I just brought home a new-to-me 2012 Stratos 189VLO.  150hp 2 cycle Pro XS.  I wanted to run it in my driveway so I'm looking it over, was going to fill the oil reservoir and noticed the oil in it from the last owner is brown in color. Looked clean, just brown. In my old Nitro, I always used Pennzoil and it's a blue color.

Should I be concerned?

Can different brands be different colors? Almost every brand of 2 cycle oil I have ever seen has been blue.

And lastly, if this is normal, can I mix my Pennzoil with this brown oil?

So after a little research, it looks like Mercury DFI oil is gold/brown. He was probably using this oil. I'm also reading this is much more expensive than the typical blue TCW oil.

I don't mind using this DFI oil if it's better for my engine.

Thoughts?

From Mercury:
 

Effective October 2010, Mercury OptiMax / DFI or Quicksilver DFI 2-Cycle engine oil is the recommended oil for all OptiMax models - including Pro XS. (The previous recommendation stated the use of Mercury Premium Plus 2-Cycle Outboard Oil in ProXS models and OptiMax oil in non-ProXS models.)
OptiMax / DFI oil is a superior oil when compared to the Premium Plus oil. While both products are high quality 2-cycle engine oils suitable for use in OptiMax engines, the OptiMax / DFI oil contains a higher percentage of additives that reduce carbon deposit formation. 

Over time, under normal operating conditions, carbon deposits accumulate in the power cylinder (piston, cylinder head, liners). In most cases the carbon deposits do not create a problem, but carbon deposits that form on the piston - particularly behind the piston rings and piston skirts - can reduce engine life and performance.

OptiMax / DFI oil is specially formulated to prevent the carbon deposits from forming. It also does a better job of reducing existing carbon deposits than the Premium Plus oil. Going forward, the Operation, Maintenance and Warranty manuals for OptiMax outboards will recommend Mercury OptiMax / DFI or Quicksilver DFI 2-Cycle engine oil to help maximize engine life and performance.

That's my answer^^^  Thank you brother

DFI is brown

Yeah the DFI oil is a brownish/gold and that's all I've run through my Pro XS.

On 3/21/2021 at 1:45 PM, slonezp said:

DFI is brown

 

15 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Yeah the DFI oil is a brownish/gold and that's all I've run through my Pro XS.

Thank you for confirming that for me guys