Oil oil oil oil oil?????

S

SFORBES

New Member
Dec 31, 2009
9
Henderson KY
Boat Info
1994 Sea Ray 290
Engines
454 bvo 2
What is the correct engine oil to run in my 94 454ci 290 sea ray?

:smt100:smt100:smt100:smt100:smt100:smt100:smt100:smt100:smt100:smt100:smt100:smt100:smt100:smt100:smt100:smt100:smt100
 
who recommends it? mercury, who makes money off of selling their product. If they recommended any synthetic 25w-40 then they would not sell their product. Just because it says mercury on the label does not mean it is the best product. When you look at the lubrication and wear tests comparing mercury to other brands I think you would be surprised how mercury ranks with oils like AMSOIL. just my 2 cents
 
andy k said:
who recommends it? mercury, who makes money off of selling their product. If they recommended any synthetic 25w-40 then they would not sell their product. Just because it says mercury on the label does not mean it is the best product. When you look at the lubrication and wear tests comparing mercury to other brands I think you would be surprised how mercury ranks with oils like AMSOIL. just my 2 cents
Click to expand...
Finally someone with facts and test results instead of just opinions. Could you link us up with some of those tests?
 
I can not argue that some oils are better than others however; I ran a 4.3 V6 in a 19' Cadorette for 12 years and over 1000 hours without ever touching the block with a wrench. I used the merc 25-40, changed it every 100 hours prior to winter storage. My Searay 23' 7.4 454ci gets the same treatment; every fall or at 100 hours, whatever comes first.
 
Here are a few tests, I am not saying that Mercruiser Oil is bad, I am saying that just because it says mercruiser on the side of the bottle does not mean it is superior to everyone elses product. Both Dealers and the Manufacture will recommended their product only because they make money off of selling it. I work at a Mercury Dealer and we recommend it because if we recommended a different brand like AMSOIL we loose out on the $10 profit we would have made if we recommended mercury oil. Again Mercury oil is not bad, it is actually a very good oil, but if you want the best then mercury oil is not the oil for you.
 

Attachments

  • wcf_4ball_medium.jpg
    wcf_4ball_medium.jpg
    9.1 KB · Views: 570
  • wcf_hths_medium.jpg
    wcf_hths_medium.jpg
    14.8 KB · Views: 551
  • test 2.jpg
    test 2.jpg
    31.6 KB · Views: 561
Last edited:
I ran rotella 15-40 in my 7.4L and after 1100 hrs when I sold it it ran like new with even compression across all 8.
 
Assuming warm temperature use and forgetting the manufacturer, I have trouble wrapping my mind around why 25w40 is any better than 15w40. Something about the additives maybe?

I remember that the owner's manual for my previous boat stated a a specific contraindication to any synthetics, which I found surprising. That was a 2002 350 Mag Horizon.
 
All oils have had to dump ZDDP (anti wear component) to almost 0% to appease the EPA. Billions have been spent to find a replacement. Now even Rotella is lacking.

Amsoil does not carry an API Cert. Their claim is it costs too much. IF, and that's a big IF Amsoil still has ZDDP in it, it's worth it's weight in gold. If not and your engine is under warranty, andif it blows....well, let the buyer beware.

This will give a broad brushstroke of the issue:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc_dithiophosphate



Here is a test of several oils.

http://www.animegame.com/cars/Oil Tests.pdf


As one can see, good oil costs a lot. But as my dad used to say, "Son, cheap tools are very expensive."
 
dpmulvey said:
All oils have had to dump ZDDP (anti wear component) to almost 0% to appease the EPA. Billions have been spent to find a replacement.
Click to expand...

That was exactly what I was thinking, for us older boats not running roller lifters should we condider adding ZDDP? Does Merc oil still have ZDDP in it?

-Ryan
 
I think Rotella 15-40 still has 800-1000 ppm of ZDDP, which I think is close to automotive oils from 2000. Do some research on bobistheoilguy.com. They test the virgin oils, and that is what they are seeing.
 
I agree with Rotella, thats what I use. After talking to some engineers who work with high load engines that is what they recommended. Rotella and Delo were interchangable in their book. I stick with Rotella. It boils down to what you are comfortable running. If still under warranty, and Sea Ray voided engine failures if not running Mercury, I would run Mercury.
My engine manual says this:
To help obtain optimum engine performance and to
provide maximum protection, we strongly recommend
the use of Quicksilver 4-Cycle Marine Engine
Oil. If not available, a good grade, straight weight, detergent
automotive oil of correct viscosity, with an API
classification of SF or SG, may be used.
The following chart is a guide to crankcase oil selection.
Oil filter should always be changed with oil.
In those areas where recommended straight weight
oil is not available, a multi-viscosity 20W-40 (SF or
SG) or, as a second but less preferable choice,
20W-50 (SF or SG) may be used.
IMPORTANT: The use of non-detergent oils, multi-
viscosity oils (other than 20W-40 or 20W-50),
low quality oils or oils which contain solid additives
specifically are not recommended.

Of couse this is from 1989! I use 40W Rotella which is what is recommended for 50 deg F and above. If it's below 50 my boating is very limited!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,193
Messages
1,428,281
Members
61,104
Latest member
Three Amigos
Back
Top