Hi Guys,
I'm looking at 2 boats, 1 is a Mercrusier 8.1, the other is powerd by a Volvo 8.1, both 2010 models.
I am told by competing dealerships (1 that sells Mercruiser and Volvo, and the other is strictly Volvo) different things about break in oil. The Merc VP dealer says to run it for 50 hours then change it out to VP or Mercruiser synthetic.
The VP only dealer says to run it for 50 hours then change it out but to run their minerial oil until the engine hits 150 hours, then after that you can put whatever you want.
The VP only dealer says this is strictly for the 8.1 engines, all the others it does not apply. The Merc/VP dealer says the engines are identicle. The VP dealer says the camshafts and valvesprings are completely different. He says the synthetic is to slick, that the roller lifters and camshaft can wear flat spots on to eachother because the cam profile is so different that the valves slam shut, where as the Mercruisers cam profile is more gentle.
He says that is 1 of the reasons the volvo 8.1's idle better than the Mercs. I have heard them both, and he is right, the VP is smoother.
The last thing the VP dealer says is that if you run synthetic to soon, before the engine is fully broken in, that because the oil is so thin the engine will burn quite a bit of it, and If I burn to much of it that it can burn out the 02 sensors. The Merc/VP dealer said nothing of that sort.
The VP only dealer says VP knows about it, that all VP dealers should know about it, and they have no idea why this other dealership has ever heard about it. They also state that the whole bit about the minerial oil for 150 hours is in the owners manual for the engine. They also warned be that if I do not use the correct oil that the engine will not be warranteed If I burn up the cam, lifters, or 02 sensors if they deem it is because of incorrect oil.
Any volvo tech's here???
Help!
I'm looking at 2 boats, 1 is a Mercrusier 8.1, the other is powerd by a Volvo 8.1, both 2010 models.
I am told by competing dealerships (1 that sells Mercruiser and Volvo, and the other is strictly Volvo) different things about break in oil. The Merc VP dealer says to run it for 50 hours then change it out to VP or Mercruiser synthetic.
The VP only dealer says to run it for 50 hours then change it out but to run their minerial oil until the engine hits 150 hours, then after that you can put whatever you want.
The VP only dealer says this is strictly for the 8.1 engines, all the others it does not apply. The Merc/VP dealer says the engines are identicle. The VP dealer says the camshafts and valvesprings are completely different. He says the synthetic is to slick, that the roller lifters and camshaft can wear flat spots on to eachother because the cam profile is so different that the valves slam shut, where as the Mercruisers cam profile is more gentle.
He says that is 1 of the reasons the volvo 8.1's idle better than the Mercs. I have heard them both, and he is right, the VP is smoother.
The last thing the VP dealer says is that if you run synthetic to soon, before the engine is fully broken in, that because the oil is so thin the engine will burn quite a bit of it, and If I burn to much of it that it can burn out the 02 sensors. The Merc/VP dealer said nothing of that sort.
The VP only dealer says VP knows about it, that all VP dealers should know about it, and they have no idea why this other dealership has ever heard about it. They also state that the whole bit about the minerial oil for 150 hours is in the owners manual for the engine. They also warned be that if I do not use the correct oil that the engine will not be warranteed If I burn up the cam, lifters, or 02 sensors if they deem it is because of incorrect oil.
Any volvo tech's here???
Help!
