How many use synthetic oil and lube?

F

fouroaksphoto

New Member
Mar 3, 2009
23
MARYLAND
Boat Info
2008 240 SUN DECK
Engines
350 MAG B III
I am in my third year of boating (first two with an 06' 195 Sport and now an 08' 240 Sun Deck 350 Mag BIII) and I'm wondering how may of you out there are using synthetic motor oils and synthetic drive lubes such as Amsoil or Royal Purple. Since the 240 SD is under warranty and only has 43 hours I'm not even entertaining the idea of making a switch to synthetics until after the warranty period expires if at all. At the 20 hour break in oil change the oil was predictably very dirty and near black. But the 25W40 Mercruiser oil I replaced it with is also near black with 23 hours on it. I assume this is a high detergent oil and 43 hours isn't enough break in. Any thoughts?
 
If Amsoil and Royal Purple are specifically for marine applications, I don't see why not. If they are for auto application, I wouldn't put it in my engine even if it were free, the labor were free, and they included a dozen Crispy Creme donuts.

http://www.royalpurple.com/motor-oil.html
 
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I'm using the Quicksilver synthetic blend 25W40. It doesn't seem to get dirty looking as fast as yours, but then I've always heard that the "dirty" appearance is not really an indicator of anything good or bad. Mine is pretty dark by the time I change it (approx. every 70 hours/ 9 months).

Quicksilver now has it's own full synthetic, and theorectically it should be better than the blend or the 100% petroleum based oil.

I wouldn't take a chance using lubricants for land-based automotive use - all those ratings, cetifications etc specified in the Merc manual and shown on the oil bottle labels really are important to comply with, IMHO.
 
I have alway use automotive oil for many years and never ever have problem. engine is an engine and oil is oil. Mercruiser dont build engine they use automotive base engine paint in black
 
I do in everything. The stuff does not break down.
I'm not sure what I want to run in my New 8.1 Mag.
A dino oil, Shell Rotella15/40 during break in.
Then switch to Amsoil 15/40 synthetic marine.
Or a 20/50 Synthetic oil.
I like the thicker 20w oil film when the engine sitting and cold for a week or more at a time :huh:
The fleet 15/40 oils have the best additive package.
I know im not running Mercs oil.
 
stephane said:
I have alway use automotive oil for many years and never ever have problem. engine is an engine and oil is oil. Mercruiser dont build engine they use automotive base engine paint in black
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Not an engineer, heh?

This is just wrong. During Mercruiser Mechanic Training, they compare cruising along at 3500 RPM and 25 mph to hooking your boat/trailer to your truck, finding a steep hill, starting up that hill at 3500 RPM while consuming 15 gph and continuing to do so for hours at a time, for most of the life of your vehicle. If you were doing that with your car, you would select a different oil than the one recommended.

Oils are engineered with very specific goals in mind from extreme economy (Honda) to heat resistance, to extreme wear protection... Some are designed for the marine environment, some aren't. Are you likely to ever notice the difference? Hopefully not. Just like with cheap insurance - hopefully you never figure out how cheap it is.

It's just wrong to compare automotive oil to marine oil.

I use the Merc Synthetic Blend. My SR dealer fills up a 5 gallon gas jug of it for me pretty cheap ($95, I think).

PS: Your warranty is void if you do not use the recommended viscosity 25-40, I believe, which only comes in marine grade. Gee, I wonder why that is? I bet it's to protect the consumer from himself (no, not just to make an extra buck, in this case - but that too).
 
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We talk about sintetic oil here not 10w30! One pint of 5w50 sintetic is by far better than any mercruiser regular oil talk about ignorant! Im boating since 20 years and I have install the diesel engine in my boat my self your the kind who rely on merc to tell them wath to use in your boat and rip you . im not So after the waranty I use syntetiq oil in all gaz engine. Im runing my diesel with Shell rotella anyway im french native so im not very good to argu on english but you should know q bit more about wath you talking about before to treat other ignorant because you are.
 
stephane said:
We talk about sintetic oil here not 10w30! One pint of 5w50 sintetic is by far better than any mercruiser regular oil talk about ignorant! Im boating since 20 years and I have install the diesel engine in my boat my self your the kind who rely on merc to tell them wath to use in your boat and rip you . im not So after the waranty I use syntetiq oil in all gaz engine. Im runing my diesel with Shell rotella anyway im french native so im not very good to argu on english but you should know q bit more about wath you talking about before to treat other ignorant because you are.
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Stephane,

I will discuss this in broken English if you refrain from childish rants. Your first post stated that engines are engines and oil is oil. These statements are incorrect, when comparing automotive use to marine use. Your second post gets into more details about what kind of oils apply to your application, and is much more correct. Also, you acknowledge the warranty issue which can be critical to some.

I don't doubt your knowledge or experience. I just corrected your incorrect statements.
 
Hampton -- You are all wet on several of your issues. Merc can not tell you what brand oil to use. they can only give you the specs they requir and suggest that you use their label product. Check the legality of this. It's been tried by manufactures but don't hold up. Ive boated for 30 plus years and been in the engine business (gas and diesel) that same time. Their are a lot of oils out there that do a wonderful job and will not cost you even today $95.00 for 5 gals. Your dealer loves you.

An old salty sea captain. :)
 
stephane said:
We talk about sintetic oil here not 10w30! One pint of 5w50 sintetic is by far better than any mercruiser regular oil talk about ignorant! Im boating since 20 years and I have install the diesel engine in my boat my self your the kind who rely on merc to tell them wath to use in your boat and rip you . im not So after the waranty I use syntetiq oil in all gaz engine. Im runing my diesel with Shell rotella anyway im french native so im not very good to argu on english but you should know q bit more about wath you talking about before to treat other ignorant because you are.
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another... what goes onto a seat for the ignore list.
 
