate the oil by pumping it throughout the engines.

Long-Term Industry Goals

The two-stroke engine industry’s long-term objectives are twofold. The first is to reduce emissions which contain burned and unburned oil that has passed through the engine. The second is to develop a quality of oil that reduces the oil-to-fuel mixture ratio while extending the life of the engine.

Achieving these goals will lead to significantly reduced emissions, meeting EPA requirements. It will also result in fewer warranty problems and greater customer satisfaction as engines will have a longer lifespan, requiring less maintenance and fewer overhauls.

The Role of TC-W3® Lubricant

TC-W3® lubricant, an NMMA-owned trademark, has evolved over the years through extensive testing and research. It has consistently achieved the quality level needed to satisfy the objectives mentioned above. Additionally, as two-stroke engines have advanced and cylinder temperatures and compressions have increased, this lubricant also plays a role in achieving EPA emissions reduction goals.

TC-W3® oils have demonstrated the necessary lubrication performance quality needed for these more demanding cylinder/engine conditions.

TC-W3® Oil Standard

The TC-W3® oil standard is a performance-based qualification program. The requirements include various bench tests for fluidity, miscibility, rust, compatibility, etc. Additionally, engine tests are used to evaluate the oil’s effectiveness in the prevention of ring sticking and carbon buildup on pistons and other engine components.

The testing process consists of one Johnson 40 hp engine test and two consecutive Mercury 15 hp engine tests. During these tests, each of the engines is run under severe conditions for 100 hours. Two additional engine tests are also conducted to ensure a high level of lubricity performance. Although the testing process is comprehensive and expensive, it is invaluable in delivering a high-quality outcome for consumers and manufacturers.

