Oil Change

[conman27]

How many hours past the 50 mark oil change is too much? I cant get my boat in till next week and we already are 4 hours over the 50 mark... how many hours till it will start hurting the engine, if at all? Thanks.

[shag]

50 hours is a guideline. You will not hurt the motor if you go over 10-20 hours. Just check the oil level when you go out. Someone told me a long time ago, the 50hr. was comparable to 3000 miles in a car (but that would be 3000 miles pulling a trailer - to simulate the demands of a marine engine.) I have had Nautiques for years, and have never been exactly right on the 50 hrs.

Just my .02

[conman27]

Ok, sweet thanks for the help. I guess the longer you go the higher gas consumption?

[DanielC]

First thing, check the oil level.
Now that you have done that, 5 or ten hours over is OK, but do not do it all the time.
How is the color of the oil? Fresh oil in my engine is a light golden color, and as I get close to the oil change, it it get darker. When it is a dark brown on the dipstick, it should be changed.
I have found by letting the engine sit overnight when doing an oil change, more dirty oil drains out, and the new oil stays a lighter color longer.
You can also lift your engine cover every time you stop, (for lunch, not every time you pick up a skier, or boarder) and that allows the engine to cool off a little faster, and that will also increase the time it takes for the oil to turn from golden, to dirty brown.

[AirTool]

I agree with DanielC plus would add that your next oil change should be sooner than 50. I'm not suggesting you shoot for an "average". But a lot of old oil stays behind in these engines after an oil change. And old oil cooks to sludge. The first few changes I made turned dark quickly due to the residual oil. I followed the procedure DanielC suggests and have been a lot happier. It now takes quite a few hours for my oil to be even visible on the stick. For the first chunk of hours (maybe 20?) I've got to check the level by staining a paper towel.

So, check your oil....make sure it is just right...not high or low. Then maybe make the next change at 20 or 25 and then return to your schedule.

[migs]

why is my dealer telling me that I should only change my oil every 100hrs????? Ive even called another dealer to confirm this - & he agrees. Says to wait to 100 & change oil, vdrive, tranny fluids all at the same time & im good..

Ive always questioned & felt weird about this as I always change my oil @ 50hrs with all my previous boats. This was the first time i heard about this once I got my SAN.

Is this accurate info they are giving me??? Every time i roll in and get the oil change @50 they tell me the same thing.... & say Im just wasting my $$$$$.

[ronskal]

50 hours is a guideline. You will not hurt the motor if you go over 10-20 hours. Just check the oil level when you go out. Someone told me a long time ago, the 50hr. was comparable to 3000 miles in a car (but that would be 3000 miles pulling a trailer - to simulate the demands of a marine engine.) I have had Nautiques for years, and have never been exactly right on the 50 hrs.

Just my .02

What he said. Will not hurt it at all. Try not to make it a habit. Hard to hurt the good old V8 engine by cheating a little on this.

[AirTool]

Every time i roll in and get the oil change @50 they tell me the same thing.... & say Im just wasting my $$$$$.

Grab a sample after 50 hours and send it in to an oil testing lab. The lab will confirm that it is time for an oil change.

The shop never tells me that....because I do it all myself

[migs]

I agree - ive always done it at 50. i never heard of this till I got my nautique(my first PCM). Thus Im stumpped - and I just dont feel right about it - so i dont listen to them.

But why would Nautique dealer service managers(@ 2 different dealers) be giving me this info???

Airtool - wish I could change all my boats fluids!!!!! If someone were to be able to give me some 1on1 lessons - id be all over it.

[skijones]

At my current rate, 100 hrs would be about 4 years.

[migs]

i hit 50 roughly every 2 months.

[AirTool]

At my current rate, 100 hrs would be about 4 years.

That's a good point. Everyone should change their engine oil at the end of the season.

[pmgIA]

It's like a car, if you drive all highway miles you can go way over, but if you're a mailmain on dusty country roads, I would stick to the 50 hours.

I'm very much a fan of the 50 hours, it doesn't cost much and gets me in the engine compartment to see whats going on, pretty cheap insurance. But I have gone 10-12 hours over before and didn't think anything about it. The guy in the slip next to me changes oil every 25 hours but the filter only every 50? I'd do what the book recommends.

[DanielC]

I was a bad boy. My last oil and filter change was done with 58 hours on the oil.

[WA-H2O-SKI]

End of season?

There is an end of the season? Don't tell my wife that............

65 hours on my last oil change. Just got away from me. But I too like to stick to 50 hours for both engine and trany fluids.