Hampton said:
Not an engineer, heh?

This is just wrong. During Mercruiser Mechanic Training, they compare cruising along at 3500 RPM and 25 mph to hooking your boat/trailer to your truck, finding a steep hill, starting up that hill at 3500 RPM while consuming 15 gph and continuing to do so for hours at a time, for most of the life of your vehicle. If you were doing that with your car, you would select a different oil than the one recommended.

Oils are engineered with very specific goals in mind from extreme economy (Honda) to heat resistance, to extreme wear protection... Some are designed for the marine environment, some aren't. Are you likely to ever notice the difference? Hopefully not. Just like with cheap insurance - hopefully you never figure out how cheap it is.

It's just wrong to compare automotive oil to marine oil.

I use the Merc Synthetic Blend. My SR dealer fills up a 5 gallon gas jug of it for me pretty cheap ($95, I think).

PS: Your warranty is void if you do not use the recommended viscosity 25-40, I believe, which only comes in marine grade. Gee, I wonder why that is? I bet it's to protect the consumer from himself (no, not just to make an extra buck, in this case - but that too).
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Hey that's a pretty good price on the blend! Especially since it retails for $33 per gallon normally. Are you sure he is giving you the good stuff? :huh:
 
What sucks now days is the oil company's are being forced to go fuel economy oils. ILSAC They have had to take some good metal protection additives out. EPA? Mandates that catalytic converters last 150k miles. The oil companys quality oils never had problems clogging Cats with all there testing they have done. Auto Mfgs are still worried about having Cat problems and told the oil companys to change there additive package.
CP 4+ Was the last of the good diesel/fleet oils.
The good news is. Engine builders had to go to roller cams due to poor additives in the newer oils wearing out the flat tappet camshaft assemblies on performance engines.
This is info I read on the Internet anyway :huh:
I had read something with the marine grade classification had something to do with 4 stroke outboards. Because there engines are standing on end. :huh:
 
Fishnut said:
Hey that's a pretty good price on the blend! Especially since it retails for $33 per gallon normally. Are you sure he is giving you the good stuff? :huh:
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I pump it myself out of the big, 55 gallon barrel marked as 25-40 Merc Syn Blend. Unless they're swapping it out, then I'm pretty sure (but don't think that didn't cross my mind too).
 
Sea Captain Larry said:
Hampton -- You are all wet on several of your issues. Merc can not tell you what brand oil to use. they can only give you the specs they requir and suggest that you use their label product. Check the legality of this. It's been tried by manufactures but don't hold up. Ive boated for 30 plus years and been in the engine business (gas and diesel) that same time. Their are a lot of oils out there that do a wonderful job and will not cost you even today $95.00 for 5 gals. Your dealer loves you.

An old salty sea captain. :)
Click to expand...

Larry, I'm not generally confrontational here is cyber world, but what are the several issues?. I never mention brand of oil. Requiring a non-automotive viscosity will drive many customers to use their marine oil. "PS: Your warranty is void if you do not use the recommended viscosity 25-40, I believe, which only comes in marine grade. Gee, I wonder why that is? I bet it's to protect the consumer from himself (no, not just to make an extra buck, in this case - but that too)."

I thought the next reply was that they're just trying to make an extra buck, so I was posting that reply in advance.

My main points are that just because marine engines come from automotive blocks does not make the engines the same primarily due to use and environment and that the oils are definately not the same.
 
Hampton said:
Larry, I'm not generally confrontational here is cyber world, but what are the several issues?. I never mention brand of oil. Requiring a non-automotive viscosity will drive many customers to use their marine oil. "PS: Your warranty is void if you do not use the recommended viscosity 25-40, I believe, which only comes in marine grade. Gee, I wonder why that is? I bet it's to protect the consumer from himself (no, not just to make an extra buck, in this case - but that too)."

I thought the next reply was that they're just trying to make an extra buck, so I was posting that reply in advance.

My main points are that just because marine engines come from automotive blocks does not make the engines the same primarily due to use and environment and that the oils are definately not the same.
Click to expand...

I’m with you on this one John, way too much money invested in my boat to try and cut corners on using automotive oil because it is cheaper. I will stick with the Mercury Synthetic Blend that I am using now.
 
20.00 bucks a gal is a little high for a Syn blend. But not bad. 25/40 is a good viscosity. Using a wide range multi viscosity oil is risky. 10/40 is suppose to be the worst.
They have VI improvers that thicken the oil up as it heats. These VI improvers can burn causing sludge destroying the engine. These things start out round, then unroll, Thickening the oil when they heat up. Amazing :smt101
I need to get back to cutting holes in my boat now:grin:
 
I will only ever use the recommended (top one on the list in my engine manual) oil and keep the receipts to prove it for down the road when I want to sell, or if there is a problem. I have written the date of the change and hours on the receipt, and into the boating file it goes.

I dont care if I save $100 on an oil and lube change, and dont care if a cheaper oil is the exact same thing or not. Just going by the manual, and never have to worry.
 
Read the FAQ. You can use any of the recommended oils, including non-Mercury branded ones that are FC-W rated or a straight 30W or 40W as per the temperature chart. Using any of the recommended oils does not void the warranty and it's illegal for a manufacturer to require using only their brand of service goods to maintain warranty coverage. (Google Magnuson-Moss Act -- I think that's the correct spelling)

Viscosity improvers (VI) are another matter. Merc does not approve the use of multi viscosity oils that use VIs. Again, see the FAQ.
 
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