Oil Question???

[bamaboy]

I have read several oil threads on this board, only to be more confused than before.

Simple question. What kind of oil should I run in my 1999 Ski Nautique Pro Boss GT-40 with 300+ hours. I use the boat in SE Alabama and NW Florida.

Thanks!

[TRBenj]

RE: Oil Question???

Either Valvoline VR1 10w30 or 20w50, or Shell Rotella-T 30W or 40W.

[mf01]

RE: Oil Question???

Shell Rotella-T 15w-40 is another option, but you might not need it in a warm climate. It has the same zinc levels as the other Shell Rotella-T products.

[TRBenj]

Re: RE: Oil Question???

Shell Rotella-T 15w-40 is another option, but you might not need it in a warm climate. It has the same zinc levels as the other Shell Rotella-T products.

Not according to Shell it doesnt. The multiweights have reduced amounts of zinc to comply with the new particulate filters being installed on diesels. Only the straight weights still have it. I made the switch from Rotella 15w40 to VR1 20w50 last fall for that very reason.

[mf01]

Re: RE: Oil Question???

Shell Rotella-T 15w-40 is another option, but you might not need it in a warm climate. It has the same zinc levels as the other Shell Rotella-T products.

Not according to Shell it doesnt. The multiweights have reduced amounts of zinc to comply with the new particulate filters being installed on diesels. Only the straight weights still have it. I made the switch from Rotella 15w40 to VR1 20w50 last fall for that very reason.

Actually that was straight from Shell. I was having the debate myself, so I contacted them. Here are some quotes, "...As a result, the zinc content in Shell Rotella T Multigrade Oils has been reduced slightly from about 1400 ppm to about 1200 ppm. Even at these slightly decreased levels, Shell Rotella T Multigrade Oils still have at least 50% more of these anti-wear additives as most current gasoline-only engine oils. These levels of zinc have historically offered good protection in flat tappet applications."

Then I asked them about the single grades, "...Our single grade products, including Shell Rotella T Oil SAE 40, also contain about 1200 ppm zinc."

[TRBenj]

RE: Re: RE: Oil Question???

That would be news to me. The info I got was straight from a ChemE at Shell who was working the hotline- and she specifically recommended against the use of the multiweight. Come to think of it, I made the switch to VR1 over a year ago- must have been last spring.

[jmo]

RE: Re: RE: Oil Question???

TRBenj,

as I look at the specs for the Valvoline VR-1 multi weights and the Castrol GTX 15w-40 they both have the same amount of Zinc at .13, am I reading the specs correctly?

http://www.castrol.com/liveassets/bp...GTX_Diesel.pdf

Thanks,

jmo

[DanielC]

RE: Re: RE: Oil Question???

I have been using Valvoline VR-1 40W in my 1997 Ski Nautique, and Motorcraft oil filters.
As of today my engine has 2004.0 hours on it, and it is still running very strong.

[bamaboy]

RE: Re: RE: Oil Question???

Thanks!

[M3Fan]

Re: RE: Re: RE: Oil Question???

I have been using Valvoline VR-1 40W in my 1997 Ski Nautique, and Motorcraft oil filters.
As of today my engine has 2004.0 hours on it, and it is still running very strong.

DanielC, are you the original owner? Also, what external temperature ranges are you running in? What's the coldest ambient temp that you regularly start the motor?

[DanielC]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Oil Question???

I am the original owner.
I run the boat typically from April to mid October, in the Willamette valley, in western Oregon.
The weather here is mild, year around. In a typical winter, I get about two weeks of below freezing weather. Occasionally, the temps can get around 100 a few days, but not often. When it is really hot, the humidity is very low. When it is very hot, I try to open the motor cover, to let the engine cool.
I have taken the boat out on New Years Day a few times.
When it is cold, I do let the motor warm up a little longer. If you use your boat every day, it will probably be still warm from the last time you ran it.
As of this morning, 2008.6 hours, and I am averaging about 3.6 gallons of gas per hour.

[ffmedic74]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Oil Question???

see the post I did:

http://www.planetnautique.com/index....amp;highlight=

I would vote that everyone should use 0-20 oil because is has the best lubrication properties at startup and at operating temperature.

[8122pbrainard]

Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Oil Question???

see the post I did:

http://www.planetnautique.com/index....amp;highlight=

I would vote that everyone should use 0-20 oil because is has the best lubrication properties at startup and at operating temperature.

You missed the whole issue with the ZDDP (zinc) The post you provided the link for is dated.

[DanielC]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Oil Question???

My thought is that using an oil that provides sufficient viscosity for normal operating temps is much more important that using a low viscosity oil for the brief period of time that an engine is warming up.
I will choose to go with the engine manufactures reccomendations for the viscosity of oil I use.
If I was really concerned about startup wear on a cold engine, I would make some provision for preheating the engine before I turned it over, and then make another provision for building oil pressure, and flow before I even cranked the engine.
If I were to preheat the engine before I started it, the cost to do that, over the life of the engine would probably be more than the cost of rebuilding the engine.
2009.5 hours, and the Valvoline VR-1 40 W oil, and the Motorcraft FL1-A oil filter is sitting on the shelf waiting for my next oil change.