Sucked out my old oil and put in the new oil and a new oil filter. A few running hours later, the oil level was a quart low. Normal with the new oil filter taking on the oil. Added a quart and had a great trip. Next trip, I noticed the oil go a quart low again. (These Lake Powell trips are 100-150 miles or around 40-50 engine hours.) Added a quart and finished another big outing.
Last trip, I didn't have any motor oil on hand. Stopped into three stores and couldn't get my normal 25w-40 quicksilver/merc sterndrive oil. The sun was setting and we had to drop the boat in to get going. Worried just a bit ... but I had a plan. Lake Powell is a strange and mysterious beast. 42 miles up the lake is Dangling Rope marina. I planned to stop there for gas and some extra motor oil.
Next day, we stop into Dangling Rope and they have a shelf full of all the different motor oils you could imagine. Except mine. *%#$&*. Dip stack says 'Full', so we are ok for now. A barge would arrive in the next day or two and stock up some sterndrive oil. Right. Off we go, fishing, skiing, exploring and camping. FUN!!
Two days later, we pull in for some more of that tasty $4.56 per gallon gasoline. Yummy. And, oh yeah, the oil... Still none on the shelf and I'm 1/2 quart low. Just above the 'Add' line. What to do? I buy a quart of 10w-30, 4-cycle for outboard motors. It was the closest they had. I didn't add it to the engine but I toss it into the boat trunk to have on hand. We've only got 42 miles to go to get off the lake.
Well, at lunch I check the stick. Now we are clearly under the 'Add' line with 20 miles to the boat ramp and the end of the trip. The temp gauge came up a hair and my stress level goes way up. I had to put the quart of 10w-30 in using the "Any oil is better than no oil" idea. Temp gauge returns to its normal position so we cruz straight line and slow to the ramp to get off the lake.
I always watch my bilge water and drain plug water like a hawk for discolor. I always get good clear water coming out, so I feel confident the boat isn't leaking oil off seals or loose filter. But now my oil is less than perfect. The new oil has about 50 engine hours on it and the one quart of 10w-30. SO -- Do I go in and change out all of my motor oil and filter again??? Or can I let it go???
Overall, it looks like the boat is burning one quart every 40-50 engine hours. Is that 'normal burn' or is that 'too much burn' for a 1994 boat?? Total 300 engine hours.
Thanks for the ideas!
Last trip, I didn't have any motor oil on hand. Stopped into three stores and couldn't get my normal 25w-40 quicksilver/merc sterndrive oil. The sun was setting and we had to drop the boat in to get going. Worried just a bit ... but I had a plan. Lake Powell is a strange and mysterious beast. 42 miles up the lake is Dangling Rope marina. I planned to stop there for gas and some extra motor oil.
Next day, we stop into Dangling Rope and they have a shelf full of all the different motor oils you could imagine. Except mine. *%#$&*. Dip stack says 'Full', so we are ok for now. A barge would arrive in the next day or two and stock up some sterndrive oil. Right. Off we go, fishing, skiing, exploring and camping. FUN!!
Two days later, we pull in for some more of that tasty $4.56 per gallon gasoline. Yummy. And, oh yeah, the oil... Still none on the shelf and I'm 1/2 quart low. Just above the 'Add' line. What to do? I buy a quart of 10w-30, 4-cycle for outboard motors. It was the closest they had. I didn't add it to the engine but I toss it into the boat trunk to have on hand. We've only got 42 miles to go to get off the lake.
Well, at lunch I check the stick. Now we are clearly under the 'Add' line with 20 miles to the boat ramp and the end of the trip. The temp gauge came up a hair and my stress level goes way up. I had to put the quart of 10w-30 in using the "Any oil is better than no oil" idea. Temp gauge returns to its normal position so we cruz straight line and slow to the ramp to get off the lake.
I always watch my bilge water and drain plug water like a hawk for discolor. I always get good clear water coming out, so I feel confident the boat isn't leaking oil off seals or loose filter. But now my oil is less than perfect. The new oil has about 50 engine hours on it and the one quart of 10w-30. SO -- Do I go in and change out all of my motor oil and filter again??? Or can I let it go???
Overall, it looks like the boat is burning one quart every 40-50 engine hours. Is that 'normal burn' or is that 'too much burn' for a 1994 boat?? Total 300 engine hours.
Thanks for the ideas!
