Volvo Penta oil OK for breaking in motor?

[RCSConstruction]

I just realized that I am not sure about the makeup of the Volvo Penta oil?
Is it synthetic? Partially synthetic?
Main question would be, is it going to mess up my break in process?
They say synthetics are no good for brand new motors and Volvo doesn't say what it is.
I believe it was the VDS-3 oil, doesn't say anything about synthetic.
Thanks

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Volvo Penta oil OK for breaking in motor?

VDS-3 is a diesel spec for Volvo. I do not think the oil is synthetic, but I don't think I would use it for the first 20 or so hours. I would just use my favorite brand of straight dino 30W for the first 20 hours and then switch to whatever you want (VDS-3 or whatever) after that.

 

[RCSConstruction]

Re: Volvo Penta oil OK for breaking in motor?

Well dang'it.... There goes 32.00
The parts store told me it's the only oil Volvo Penta has now and it would be "fine". I guess my suspicions were correct.
Would a 20-50w be better than straight 30? The volvo penta oil is a 10-50w.
Thanks again bjcsc

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Volvo Penta oil OK for breaking in motor?

I would just leave it in there and watch your oil consumption carefully.

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Volvo Penta oil OK for breaking in motor?

RCS:
Although that is a diesel spec oil, Volvo does list it for gas engine use. I don't know what engine you have and thus what oil they recommend for it (multigrade? straight weight?)...the only reason I would hesitate to use it would be because it is a heavy duty super reduced wear type oil, which like synthetics, don't help rings and what not break in very well. If it's already in your case, you may as well just use it. If not, get something else and use it when you change it after break in. Then you can change to something else if you want. No sense in wasting the money...

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: Volvo Penta oil OK for breaking in motor?

What are we breaking in?
A lot of rebuilders use a honing process that really doesn't require any special oils or breaking in.
The oils got so good a decade ago, that they had to come up with rougher hones.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Volvo Penta oil OK for breaking in motor?

Cant go wrong with a straight weight Dino oil (say 30) as long as you dont run it @ a prolonged wot or under heavy loads, One thing i have done with my relativey new motor was to install a KN air cleaner arrestor, no one is going to tell me that wont do anything but prolong engine life.......Good to see your getting close to being on the water.. that boat should dance. When your finally on the water play with your trim a bit, that 4 blade you have will lift you way out and when encountering heavy chop putting the nose back in the chop will smooth her out nicely....youll lose some speed but still have your kidney's.........

Opps i sure hope you installed the trim tab's that hull will chine walk above 55 and youre gonna hit that quite easily...

 

[RCSConstruction]

Re: Volvo Penta oil OK for breaking in motor?

Thanks everyone. I went ahead and pumped it out and stuck regular Castrol in it. I didn't want to chance anything, I have worked so hard for some oil to screw things up. I called the machine shop and he recommended 10-40w for break-in.

Heya TailGunner,
Went out with the stock prop today and haven't mounted the trim tabs yet. Will do tomorrow. I wanted to know how the boat was without the prop or tabs. Was hitting 30-35mph at 3500rpm. That's as far as I took her.
We went out past the bay and hit some 2-3' swells and it wasn't bad at all. Right now the only way to have the trim on the drive is all the way down or else the bow is up to high, although it did help to have the trim up a little out there in the swells.
Very happy besides a few noises I heard. Very faint valve tick or the drive is clicking. I posted that question in another post.

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: Volvo Penta oil OK for breaking in motor?

I called the machine shop and he recommended 10-40w for break-in.

Not in a boat, man. Too thin. You need 1 of these:

30W
20W50
25W40

 

[andy1canada]

Re: Volvo Penta oil OK for breaking in motor?

Howdy RCS...

New mill... what a hoot!

Just thought I'd share my mechanics advise on new motor break-in; I'm about to go through the same thing as you with my boat. (just dropped a new Merc/Alpha 4.3/MPI in my 19'-Cuddy)

My mechanic is anal about keeping fresh-clean oil in her during break-in.

He says: During the first 10-hours the oil quickly becomes contaminated from fuel 'blowing-by' the unseated rings. He wants me to dump-it after the first 10, then change it again after the next 10. He claims it'll make a big difference in the overall longevity of the engine.

I believe him.

Good luck with your new set-up.

Cheers,
Terry