Shell Rotella T4 15W-40 — Scarce

[Blueone]

I tend to follow Tony at sbmar.com's advise on the oil levels. I've always run my 6CTA at half way up the hash mark on the dipstick and due to a brain fart moment i added it to the end of the hash mark. The result I believe was foaming in the crank case which resulted in a zero oil pressure reading. I think its definitely based on motor but I now strictly run mine on the lower end of the hash markings.

I have run mine at full for 6 years now….. never had a problem

 

[HawkX66]

I have run mine at full for 6 years now….. never had a problem

That you know of... Dipping your crankshaft in the oil is not a good thing. Much less efficient for starters. That's why they have crank scrapers in performance engines.

 

[Blueone]

That you know of... Dipping your crankshaft in the oil is not a good thing. Much less efficient for starters. That's why they have crank scrapers in performance engines.

I meant with oil pressure. If you’re saying I am going to blowup my engine because I ran with the oil at full…. Then you need to back that up with something from Cummins…..
I get it you have your own world experiences… and there is nothing wrong with running anywhere between the hash marks…. To each his own but don’t throw stuff out there without it being substantiated with something… especially with my particular engines

 

[HawkX66]

I meant with oil pressure. If you’re saying I am going to blowup my engine because I ran with the oil at full…. Then you need to back that up with something from Cummins…..
I get it you have your own world experiences… and there is nothing wrong with running anywhere between the hash marks…. To each his own but don’t throw stuff out there without it being substantiated with something… especially with my particular engines

Whoa. I'm sorry, but my "stuff" is more than substantiated. It basic motor mechanics. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with your particular engines. I know nothing about them. I'm simply saying you want to make sure you're not over filled and dipping your crankshaft in an oil bath. It's not good for the engine.

 

[swaterhouse]

You can easily check your dipstick markings yourself. Drain the old oil, add either 3.5 or 4 gallons and see where that sits on the dipstick.

My notes (and please don't ask for references, I looked this up the year I boat my 44DA) says Cummins specifies 4 gallons to the low mark and 5 gallons to the high mark. Tony at sbmar.com suggests 3.5 is low and 4.5 is low.

If I recall correctly it took just a hair over 3.5 gallons for me to get to the low mark. I would idle to heat and circulate oil then recheck in 20 minutes. I then added oil to the point it was halfway between two marks and it ran like that for the whole season. I never once added oil mid season with an average season of 100ish hours, one with 175 hours.

Right or wrong, I trusted two totally separate certified Cummins Marine mechanics and Tony at sbmar.com who is well respected.

 

[todd choops]

i went to my local Cummins truck dealer and bought valvoline blue in 5 gallon pails with no problem around 80 bucks each had plenty on hand and cheaper then Napa they wanted to charge me for the shipping that's BS

 

[Captsteve427]

I tend to follow Tony at sbmar.com's advise on the oil levels. I've always run my 6CTA at half way up the hash mark on the dipstick and due to a brain fart moment i added it to the end of the hash mark. The result I believe was foaming in the crank case which resulted in a zero oil pressure reading. I think its definitely based on motor but I now strictly run mine on the lower end of the hash markings.

All this makes sense, thnx. Picked up 2–five gallon buckets of Shell Rotell T4 15w-40 today at local marine supply….. $92.00 each. West Marine wanted $150.00!!

 

[Captsteve427]

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Has anyone had any issues charging iphones after swapping out the 12-volt outlet in the galley cabinet, with one of these Marineco dual USB charging ports? I know the smallest charging block that came with the phone is rated at 5-watts, but no idea what the watt output rating is on this. My assumption is it’s at least 5-watts.

I swapped it out and my iPhone X is charging, but don’t know what, if any detriment there is to not using a charging block? I’d like to also run a wire to the forward berth and add another under the TV too, if this 15amp max circuit could handle charging two, or three phones.