Service Bulletin on PCM 5.3 Liter engines

[The NY Dad]

We bought a 2015 Ski Nautique team 200 about a month ago, now we have the dock finished I want to service the boat and get it in the water, I heard PCM has been having issues with older 5.3 liter engines at around the 500 hour point, and guess what we are sitting right at 500 hours. From what I understand the problem is with the oil PCM was recommending in older engines, causing engine seizing. PCM is supposed to have come out with a service bulletin (or whatever they call it) that describes the problem and recommends a different oil and I'm not sure if that it included a different oil filter or not. Can anyone here tell me if this is true and what oil PCM now recommends and the filter also if that was included in the bulletin. I tried searching the internet to see if I could find anything on this and didn't have any luck,I called the dealer but the service manager was to busy with paying customers to return my call, any help on this would be appreciated because I sure don't want a seized motor even though from what I understand PCM is being great about replacing engines that have problems associated with this. Thanks.

[NautiqueJeff]

I have not heard about a Service Bulletin about this (that doesn't mean there isn't one though).

Their oil recommendation hasn't changed, at least through the 2018 manuals.

Here are my thoughts, which I have posted before, about their oil recommendations.

Below is the chart showing oil requirements.
Rotella 15W40 does not meet the GF-4 (or new GF-5) requirements.
Good luck finding an oil that does, and is SM rated as well. It is not easy.



In fact, based on this information from Wikipedia, I believe PCM may have made a mistake in their requirements, since according to this, GF-4 doesn't apply to the 15W-40 weight. Also, since GF-4 was eliminated in 2011, it would be impossible to find today. It has been replaced by GF-5.

ILSAC


The International Lubricant Standardization and Approval Committee (ILSAC) also has standards for motor oil. Introduced in 2004, GF-4^[14] applies to SAE 0W-20, 5W-20, 0W-30, 5W-30, and 10W-30 viscosity grade oils. In general, ILSAC works with API in creating the newest gasoline oil specification, with ILSAC adding an extra requirement of fuel economy testing to their specification. For GF-4, a Sequence VIB Fuel Economy Test (ASTM D6837) is required that is not required in API service category SM.

A key new test for GF-4, which is also required for API SM, is the Sequence IIIG, which involves running a 3.8 L (232 c.i.d.), GM 3.8 L V-6 at 125 hp (93 kW), 3,600 rpm, and 150 °C (300 °F) oil temperature for 100 hours. These are much more severe conditions than any API-specified oil was designed for: cars which typically push their oil temperature consistently above 100 °C (212 °F) are most turbocharged engines, along with most engines of European or Japanese origin, particularly small capacity, high power output.

The IIIG test is about 50% more difficult^[15] than the previous IIIF test, used in GF-3 and API SL oils. Engine oils bearing the API starburst symbol since 2005 are ILSAC GF-4 compliant.^[16]

To help consumers recognize that an oil meets the ILSAC requirements, API developed a "starburst" certification mark.

A new set of specifications, GF-5,^[17] took effect in October 2010. The industry has one year to convert their oils to GF-5 and in September 2011, ILSAC will no longer offer licensing for GF-4.

[NautiqueJeff]

Well, turns out there is a Service Advisory about this!

I still maintain that their recommendations for the GT-40, 5.7L and 8.1L in this bulletin cannot possibly be followed (due to the reasons I listed in my previous post above).

[The NY Dad]

Thanks Jeff for looking into this further. I spoke with the service managers at the Nautique dealer and Centurion dealer in Mesa AZ and neither one of them had heard of any service bulletin on using a different oil, but I see it only came out in July so, they probably have it in a backlog of email or something and haven't read it yet. The only thing the Centurion service manager says they recommend is, going from 15W-40 to 25W 40 when temps go over 100. This makes no sense to me unless they feel the thicker winter rating will cling to cold engine parts better when outside temps are high, when the engine is first started. But again why would he recommend that when PCM is recommending going the opposite way with a 5W- 30 and using it for all temps. I looked at a few oil charts because quite frankly that 5W-30 recommendation scared me in the Temps we see here. But looking at the viscosity charts 5W-30, 15W-40, 25W 40 all should be fine. Oils and greases you really need to do your research there is so much misinformation out there and so many armchair experts. Heres another odd thing I noticed PCM didn't list the 5.7 in this bulletin, you would think it would apply across the whole GM range. Thanks again Jeff.

[NautiqueJeff]

Actually, the 5.7 is mentioned near the bottom where they talk about engines that should continue to use the old recommendation (which again, I don't think exists!).

[The NY Dad]

I was wrong the motor in our boat is a 2014 5.7liter CES EX-343, I misunderstood my son in law when I asked him the motor size and I discovered the mistake the other day when I was checking the engine ID tag. So it looks like I can stick with the 15W-40 oil according to the service bulletin, but now comes the fun part of finding 15W-40 that will work since Rotella doesn't mention that it can be used in gas engines anymore.

[NautiqueJeff]

Rotella is what many people use in that engine.

You will not find anything that matches the recommendations from PCM. I maintain that this was a mistake on PCM's part when they wrote these recommendations. The GF-4/SM designation does not apply to the 15W-40 weight, and GF-4 was eliminated in 2011 and replaced with GF-5. See my other post at the top of this thread.

All you can do is use the next closest thing, which many people feel is Rotella 15W-40.

If you find something that DOES meet PCM's requirements, PLEASE let me know!

[Nautiquehunter]

I have been using Mobil 1 15w50 as per Mobil since break in my 08 with 5.7L now has over 1200 hours no problems yet.

[chief351]

https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forum...pics/5154073/1

[chief351]

My last post was for the 5.7 guys. Since I recently purchased a 2015 SN200 ZR409 I will switch over to this stuff on my next change:

https://www.pennzoil.com/en_ca/products/full-synthetic-motor-oils/pennzoil-platinum/_jcr_content/par/productDetails.stream/1525707084264/470d87597ee1e0e5d72d908f697bc49afba7fd8e/PNZ_API_Plat_5W30.pdf

keep in mind dexos 1 gen 2 is different than dexos 2, at least that is the conclusion I have come to.

[chief351]

Stumbled on this https://www.gmdexos.com/brands/dexos1/index.html

[bturner]

I really do hate it when a manufacture makes picking an oil a guessing game and a fixed one at that. At least with the IndMar's they had a sticker with the brand, type and weight to use. I'd find it hard to believe that a dexos Gen 2 oil wouldn't meet certification. I mean for crip sake these are still old school GM blocks on the 5.7s.

[core-rider]

I've used Castrol brand Rotella 15W-40 in my 2003 SANTE with 5.7 Excaliber 330 since buying it new in 2003 with the exceptoin of the first few seasrons when I actually did ride in cooler weather and then used their recommendation of 5W-30, but still used Castrol. I've never had one issue and have seen no reason change. Let's face it I'm long outside of warranty so if something were to happen it's on me anyway!

[scottb7]

Yep, I guess i will change but after 0 problems on my 2008 210 with 15w40 with 1,100 hours and 500 or 600 hundred on the 20014 g21, I seriously doubt it matters at all.

[mf01]

Is the Rotella T6 15w40 still a good option for the EX 343 (with Catanium)?