Oil for Excaliber 330

[aublaise]

Hi All

I just purchased a 2004 196 LE with the Excaliber 330 and need to change the oil. Boat is already on the boat lift and too dificult to pull out of the lake and take it to Orlando Nautiques for a free oil change. The manual says to use 15W40 SJ oil and I can not find it anywhere. The only 15W40 oil I can find is made for diesl engines and does not have the SJ designation.

Anyone have a suggestion of what type of oil I should buy?

Thanks

Mike
2004 SN 196 LE (current boat)
1997 SN 196 (former and first boat)

[Quinner]

Shell Rotella or the Valvoline Diesel Oil is what I always use. 15W40 is almost always labeled as "Diesel Oil", that's not a problem. Personally would not use synthetic and PCM says if you do change as often anyways. SJ was the old rating, I believe PCM's website is recommending the newer SL or SM ratings. Be sure and change your filter, assuming 04' was using the remote filter, it's a Ford Filter, Motorcraft FL1A IIRC, or any other quality brand, stay away from the orange Fram filters.

[swc5150]

I agree with Quinner, stay away from the cheap filters. I personally only use a K&N. It's only the cost of a value meal more than your typical filter, and much better. Plus, it has the slick socket removal system.

[AirTool]

Aublaise,

I see you have only 4 posts...and you might not know quinner's score card for correct answers.

Just in case you need another vote, he is correct on all accounts.

Check any of those 15w40 oils for diesels and you'll see they are stamped with the API Sx rating for gasoline engines. Most will tell you that all Sx ratings are backwards compatible and the most recent version is preferred. There are some folks that will tell you some of the older ratings had better lubricating properties...and that may be true. Newer specs often have less pollutants or contaminants in the oil. Nevertheless, any of those 15w40s will be excellent oils for your engine. I use the Mobil (Delvac 1300?) dino oil. Valvoline is also good. Shell, Chevron, Motorcraft...the list goes on. Find one that is convenient for you to buy and stick with it.

Ditto avoiding orange filters. Try either AC, Wix, or Mobil. Those Motorcraft are good too. Now, I'm starting to grow fond of Ford...being so Republican and all. I own one Navigator and it sports a Motorcraft filter. I'm about to pull the trigger on a one year old Navigator for my wife and a new F150 for me. But I am not, absolutely NOT going to spin a Motorcraft filter on the remote assembly of my blessed-by-god 350 Chevy. I just can't do it.

[aublaise]

Thanks guys. I have seen the Shell Rotella 15W40 and will buy some soon.

Mike

[Nautiquehunter]

Why do you guys not recommend synthetic oil ? I have been using it in my 89 351 since break in . Still have to change every 50 hours but I think it lubricates better.

[NautiqueJeff]

Here's why I don't recommend synthetics in PCM engines.

[TRBenj]

Using synthetics in the newer roller Chevy motors is fine. Dad has run Mobil1 in his '03 Excal in the past. The oil is superior, but dont try to extend the change interval. PCM doesnt recommend them, but they dont recommend AGAINST their use either- thats an important distinction. If I had a new Chevy in my boat, Id be using synthetic.

For the Ford in your '89, you must be MUCH more careful. The Fords right up to the very end of their marine use (GT40 in 2002) were not roller cam motors- they were flat tappets. Most modern oils have reduced levels of heavy metal additives (namely zinc diphosphate, aka ZDDP) that are necessary to "stick" to the metal on metal contact areas between the cam lobes and lifters. Synthetics in particular have proven to be very "slippery" and could potentially lead to increased cam wear. Do a google search for "flat tappet cam" and "ZDDP" and educate yourself.

Some synthetics still have the ZDDP (I know at least one grade of M1 does) but most do not. Personally, I run Valvoline Racing VR1 20w50 conventional oil in all of my Ford powered boats, FWIW.

[TRST]

Someone on here had a good tip on using a large ziplock to "catch" the filter, works great.

[AirTool]

Two extras:

1. The other problem with some (especially older) engines and synthetic...is that the synthetic attacks several elastomer materials and causes them to swell. If you have an older engine (my experience was 93) and want the valve guide seals to leak....use synthetic.

2. Back to me, I would happily use Motorcraft oil in my Chevy........I'd just have to close the barn doors so nobody sees me pour it in. Then throw away the bottle in someone else's trash can.

[WakeSlayer]

But I am not, absolutely NOT going to spin a Motorcraft filter on the remote assembly of my blessed-by-god 350 Chevy. I just can't do it.

I was really happy when I finaly got a remote kit for my 502. The Ford filter makes it go faster.


As Tim mentioned above also, PCM does NOT recommend against them, despite what Nautiques manual says. I run Mobil1 in my Python, but not in the older boats nor my wifes old convertible. I use the same VR1 conventional that Tim uses.

[NautiqueJeff]

As Tim mentioned above also, PCM does NOT recommend against them, despite what Nautiques manual says.

Actually, that clip from the manual was from the PCM manual, not the Nautique manual.

[WakeSlayer]

OK. One of the times the conventional vs synthetic discussion came up and that statement was posted in it, I decided to call PCM. I have run Mobil1 synthetics in all three later model Nautiques I have owned and wanted a clarification from them. The technical rep that I was on the phone with clearly stated to me that they do not recommend against it. He would not, however, email me anything about that statement. I assume they don't want that posted or on the record at all.
Manuals are written by writers and proofed by lawyers.

[G-man]

I have been using Mercruser oil 25-40, I have had no problems at all. Because of this discussion I did look at the bottle and saw there are no ratings such as SJ SX or anything. Possibly oils made for boats dont have to be rated. We checked out Yamalube oils also and there were no ratings.

[AirTool]

I have been using Mercruser oil 25-40, I have had no problems at all. Because of this discussion I did look at the bottle and saw there are no ratings such as SJ SX or anything. Possibly oils made for boats dont have to be rated. We checked out Yamalube oils also and there were no ratings.

That Quicksilver oil is rated for marine use only and probably doesn't meet the pollutant limits for API. I've got some jugs in my garage if you want me to tell you which spec. I like the idea of the additives for adhesion during long periods of non-use. I also like that the two viscosity numbers are close together which means there is less breakdown of the polymer viscosity modifiers. I'm sure it is a good lubricant.

It all sounds dandy, but I still use 15w40 Mobil dino in my Excaliber.