Did I buy the right oil

[WESSTAR]

I just did an oil change on my boat and the oil I bought is 15w-40 but it says diesel on the back. The manual says to use SAE 15w-40 which it is but it also says that is should be CG-SJ4. The oil I have says CG-4 and SJ but not together. Did I mess up?

[bigmac]

I just did an oil change on my boat and the oil I bought is 15w-40 but it says diesel on the back. The manual says to use SAE 15w-40 which it is but it also says that is should be CG-SJ4. The oil I have says CG-4 and SJ but not together. Did I mess up?

Hard to find CG-4 oil...it's a non-current API spec. Current version is CI-4+. The answer to your question is yes, that's the right oil for your boat.

[jwroblew]

The 'C' in the spec is for commercial, and as bigmac says the current spec is CI-4, but if you look at the spec it says it meets all req. for CG-4. SJ4 is a different spec and is generally used for passanger car applications. Odds are to find all MC specs, your oil will be some type of diesel oil.

[bigmac]

API oil classifications are generated primarily by vehicle mfgrs relative to their warranty requirements. In the case of the "C" applications, those are mainly commerical-duty diesel engine mgfr's such as Caterpillar, Cummins, etc. The main features of these oils is soot control, and especially shear stability. This latter thing relates entirely to the "breakdown" of the oil. I'm not sure what has led Indmar to the conclusion that these commercial duty diesel oils are best for their non-diesel marine engines, but since our gasoline boat engines lack pre-combustion chambers and other diesel-specific features, I assume that it's the shear stability that Indmar finds most attractive rather than soot control.

As I may have mentioned before, there is a LOT of voodoo and consumer misconception in oil selection, but the API requirements are pretty rigidly enforced and the result is, marketing hype aside, that consumers can generally be confident that any brand of oil that meets those specs will perform at a level that will be safe for our boat engines with virtually no advantage from brand to brand. This voodoo best manifests itself IMHO relative to the use of synthetic oil. Most of those brands are indeed high quality oils, but provide no advantage in performance nor in engine longevity over conventional oils. The difference in shear stability is negligible, especially if the recommended drain intervals are followed. Note that Indmar does allow the use of synthetic oils after the first 100 hours on the engine, but the drain intervals are the same. Indmar, and most engine manufacturers, have no vested interest in synthetic vs non-synthetic oil. They don't pay for the oil changes, but they DO pay for engine failures under warranty. If General Motors, with their 100,000 mile power train warranty for example, had found that synthetic oil would cost them less in warranty claims, I'm pretty confident that's what they would recommendfor their engines.

[TX.X-30 fan]

Hard to find CG-4 oil...it's a non-current API spec. Current version is CI-4+. The answer to your question is yes, that's the right oil for your boat.





Just couldn't resist huh? :D

[bigmac]

I have to do what I can. So much misinformtion...so little time.

[TX.X-30 fan]

What is the best oil for frying calamari??? :confused: 8p

[TMCNo1]

What is the best oil for frying calamari??? :confused: 8p

Is Calamari the state food for California? :rolleyes::D

[TX.X-30 fan]

Brie I believe.

[TMCNo1]

Brie I believe.

Is that anything like quiche?
38569

[TX.X-30 fan]

Need to ask sodar he is the official wine/cheese/quiche dude.