Q: My neighbor says he has always used "brand X" two-cycle oil and has never had a problem. My brother says he used "brand X" and had nothing but problems. Why is this? Who is right?
A: Probably both. Two different people with the same make and model engine can experience very different end-use results. Differences can include non-oil related mechanical failures, mode of operation, maintenance and care, contamination, etc. Oils are often credited or blamed for things that may or may not pertain to an oil's role in engine performance. If your brother used the same oil on the same type of engine but did not follow good mixing practices, you would expect him to get different results.
Q: I switched from "brand X" to "brand Y" and experienced engine failure in less than five minutes. Did "brand Y" have a bad batch? Will "brand Y" oil not work in my type of engine? My mechanic said he had heard of such things before.
A: These are "panic questions" which often arise after having experienced sudden unexpected engine failure that is unexplained and not yet investigated. Most often, when these questions are asked, the engine has not been torn down. Should a failure occur, the first step should be to have a trained service technician determine the nature of the failure. Most non-oil related problems are recognized by the mechanic at this point. If not, you should save all damaged parts and a sample of the fuel/oil mix. Start with where you purchased the equipment to see what advice or solution they can offer. It may also be advisable to contact your fuel/oil supplier. With the information gained at this point, you should have your questions answered. There are a few points you may wish to consider for possible future reference. If it happens quickly, it is probably not oil-related. Oil companies perform many quality checks and pull samples of product throughout the blending and packaging process.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: McQueen is the director of automotive products for ConocoPhillips. For more information, contact the Technical Service Hotline 800-766-0050 or www.phillips66lubricants.com.)