www.iFourWinns.com

I know most of you get your boat serviced at reputable dealers, but even then, they will often use just average oil. Does anyone opt to use a higher quality oil ?? If so what oil / viscosity / brand etc ?? I have on order a H180 3.0 Mercruiser and was wondering is it worth the extra expense ?? All of my cars I try always to use a high quality oil because over the life of the car's engine, it works out only a couple of hundred dollars extra and I believe it pays for itself, does this line of thinking cross over to the boat engine??
Well what do you reckon??????????
Ardy
South Australia

_________________
Ardy
Adelaide South Australia
Red H180 3.0 Merc

Howdy,

Here's Mercruisers suggestion.

http://www.mercurymarine.com/serviceand ... ueloil.php

In reality, you can use just about any oil. Just change it once a year or every 100 hrs or so....then change it right before "winter' layup.


Cheers,

_________________
1987 Four Winns Liberator 211, formerly OMC 460 King Kobra powered, replaced in 2006 by a 1997 Mercruiser 454/Bravo III

I use the 25W40 Merc Synthetic Blend myself.

_________________
Paul
2007 Four Winns Horizon 220
Mercruiser 350 Mag MPI w/ Bravo III Drive
2004 Ford Explorer Limited (V8-AWD)
Pomme de Terre Lake (Southwest Missouri)

+1 - Merc 25W40.

_________________
_________________
Rob
2007 Four Winns 180 Horizon

Royal Purple Oil SAE30...I use Royal Purple oils in everything from my my truck to my deep fryer...I swear by the stuff

Since you change the oil probably once a season...I would defiently say put in the ebst you can

_________________
2007 Four Winns 220SS (Sold!!)
2006 Toyota Tacoma

Hi Ardy,

Just had mine serviced last week - they used the genuine Volvo synthetic stuff in both the engine and the leg.

_________________


Alec

2006 Horizon 190
VP 4.3GL/SX, Sunsport

I'm in the Volvo camp too, but I do the same as Aussie_Horizon_190, using Volvo (30W) synthetic. If I had a supplier of the Royal Purple stuff around and I were doing the changes myself, then I wouldn't hesitate to use it either. I would suggest letting your dealer do the changes with genuine Merc oil during warranty period, just to eliminate any chance for dispute if things should go wrong.

IMO, the extra protection of a full synthetic would be of benefit in a "constantly loaded" marine engine. Nothin' to back that up..... just gut feel

_________________
2009 H180 w/3.0 Merc
Homebuilt Minimax Hydro
2011 Zodiac Cadet 310

On anything that is under warrantee, be it Volvo or Merc I'd use whatever they specify. Yes the cost is more than aftermarket stuff but if there is ever a warrantee issue there is no question.
In my 20 year old Cobra 4.3 I use Chevron Delo 400 straight 30 W and the Merc High Perfomance gear lube (as recommended by my sterndrive mechanic) with good results. I would not use a conventional multi vis in a marine engine unless specifically recommended by the manufacturer.

_________________
88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

I use genuine Volvo synthetic

_________________

2007 Four Winns Horizon 200
Santa Clarita, CA

Amsoil

_________________

For your new boat, use exactly what the manufacturer recommends. Beyond that, I'm a big believer in synthetic lubricants. For most people it's a once-per-year expense, so the additional cost for synthetic oil shouldn't be viewed as a hardship IMO.

_________________


Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

I intend to follow the servicing to the letter while it is under warranty and maybe if the service department is agreeable run the higher quality oil . Once out of warranty sounds like the synthetic oil is the go ,thanks for all your feedback any other suggestions is still welcome
Ardy
South Australia
4 months to go but who is counting

_________________
Ardy
Adelaide South Australia
Red H180 3.0 Merc

After my Fiasco with my blown oil cooler, I have changed my oil 4 times now. I used 10 W30 cheap stuff for my flushing and short run times and have now changed out to Quicksilver 25W40. I had bought some 10W40 full synthetic that I was going to use but a couple of veteran boat guys I know talked me out of it. They said the 10 weight state would be too light for proper lubrication on a marine engine that is under load and heat for long periods of time. I thought it was a load of BS but decided to Err on the side of caution and use the 25W40. My theory is that a car pounding down the highway at 65 mph is running just as hot and under the same load as a boat motor and we use 5W30 in some of those. I probably should have just used the synthetic but was a bit gunshy since I was so close to having to maybe replace a $10,000 motor.

_________________
Marc, Kathlin & Nathalie


'89 Chaparral Laser 32

'93 Vista 245, 5.8L w/ King Cobra

Former Boats
'01 H260, 7.4 VP Duoprop
'98 H200, 5.0 GL w/VP SX drive

Most Autos are only turning around 2K RPM while cruising 65 mph.

_________________

H210SS 6.2
F150 Platinum

I use Rotella T full synthetic 5W40.

_________________
2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225