I have an 88 seville with the 4.3 205 hp engine and was wondering what type of oil should I use ? 5w30 or 10w30 or ??? Any idea about the oil filter ?? BTW the majority of my boating will be done when the air temp here in vegas is around 100. Thnx for your help .
Oil question
- Thread starter VEGAS RAY
- Start date
This is an easy one some one MUST have the answer to this.
douglee25
Well-Known Member
I would run straight 30 weight. Boat engines are subjected to greater loads vs. car engines and the multi viscosity oils aren't made for that. Just be sure to warm up the engines prior to going full throttle.
Doug
Doug
89 Searay 200BR
New Member
Douglee25 has it right. Use a single viscosity oil in your engine..
Thanks guys I really appreciate your help :thumbsup:
- Nov 12, 2006
- 5,334
- Boat Info
- 1999 Sea Ray 330DA
Twin 7.4 MPI (310 propshaft HP) V-drives
- Engines
- Twin Mercury Marine marinized 7.4L L-29 V8s
Cast iron block w 4-bolt mains
Mercruiser has a FAQ page that covers this topic. Straight weight SAE 30 is not recommended for your area's temperatures! The FAQ page is the third hit when I did a google search.
Best regards,
Frank C
Best regards,
Frank C
Miss B havin
New Member
Thats a good point FC makes. Also the age of the engine. The older the motor the greater the clearances and tolerances. But weather is a factor 32-50ish degrees uses 30 weight. Greater than 50 degrees and you can use a 40 weight
douglee25
Well-Known Member
For a 20' Cuddy Cabin used on the lake, 30W is sufficient. We're not talking about a Trans-Atlantic boat here.
Doug
Weave
New Member
Why not use the Merc recommended 25w-40????????? Is a dollar per quart really saving you anything when you have to replace your engine? Just a thought
- Nov 12, 2006
- 5,334
- Boat Info
- 1999 Sea Ray 330DA
Twin 7.4 MPI (310 propshaft HP) V-drives
- Engines
- Twin Mercury Marine marinized 7.4L L-29 V8s
Cast iron block w 4-bolt mains
Then why even bother with changing the oil? Maybe he should just used old cooking oil from MacDonalds fryers?
Where's the constancy between that statement and this one?
douglee25 said:
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douglee25
Well-Known Member
My experience shows me that many boaters drop their boat into the water, start the boat up, then put the hammer down to get up on plane without sufficiently warming up their engine. 40W oil is thick enough that you run the risk of damaging engine internals if you do the above. 30W oil would be more forgiving for this type of situation.
Doug
I will say I ALWAYS make sure my boat is warmed up before putting the hammer down and NEVER run at full throttle for any legnth of time Im guessing 5/30 would work ?? but I dont know about boats and BTW money is not an issue I will use what ever is best for my boat .thnx
- Nov 12, 2006
- 5,334
- Boat Info
- 1999 Sea Ray 330DA
Twin 7.4 MPI (310 propshaft HP) V-drives
- Engines
- Twin Mercury Marine marinized 7.4L L-29 V8s
Cast iron block w 4-bolt mains
You didn't look at Merc's FAQ. The worst thing you could do is use 5w-30. The penultimate would be using straight 30. RTFM!
What type of oil should I use? Can I use synthetic oil?
Engine Oil
To help obtain optimum engine performance and to provide maximum protection, we strongly recommend the use of the following oils listed in the order of recommendation:
NOTE: The use of non-detergent oils, multi-viscosity oils (other than as specified), non-FC-W rated synthetic oils, low quality oils or oils that contain solid additives are specifically not recommended. [emphasis added - FC3]
- MerCruiser / Quicksilver Synthetic Blend, NMMA FC-W rated, 4 cycle oil.
- MerCruiser / Quicksilver 25W40 NMMA FC-W rated oil.
- A NMMA FC-W rated oil.
- MerCruiser / Quicksilver 4-cycle 25W40, non FC-W rated oil.
- A good grade straight weight detergent automotive oil per the operating chart below. [emphasis added - FC3]
This crankcase oil recommendation supersedes all previously printed crankcase oil recommendations for MerCruiser gasoline engines. The reason for this change is to include the newer engine oils that are now available in the recommendation. [emphasis added-FC3]
Older owner manuals, service manuals and other publications that are not regularly updated will not be revised to show this latest engine oil recommendation. Current owners manuals, service manuals and other service publications that receive regular updates will receive this revised recommendation the next time they are updated.
Any information to the contrary is simply wrong.
Best regards,
Frank
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douglee25
Well-Known Member
God has spoken... thou can rest.
dr.j
New Member
Merc 25/40 all the way. I had a 1990 4.3 LX with Alpha drive set up in a 19' bowrider with over 1000 hours and a new owner is still running it today. I changed the oil and filtre every 100 hours and if I didn't reach 100 hours in a season, it got changed in the fall prior to winter storage. We ran this puppy hard! It would hold 52 mph for 8 miles at a time when new and after 14 years she still would hit 46 mph pinned. The only engine work done; several full tune ups and one carb rebuild. I credit the regular quality oil changes and high test fuel (??? couldn't see any difference between HT and regular but fuel was much cheaper then and it made me feel good to burn HT) with such good performance.
Pirate
New Member
Doug, you seem a bit touchy on this. Can you really argue or take offense to someone refuting your advice when the manufacturer who designed and made the unit gives such specific parameters that are contrary to your offering? :huh:
douglee25
Well-Known Member
Check out Volvo's recommendation for the same engine. They recommend 30W oil for 32 degrees F. and above. Same engine, different color paint.
Doug
Pirate
New Member
Hmmm. I wonder what Cat has to say about my engines?
Weave
New Member
I love oil threads....:smt001
osd9
New Member
And I'm sure Volvo will be happy to honor your merc warranty....
