Two rookie questions

[Jeb]

This is all great advice. After quickly searching Amazon, I noticed that the prices were all relatively the same, so I've been able to order Merc/Quicksilver products exclusively so far. (NGK plugs, too).

I wouldn't consider myself mechanically inclined, but I plan on doing as much maintenance/learning as much as I feel comfortable with. I ordered a manual.

As long as we're on topic - I'll throw this out there for thoughts: Like so many 6 cyl 2-strokes of this era, the oil injection unit proved faulty for the previous owner. He bypassed it before it caused him any problems and has been using the gravity-fed oil tank that sits right on top of the motor for the last couple of years.

I don't hate the idea of continuing this practice, except for the fact that the reservoir seems pretty small. What are your thoughts on just mixing directly into the fuel instead? What is the downside of that besides the inconvenience of doing occasional math?

I feel like 2-strokes did well on this practice for like 75 years before oil injection (and their crappy parts) came into play. Appreciate feedback on this. (And as I finish writing this, I'm thinking that there are probably 1000 threads dedicated exactly to this. Apologies if that's the case!)

Jeb