Engine oil

Albert_J · Posted: May 08, 2003 9:53 am Post subject: Engine oil

Hi,

Can i use (Texaco) SAE 15W-40 with an Api rating of CG-4 in the Indmar Vortec MX predetor??

OttoNP · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 848 City: MI

You can use whatever you want, but Indmar recommends (and uses at their factory) Pennzoil Marine 15W40 Motor Oil. If not this, they recommend:

"20W40 or 20W50 oil meeting the API specification of SJ/CG4 or better. Synthetic oil that meets our requirement of 15W40and API rating of SJ/CJ4 is acceptable to use after 100 hours or operation with the recommended (not synthetic) oil"

This is from their webpage.

Nick
________
MEXICO HOTELS

Breezer · Outlaw Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 246 City: Austin

I use Valvoline 15W40 and change the oil every 40 hours religiosly. I hope it is OK.

Albert_J · Posted: May 08, 2003 12:18 pm Post subject:

Do you use the all-climate engine oil of valvoline?

colorider · Newbie Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 42 City: denver

Talked to my mastercraft mechanic this week about oil for my predator engine. He said that if you use valvoline 15-40, then stick with the valvoline product. If you use penzoil, then always use penzoil. He said not to switch from one to the other from oil change to oil change. He also said to avoid synthetic oils. He stated that synthetic is designed for car engines that run much hotter then boat engines and the oil is not utilized to its full advantage in a boat engine.

Breezer · Outlaw Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 246 City: Austin

I'm really not sure if it is all climate Valvoline or not. I asked this same question before my first oil change. I kept getting an answer that oil is oil. 15W40 is basically the same. But, as COLORIDER said, you need to stick to the same oil every time you change it.

hundel · Criminal Joined: 25 Apr 2003 Posts: 93

Manuals are a good starting point (very specific recommendations) but remember that they're based on the advice of their bus dev department's corporate partnerships as much as the advice of their engineers.

Advice against synthetics is partially encouraged by the oil corps. Only time I'd ever avoid synthetic is during new engine break in when the perfection of synthetics could reduce friction enough to hamper proper ring seating. If you're worried it will never be "used to its potential", just ask yourself if you've ever heard of/had a boat that overheated once or twice when the impeller got mucked up or something.

Other than that, oil is oil. At least, that's why the API ratings were started, so companies couldn't feed you a line like "now that we put penzoil in there you better never buy another brand".