oil change

[illholla]

ok another topic started by me sorry but i searched couldnt find anything

so i need to make a oil change i kno it says 15-40

i looked at advance and all the 15-40 i found where for diesels

what do you recommend from advance?

[russlars]

15W-40 is typically used in diesel engines which is why it is labeled as such. My understanding is that you can go ahead and use it in your MC just fine. I happen to use Pennzoil and I know that they also make a 15W-40 labeled as a "marine oil", but from what I have read it is the exact same product as the "diesel" version.

[bigmac]

Yes, they are often labelled diesel oils because the API specs were instituted by the heavy equipment industry (Caterpillar etc). You can use any 15W40 oil that meets or exceeds the API specs Indmar recommends. Current specs are API service classification CI-4 Plus, or CI-4/SL. Most popular brands appear to be Shell Rotella T or Pennzoil.

[snork]

Don't fordet to add oil to the filter prior to installing on the motor or your check eng. alarm will sound.

[davomaddo]

I have been told that Chevron Delo 400 is an excellent oil that meets all the requirements:
http://www.chevrondelo.com/en/products/engineoil/default.asp
Has anyone else used this?
It is a lot easier to find than Penzoil. I could never find Penzoil, except for at the dealer which isn't close.

I used it for about 5 years on my boat. The engine never broke, for what that is worth.
The website doesn't list use in boats. However, the applications look similar to skiing/wakeboarding.

Product Applications
• Mixed fleets pf European, North American and/or Japanese diesel engines (high-speed, four-stroke, turbocharged or naturally aspirated)

• Commercial road transport, including vehicles with the latest electronically-controlled engines and those designed to meet Euro 3 emissions standards

• Commercial road transport, including the latest electronic controlled engines and those designed to meet Euro 3 emissions standards

• Stop-and-go vehicles in high soot loading service such as buses and waste collection trucks

• Off-highway vehicles and plant machinery

• Tractors and farm machinery

• Power generation sets

• Mobile hydraulic systems (where oil type and viscosity are appropriate)

Select Performance Specifications
• API Service Categories, including CI-4, CH-4/SL

• JASO DH-1

• ACEA E5

• Cummins CES 20078 and Volvo VDS-3

• Mack® EO-N Premium Plus

[Chicago190]

The specifications and uses (Diesel engines) look fine to me. Some people swear by certain oils, but I'm more of a believer in changing it regularly with a new filter. I think that following the manufacturer requirements and service schedule will allow the engine to outlive most people's ownership of the boat. Personally I use Shell Rotella because it's widely available and recommended by a number of members here.

For what it's worth, last year I started the season using Mastercraft oil and spun a bearing and had the engine replaced, although I suspect the previous owner neglected basic maintenance.

[Ibex144]

MerCruiser 25w-40 is what I use but I work at a marina and we put that in everything never any issues. I even used to put it in my 1988 Caprice Classic when I was a kid never any problems until it got really cold then she was hard to start. Man I miss that car.

[bigmac]

Choose the oil for your boat according to what the manufacturer recommends, based on the API specs, not on what it touts on the label on in magazine ads. Never could understand why people want to try to out-think the engine manufacturer. Usually it's because "that's what my daddy told me", or it's what some stock car racer says is good, or they have a friend of a friend of a friend who's a mechanic and says "this stuff is really good". Especially puzzling are the guys who say "I've been using this oil for years and never had a problem". As if catastrophic oil-related engine failures are EVER a likely event.

Engine manufacturers spend a lot of time and effort determining the specs oils need to meet in order to provide optimum longevity and performance. Seems most logical to me to follow their lead, since none of us, or our friends, or our mechanics, are smarter than the guys who designed and built the engine.

Delo 400 is perfectly adequate oil for boating application. No better, no worse than any other API CI-4 oil on the market

[east tx skier]

What BigMac said. For what it's worth though, WalMart had Pennzoil Marine 15W40 ever time I was ever looking for it. But look at specs, not brand.

[kentcunningham]

Just started using Rotella T this year based on recommendatins from this forum. The only place I can find Pennzoil Marine 15W40 is the dealer too...not as lucky as East TX here in Middle TN. ;-)

[Cloaked]

Rotella is fine for the bOte engine. I use it in both my gasser and diesel.