Normal Engine Oil Consumption

[H2ONUT]

Burn "0"

I also add Marvel Mystery Oil with the oil change at the beginning of each season.

 

[hack4alivin]

When I first bought the boat (used), it seemed to need a quart or so every so often (50 hours), but since I've had it a while, the usage has dropped to about zero. Maybe it's because I use the Synthetic? (Doubt it). Maybe it's because we use it frequently?

How is the Synthetic working out for you? I have used it in my car since the first oil change, and it is standard in my Wife's BMW, but I have not heard too much about it on the boat engines.

My 350's have a little over 200 hundred hours on them, on my next oil change should I consider Synthetic?

 

[boatrboy]

This year I have added about 1 1/2 quarts with about 70 hours on it. Several trips have been several hours long so I don't know if that has anything to do with it. I usually change my oil w/merc 25-40 at 50 hours so I never noticed it needing more than a quart until this year.

 

[skolbe]

I have used Merc's synthetic blend in my 320 since I bought it. I am not sure what to think. I am getting a little oil consumption. But the engines are still relatively new so still breaking in.

I always noticed on my 260 with a 7.4 MPI, that I never used any oil until the late summer after I had hit 40 to 50 hours and went on a long trip. Then I would use a half quart or so.

 

[Hampton]

How is the Synthetic working out for you? I have used it in my car since the first oil change, and it is standard in my Wife's BMW, but I have not heard too much about it on the boat engines.

My 350's have a little over 200 hundred hours on them, on my next oil change should I consider Synthetic?

Yes, but I personally would only use the Merc synthetic. I buy mine in bulk from my dealer. I carry a 5-gallon plastic container in and I usually pump it myself from the 55 gallon drum. It's about $4/quart that way (instead of $17 or something outrageous like that).

It's interesting that Merc never recommended Synthetic until they started producing their own, now they say it's approved for use in all Merc engines, new or used (don't quote me on that - info is from my dealer). Also, it's a Synthetic Blend as opposed to pure synthetic, whatever that's worth.

On using it in your car since the first oil change, I've heard that you should let your engine break in first before changing to synthetic if synthetic is not the normal oil recommendation. Using synthetic right from the beginning supposedly will not allow normal break-in wear to occur, so your gas mileage may be affected. It may also have other impacts (run hot?) if the car's not broken in. Some high-end cars are sold new with the engine broken in, so that would not apply to them.

 

[Yachtsea]

0 use here.

 

[skolbe]

0 use here.

In how many hours? How often do you change the oil?

 

[Nehalennia]

I changed the oil usually every 30 hours in my last boats. This boat, I just clicked over 100 hrs this weekend and I'm on the 2nd oil change(1 in Jan, 1 in July), so I will change in the beginning of Oct. I'll try to continue changing the oil every 30 hrs. It may be overkill, but It's worked to this point. Oil's cheap(in the big picture) and knowing the engine runs at 3400 for hours at a time, I'll spoil it when I can.

 

[skolbe]

In my opinion it seems like at 50 hours is when I see it getting dirty and consumption starts. It could be that it is 100 plus degrees in my area once I hit around 50 hours.

 

[Yachtsea]

In how many hours? How often do you change the oil?

Once per season at the end of the season. About 70 hours a season. Less this year.

I would check my level each time I got gas. Over time, I saw no use so now I check less often.