VP Syn 30W is now 10W-40

firecadet613 · **Posted:** Mon Sep 26, 2011 11:27 am

Just got my winterizing supplies in from Marine Parts Express.

I ordered some VP Syn 30W as I do every year, and 10W-40 was shipped instead and the different part number on my invoice. When I called to ask about it, they said its a switch made by VP.

Has anyone else heard/encountered this?

230 Mike · **Posted:** Mon Sep 26, 2011 4:38 pm

Haven't heard that, and would be surprised if that's really right. But if it is, Mobil 1 may become my oil of choice.

The straight 30W is what is still shown on the VP web site (for what that's worth).

firecadet613 · **Posted:** Mon Sep 26, 2011 4:45 pm

Doug Russell just confirmed.

No reason to stick with VP branded oil any longer.

230 Mike · **Posted:** Mon Sep 26, 2011 5:00 pm

I just spoke with the shop I use, who is a Volvo shop. They normally receive bulletins from VP when things like this change, and they haven't seen anything yet. I also called the VP tech support line (which may just be someone at iBoats) and they hadn't heard anything about it either. Finally, I called Amsoil (who makes the straight 30W for VP) and they said that oil is still being made (although I don't see it for sale on their web site, which seems odd).

firecadet613 · **Posted:** Mon Sep 26, 2011 5:11 pm

Here's the reply I got.

"According to Volvo, the 30 wt synthetic oil 3847306 supersedes to
21681794, which is now a 10w-40--this has been in just the past week or
so. There will be no parts bulletin, and Volvo said that the two can be
mixed. If you have any other questions, please feel free to call and
speak to one of our techies at the toll free number below.
Thank you, and so sorry for this inconvenience."

When I called Doug Russell, they said the same thing.

230 Mike · **Posted:** Mon Sep 26, 2011 5:22 pm

Well, I'm glad I've got enough 30W to get me through next fall's maintenance. By then hopefully it'll all be clear.

Kvou812 · **Posted:** Mon Sep 26, 2011 9:13 pm

Hmmm... pretty interesting since my 08' manual recommends Sae 30, 20w-50 and 15w-50 above 32 degrees and clearly says:

"The use of multi-viscosity oils such as 10w-30 and 10w-40 is not recommended unless single viscosity oils are unavailable."

Paul I. · **Posted:** Tue Sep 27, 2011 1:26 pm

In some ways I am not surprized. At the club, the old timers (I am 54) and more expericed boaters have said for years to use 40w or 50w oil. Because it will not thin out and a boat engine runs harder, at higher RPM for a longer time.

DaleG · **Posted:** Tue Sep 27, 2011 2:41 pm

Well --- since I have been running Mobil 1 10-40 anyway --- I guess my worries are over -- not that I ever did worry.
I would never pay for the VOLVO branded oil.

thx
Dale

Graham R · **Posted:** Tue Sep 27, 2011 4:25 pm

Here in the UK the only straight 30W oil you can buy is a non-synthetic from a farmers shop for something like a 1953 tractor. I've used the synthetic VP recommended alternative multigrades for 10 years without a problem.

Graham

Aussie_Horizon_190 · **Posted:** Tue Sep 27, 2011 6:57 pm

+1 Graham

In Oz, the Volvo oil is rediculously priced and none of the dealers I spoke to use it when they service your boat! I raced small block chev engines for 20+ years and use the same oil I used in them in my boat - synthetic 15W50.

http://www.nulon.com.au/products/Engine_Oils/Full_Synthetic_15W-50_Street_and_Track_Engine_Oil/

They have just released a marine specific oil to suit VP inboards 15W50 but have not seen this anywhere yet.

LouC · **Posted:** Wed Sep 28, 2011 6:00 am

I always used a straight weight in my old 4.3 but many people have used 20w/50 or 15w/40 without problems....I'd like to see a wear test comparing what Volvo recommends, vs Merc's....
I also wonder, does the Marine specific oil that Merc sells, have more zinc anti wear in it than other oils that are formulated for road use....
At the end of the day, you probably can go by your hot idle oil pressure readings, if you are at or above 20 psi the oil is probably fine, even though a Chevy small block does not 'need' that much pressure at idle, it's a good indication of how much the oil has thinned out with heat and use. My engine will show a cold idle oil pressure of about 40 psi and a hot reading at idle of 20. This is with straight 40 Chevron Delo 400....

Cap'n Morgan · **Posted:** Wed Sep 28, 2011 8:23 am

LouC wrote:

A 10W30 or 10W40 gets the multi vis by using VI (viscosity index) improvers which get sheared down by high rpm use and eventually that results in deposits and a loss of viscosity. So under typical marine use, a straight wt oil (no VI improvers) will hold up better with less deposits and will hold its viscosity better. When Merc came out with their 25-40 oil they made a point of saying they did it by not using vi improvers.
I think 2 of the better oils to use in 4 stroke inboards are Chevron Delo 400 straight 30 or 40, and Shell Rotella T 30 or 40. Both are heavy duty oils that in straight wts do not use VI improvers.

If you got the time.... a previous oil thread with some answers to common questions.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5739

ric · **Posted:** Wed Sep 28, 2011 8:40 am

If you have a "v" engine, multi viscosity is fine. If you have a 3.0, you need zinc for the old skewl lifter/cam design. Zinc is generally only found in single weight oil now. Otherwise, who cares what you run.

Cap'n Morgan · **Posted:** Wed Sep 28, 2011 9:05 am

ric wrote:

. Otherwise, who cares what you run.

If one is fortunate enough to own a new boat, and they don't care what they run, depending on what you choose, like an automotive 10W40 for example, it's possible that it could void the manufacturer's warranty for using oil other than what is recommended. So I for one, would definately care what oil I ran in a newer/under warranty boat engine.

www.iFourWinns.com

VP Syn 30W is now 10W-40

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