Oil Change intervals (months)

[mf01]

I know the recommendation to change the oil is every 50 hours, but is there a month limit like cars. I changed mine last November and only put 20 hours on since, but was thinking its been almost 6 months. Should I go ahead and change it again? Or is it overkill?

[jmo]

RE: Oil Change intervals (months)

I guess that depends on the usage pattern since you changed it. If you have been using sporadically since November, I would change it given we all essentially have car engines that were converted for marine applications and hence I think the 5k miles/6 months recommendation holds. However, if you changed it in November and it sat in the garage until March, I would start the 6 month clock from March as sitting idle with brand new oil is fine...

jmo

[johnjmurray]

RE: Oil Change intervals (months)

I agree with jmo in the fact that if you changed it in November and it has sat until now you should be fine with the oil from Nov. I winterize mine each year in Oct/Nov and change the oil then; come spring I'm good to go.

[jward]

RE: Oil Change intervals (months)

I heard a malibu mechanic talking about this once and he said that you should always change oil in the spring. the reason he stated was since the oil is sitting still in the motor it can get moisture in it from the warm and cold cycles of the winter months. then when summer comes around you are running this moisturized oil in the motor. I still don't know if it would make that big of a difference.

[JUST-IN-TIME]

OIL

Hours first then you are supposed to change every year period

some change in winter for water, then spring to get the moisture out

[mf01]

RE: OIL

It didn't really sit this winter. The only month I didn't take it out was January (they drain the lake to kill hydrilla). The beauty of living in the south, is that I can pretty much wakeboard all year round.

[AirTool]

RE: OIL

The reason to change in the fall is because your oil is saturated with corrosive residue from the exhaust gases. These particles like to nibble on your cylinders and rings while you watch NFL and eat aluminum sandwiches with Santa Claus.

The reasons why you change after winter is mainly because of any damage the cold temps might have done to your additives. Any water accumulated will quickly disappear and not damage your engine if you let it warm up properly.

AirTool

[jward]

RE: OIL

Well would it be bad to just drain all the oil in the fall and then put fresh oil in before you go out in the spring

[AirTool]

Re: RE: OIL

Well would it be bad to just drain all the oil in the fall and then put fresh oil in before you go out in the spring

You may have be a good idea. Just drain it all hot and fill in the spring. Just make **** sure you remember to do it. You could already have the new filter on.....and zip tie your hull drain plug to your dipstick.

I wonder though (I do this a lot) if a dry pan would have more of a tendancy to form little crusties (sp?) as the residue dries out. I also wonder if the pan would be more suseptible to rusting because it is no longer coated with oil.

Oh heck, just spend the extra 10 bucks and perform an extra oil change. These boats cost more than my house. (Of course the engine is less than 10K....pay 'em now....or pay 'em later.)

AirTool