2025 TC-W3® Registered Two-Stroke-Cycle Marine Oils

Number Name Company
RL-00405J Starbrite Super Premium TCW3 KINPAK, INC.
RL-00406J Starbrite Premium TCW3 KINPAK, INC.
RL-00415J Mystik Marine Prem 2T OBMO Citgo Petroleum Corporation
RL-00420J Super Outboard 3 Chevron Singapore Pte Ltd.
RL-00421J Regatta Petron Corporation
RL-00444K Nautilus Premium Outboard Oil Pennzoil-Quaker State Company
RL-00447K Lucas Land & Sea Lucas Oil Products, Inc.
RL-00467M Mercury Racing 2-Stroke Mercury Marine
RL-098359A NEPTUNA 2T SUPER SPORT TotalEnergies Lubrifiants
RL-111104Z Fram Amalie Oil Company
RL-129470Z Marathon Marine-Terrain TC-W3 Pinnacle Oil Holdings, LLC
RL-13125P Lucas Synthetic Blend 2-Cycle Marine Oil Lucas Oil Products, Inc.
RL-13136U SuperSyn Outboard 2-Cycle Marine Oil Smitty's Supply Inc.
RL-13139U Pennzoil Premium Outboard and Multipurpose 2-Cycle Oil Pennzoil-Quaker State Company
RL-13216U Super S Premium Outboard Oil Smitty's Supply Inc.
RL-13464U Shell Advance Premium Pennzoil-Quaker State Company
RL-13776U Bardahl Nautico 2T TC-W3 BARDAHL DE MEXICO S. DE R.L DE C.V.
RL-13778U INA Outboard Plus INA MAZIVA, Ltd
RL-13818U Marine 2 Temps TCWIII Minerva Oil SAS
RL-13837W Champion Outboard 2T TC-W3 Champion Chemicals N.V.
RL-13889W Chronus Outboard Water Cooled 2-Cycle Motor Oil Novergy Chemicals Corp
RL-13937W Wolf Outboard 2T TC-W3 Wolf Oil Corporation N.V.
RL-14116U CAM2 Blue Blood 2-Cycle Marine Oil Smitty's Supply Inc.
RL-14361X Lubrex Marine 2T Plus LUBREX FZC
RL-168964C QUICKSILVER PREMIUM 2-STROKE ENGINE OIL Mercury Marine
RL-213978Z Circle K Pinnacle Oil Holdings, LLC
RL-233246Z National TC-W3 Pinnacle Oil Holdings, LLC
RL-27039K Sierra Premium 2-Cycle Oil Sierra International
RL-29152R SPC Outboard 2T Super Singapore Petroleum Company Limited
RL-30103K Lubrax Nautica Gasolina 2T / Petrobras Vibra Energia S.A.
RL-331679Y Outboard Two Stroke Marine TC-W3 Gulf Western Premium Quality Lubricating Oils Pty Ltd
RL-33301R LUBECO 2T Outboard Oil Biona Jersin, s.r.o.
RL-34644U Nautilus Premium Outboard Pennzoil-Quaker State Company
RL-363729A Yamalube 2M Yamaha Motor Corporation
RL-37590U KPO Jet Ski Watecraft 2-Stroke Oil Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.
RL-37761U Liqui Moly Marine 2T DFI Motor Oil Liqui Moly GmbH
RL-38293W Liqui Moly Marine 2T Motor Oil Liqui Moly GmbH
RL-405015A Havoline Outboard 2T Chevron Global Lubricants
RL-405912C BRAVA NAUTICUS Olein Recovery Corp
RL-414211Y Bass Pro Shops 2-Stroke Marine Engine Oil Amalie Oil Company
RL-417681B Nulon 2 Stroke Marine Outboard Oil FUCHS SE
RL-437634Z HS X3M Amalie Oil Company
RL-446654C YAMALUBE Industria Mexicana de Equipo Marino (IMEMSA)
RL-448835C MERCURY PREMIUM PLUS 2-STROKE ENGINE OIL Mercury Marine
RL-459295Z Itasca 2-Cycle Engine Oil TC-W3 Warren Oil Company
RL-487849B REPSOL SAILOR OUTBOARD & JET SKI 2T BARDAHL DE MEXICO S. DE R.L DE C.V.
RL-494688X Sintmare 2T Rilub S.p.A.
RL-508655C MotorMaster 2-Cycle Outboard Engine Oil Irving Oil Limited dba Irving Blending & Packaging
RL-511652A NEPTUNA 2T SUPER SPORT TotalEnergies Lubrifiants
RL-530243D LUBRAX NÁUTICA GASOLINA 2T Vibra Energia S.A.
RL-541554C Irving 2-CYCLE PLUS Irving Oil Limited dba Irving Blending & Packaging
RL-542320C MERCURY PREMIUM 2-STROKE ENGINE OIL Mercury Marine
RL-57170L Titan Marine TC-W 3 FUCHS SE
RL-585036D OUTBOARD TCW-3 UNIL OPAL SAS
RL-646188X Havoline Two-Cycle Engine Oil TC-W3 Iconic Lubrificantes S.A.
RL-697232A Havoline Two Cycle Engine Oil Chevron Global Lubricants
RL-707675A Havoline Two Cycle Engine Oil Chevron Global Lubricants
RL-744144C QUICKSILVER PREMIUM PLUS 2-STROKE ENGINE OIL Mercury Marine
RL-751807C Yamalube 2M v2 Yamaha Motor Corporation
RL-776876X Ipiranga Marina 2T Plus Iconic Lubrificantes S.A.
RL-779423Z Fire Star Premium TC-W3 Pinnacle Oil Holdings, LLC
RL-790144A NEPTUNA 2T BIO-JET TotalEnergies Lubrifiants
RL-800381Y Havoline Super Outboard 3 Chevron Singapore Pte Ltd.
RL-837822A Harvest King Premium 2-Cycle Outboard Engine Oil Citgo Petroleum Corporation
RL-859783A NEPTUNA 2T SUPER SPORT TotalEnergies Lubrifiants
RL-867211A YAMALUBE 2T Eduardono S.A.S.
RL-90042R IGOL Prosurf Aquasynth 2T TC-W3 IGOL France
RL-912225A NEPTUNA 2T SUPER SPORT TotalEnergies Lubrifiants
RL-923623Z Smartoil Nautique Smartoil de Guatemala, S.A.
RL-92940K Sierra Direct Injection Sierra International
RL-93100P Klondike 2-Cycle Engine Oil Klondike Lubricants Corp
RL-93110R Starfire Premium 2-Cycle Engine Oil Coolants Plus Inc.
RL-941799Z Starbrite Star Tron TC-W3 KINPAK, INC.
RL-96660T PUMA 2T Outboard TCW3 Puma Energy Supply & Trading PTE LTD (Panama Branch)
RL-96661T Raloy Dos Tiempos TC-W3 (Outboard 2T) Raloy Lubricantes, S.A. de C.V.
RL-99050M Syngard Premium Outboard TC-W3 Engine Oil Martin Lubricants; Div. of Martin Operating Partnership L.P.
RL-99465T Max Outboard PTT Oil and Retail Business Public Company Limited
RL-99990T Yamalube 2M Yamaha Motor Distribution Latin America Inc.
RL00151F Xcel Outboard & 2-Cycle Oil Amalie Oil Company
RL01763K PETRONAS OUTBOARD SPECIAL Petronas Lubricants Italy S.p.A.
RL05012F Amalie Pro Two-Cycle TC-W3 Amalie Oil Company
RL27003G Pennsoil Marine Premium Plus Pennzoil-Quaker State Company
RL27004G Pennzoil Marine XLF Pennzoil-Quaker State Company
RL29018F RAVENOL Outboardoel 2T Teilsynth Ravensberger Schmierstoffvertrieb GmbH
RL29019G Ravenol Watercraft Fullsynth. 2-Takt Ravensberger Schmierstoffvertrieb GmbH
RL29901H Ravenol Watercraft Mineral 2-Takt Ravensberger Schmierstoffvertrieb GmbH
RL30010H Ravenol Watercraft Teilsynth 2-Takt Ravensberger Schmierstoffvertrieb GmbH
RL50391 IGOL Prosurf TC-W3 IGOL France
RL90000G Ravenol Outboardoel 2T Mineral Ravensberger Schmierstoffvertrieb GmbH
RL90001G Ravenol Outboardoel 2T Fullsynth Ravensberger Schmierstoffvertrieb GmbH
RL90044D Yacco Outboard 1000 2T YACCO
RL91506H NYCOLUBE 210 NYCO
RL92010J Resolute 2-Cycle TC-W3 Citgo Petroleum Corporation
RL92334D Havoline Two-Cycle Engine Oil TC-W3 Chevron Global Lubricants
RL92805 JET SPEED 2T MOTOREX AG
RL93002J Super Outboard 3 Chevron Singapore Pte Ltd.
RL93340 OCEAN FS 2T BIO MOTOREX AG
RL95102C Tohatsu Premium Outboard Oil Tohatsu America Corp.

For more information regarding oil certification, contact:

Scott Berry
Senior Director, Engineering Standards
312.946.6254