TOPIC: Oil/gas mix

I have a 1960 40hp Elgin outboard. The manual says 20:1 but with todays oil should I modify that to be more lean? This is the same as a Scott outboard.

A 40 hp Elgin/Scott should be "fully jeweled" i.e. all of its rotating components are running on needle, roller, or ball bearings. As such a 40:1 mix with modern oil should be adequate. I wouldn't go any leaner than that with the oil ratio, though.

Note that many older, mostly smaller outboards (such as 50's-vintage 7.5 and 5.5 Johnrudes) are running on bronze/aluminum bearing surfaces and those you shouldn't deviate from the mfr's original recommendations. Else they won't be rotating for much longer!

HTH...........ed