What Motor Oil Do You Use?

[Ol'Jim]

What brand & weight of oil do you folks use in your inboards, and what motor do you have?

We have a 1993 Sunbird Corsair with an OMC Cobra 4.3L V-6 (Chevy) engine.
Got it about 2 years ago, have had servicing done by marine center. No idea what they put in it, it has a generic-looking Group 7 (?) Oil Filter on it.

I have always used Valvoline oil in everything, for 35 years, with no problems ever. Sold my 1988 Chevy Truck with 293,000 miles on the original 5.7/350 V-8. It never tasted anything but Val 10/30 since new, when it had about 1500 miles on it.

So what do you recommend, do you use automotive oil & filters in your boats, or does marine service require something special?

Thanks! -Jim.

 

[180shabah]

Re: What Motor Oil Do You Use?

Nothing special is required. I prefer the K&N oil filters, very high flow rate AND good filtering abilty (unlike thier air filters which do not filter all that well) they are about $10 and easy to find.

For your oil, a straight 30 or 40 weight is fine, 20w40, 20w50 also would be good choices. you just don't want anything to thin in your boat engine.

 

[sea wolf]

Re: What Motor Oil Do You Use?

Stay away from 10w30 or 40.

 

[Coors]

Re: What Motor Oil Do You Use?

Lol, 180;
I bought the K&N air filter, with the chems, for my wife's Mustang.
You are correct-crappola.

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: What Motor Oil Do You Use?

We use MerCuiser oil and MerCruiser filters exclusively.

 

[Rob454]

Re: What Motor Oil Do You Use?

My boat mechanic told me to use 20-50w. he said it doesnt get that cold here in So cal
Rob

 

[smithrock]

Re: What Motor Oil Do You Use?

I use straight 40W also here in SoCal !

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: What Motor Oil Do You Use?

Well if you're asking what does Mercury Marine suggests, Here it is.

go here for the NMMA info.

I use 15W40 Shell Rotella in everything I own....Including the boat... except the Franklin 6A335. In that I use AeroShell 100.

I just LOVE oil threads!


Regards,


Rick

 

[Don S]

Re: What Motor Oil Do You Use?

Stay away from 10w30 or 40.

Volvo ALWAYS recommended using 10W40 up to about 5 years ago. Then it changed to 25W40. But the 10W40 worked fine for many years, and is still recommended for the new diesels.

 

[Coors]

Re: What Motor Oil Do You Use?

another oil thread.
Delo 400

 

[lime4x4]

Re: What Motor Oil Do You Use?

i use moble 1 15-50w in a 86 5.7 liter

 

[Bondo]

Re: What Motor Oil Do You Use?

another oil thread.

Ayuh,...........

Mobil 1, 15W-50 in My 4.3LX........

Mobil 1, 75W-90 in the Alpha 1 drive.........

ATF, or Hyd. Oil, Whichever is handier for the P/S,+ Trim system............

 

[jspringator]

Re: What Motor Oil Do You Use?

Most of the auto manufacturers have gone to a 5-W-30 synthetic to speed oil pumping to the valves. I could compromise and use a 5-W-40 Rotella synthetic.

 

[Don S]

Re: What Motor Oil Do You Use?

Most of the auto manufacturers have gone to a 5-W-30 synthetic

But when was the last time an auto engine ran up a steep hill at 3500 rpm in low gear for hours on end?

 

[Dante04SRT]

Re: What Motor Oil Do You Use?

How about filters?? Where can I get 'em? Do they have to be a marine specific? What would be an appropriate over-the-counter P/N I could buy at say Autozone for a 3.0 merc?

 

[Coors]

Re: What Motor Oil Do You Use?

Anything except Fram
Now an oil filter thread...
25/40; 40... try to stay for thick at hot. Your engine is under constant load.

 

[Coors]

Re: What Motor Oil Do You Use?

PS, Bondo has a buddy, his name is Kevin; that knows it all.

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: What Motor Oil Do You Use?

Volvo ALWAYS recommended using 10W40 up to about 5 years ago.

I'm thinking that's because Volvo always had engine oil coolers. makes it a whole different game with the engine oil being cooled- and I suspect with cold (raw) water through the engine cooler- brrrrr
Go Swedes! -Prolly drops the oil temp 50 degrees from a Mercrapper or OhMyChrist

 

[Dante04SRT]

Re: What Motor Oil Do You Use?

After reading this thread, I went to WalMart (since it was still open of course), and went through the oil section.

They carry Quicksilver products, I noticed.

I REALLY need to do an oil change on my boat very soon and because I'm on a tight budget for now, I was considering running Castrol GTX 20w-50 once. It was only $2.88/qt. I use Castrol in everything else, so I'm not worried about brand, just the weight. Will that work OK?

Also, I was going to get a Quicksilver filter while I'm there, considering they were only $7.88. Which one would I need for my 3.0 Merc? Any ideas? They didn't have any type of guide (tho there were only 2 that said "designed for Mercruiser or GM marine engines").

 

[jspringator]

Re: What Motor Oil Do You Use?

As I understand it, a 5-W-40 would be a 40 weight oil when hot, and a 5 weight oil when cold and on initial start up. If a multiweight oil was heaver when needed, why forgo the advantages of quick pumping on initial start up? I am talking about using quality synthetics and use in engines that are brought up to operating temperature for extended periods when run.