Engine Oil - Your thoughts?

[Nathan Bryant]

Question for you...

This will be my first time changing the oil and I had the dealer do the 10-hour service. I have 40ish hours on the engines. The service manual doesn't call for anything specific but allows for 10w-30, 10w-40, 20w-40, or 20w-50. Yamalube's oil is a 10w-40 conventional oil. Given this is northern Illinois and the boat won't be in either extreme heat or cold, I'm thinking either 10w-30 or 10w-40. What are you running and had success with? Synthetic or conventional?

Thanks in advance...

 

[Boat Crazy]

Reside in Missouri. Use 10-40 Yamalube with Yamaha filters. Based on what I have been told, my local dealership uses 10-40 in all their oil changes for boats. I saw no reason to switch.

 

[Rigger]

10 hour change was yamalube. My next change will be Amsoil 10w-40 synthetic. Sticking with the Yamaha filters.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

530 hours on a 1800 engine oil and filter changed every 50 hours, I use motorcraft filters and a 20- 40 blend in Florida. The reason I use a blend is I have been advised that over time synthetic oil won't stick to parts as long between use as conventional oil. For boats sitting extended periods between use having the oil stay on the parts is pretty important so I use a blend but Yamaha uses straight conventional oil , possibly for that reason. I know seadoo stopped recommending synthetic oil in their engines for that reason.

 

[ToddW850]

Down here in Florida also. I use Valvoline 10W-40 Conventional with Yamaha Oil Filters.

 

[Rigger]

530 hours on a 1800 engine oil and filter changed every 50 hours, I use motorcraft filters and a 20- 40 blend in Florida. The reason I use a blend is I have been advised that over time synthetic oil won't stick to parts as long between use as conventional oil. For boats sitting extended periods between use having the oil stay on the parts is pretty important so I use a blend but Yamaha uses straight conventional oil , possibly for that reason. I know seadoo stopped recommending synthetic oil in their engines for that reason.

Interesting - makes sense!

 

[Nathan Bryant]

thanks for the help...

 

[tdonoughue]

An other reason for conventional oil is that conventional oil wets the engine seals and causes them to expand slightly. Switching to entirely synthetic can cause the seals to dry over time, shrink, and small leaks to appear. Hybrids or pure conventional will avoid those problems by keeping the seals wetted.

Not an issue if an engine has had synthetic from day one. Then the seals have not expanded with oil and full synthetic causes no problem.

 

[Hezi]

530 hours on a 1800 engine oil and filter changed every 50 hours, I use motorcraft filters and a 20- 40 blend in Florida. The reason I use a blend is I have been advised that over time synthetic oil won't stick to parts as long between use as conventional oil. For boats sitting extended periods between use having the oil stay on the parts is pretty important so I use a blend but Yamaha uses straight conventional oil , possibly for that reason. I know seadoo stopped recommending synthetic oil in their engines for that reason.

My 50 hrs oil change is due soon I'm glad I read your post since I was about to use 10w40 fully synthetic. Where can I get the blend you mentioned? Do I mix it myself? I'm 45 and working on automobile and motors since 12. All my life I herd "never mix synthetic with mineral". About 12 years ago I met Honda "chimist" in a dirt bike race and he told me he is using a blend to achieve best engine performance and longetivity. @Cobra Jet Steering LLC, you seems to be an expert. Please advise how can I obtain or make the mix for the motor oil. Mind you I'm in the northeast and during the long winter the boat is covered in an outside storage. Unfortunately, my busy work season is in the summer and even on nice weekend (which are not that often here) sometime I need to work. Definitely I'm falling into the category of a boat that sits longer than I'd like between rides. Thank you!

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

Wal-Mart sells all sorts of oil I usually pick up my oil filters and oil there but I am sure you can get it in most automotive parts stores Life is only as complicated as we make it I like to keep it simple.

 

[2kwik4u]

There is zero issue switching between synthetic and conventional at will. That is a terrible myth that I wish would just go away. Similar misunderstanding exist about warping brake rotors (it's actually a buildup of pad deposits you feel), and "sucking in water" on hot trailer bearings when dunked in cold water (What the hell are you doing with bearings that hot anyway?).

Anywho......go read this->>https://jalopnik.com/heres-the-difference-between-synthetic-and-normal-motor-1826240884

That's a great article with two great videos anyone should watch if they have any confusion.

 

[Hezi]

Wal-Mart sells all sorts of oil I usually pick up my oil filters and oil there but I am sure you can get it in most automotive parts stores Life is only as complicated as we make it I like to keep it simple.

Any chance do you know the serial # the original filter is crossing to a generic one? I want to go to Walmart

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

I use fl-910s Motorcraft there are many compatible filters and a lot of hot headed opinions about what one is better or not, as for me I use what ever I find works well and I put more hours on motors and harder hours on motors than the majority of people do.
So ask me a question you get the answer agree or disagree makes no difference to me . Do a search on filters someone listed a bunch that were all compatible this one is the one I have used for many thousands of hours over many years with numerous Yamaha 4 stroke 1800 engines supercharged and non supercharged. And I NEVER USE SYNTHETIC OIL and NEVER WILL but that's just me and it won't change as for anyone else they can use what they choose . It matters not to me. And I agree that there is no reason you can't change from synthetic oil to regular oil if you so desire. I just cringe when the oil filter subject comes up I was asked what I use and I answered that question , therefore I gave the correct answer.

 

[Chief]

I use Walmarts Supertech 10w-40 oil and a supertech oil filter.

 

[boudin]

The K&N oil filters have a 17mm nut on the end that makes removal easy. I use the KN-204 in the MR1 motors.

-Greg

 

[McMark]

I use yamalube 10-40 W (for watercraft) and just switched to the motorcraft 910s filter. It’s a nice proper fit. The yamalube has high ZDP (basically zinc)that helps the oil stick to parts when not in use. Previously used Yamaha filters till this season.

 

[Danielmailin]

Yamaha engines are not energy efficient engines and use normal old engine lubrication technology, that is why if you look in the manual the SPI specifications it pointa to old conventional or synthetic blends that match the spec.
Avoid full synthetic energy efficient oils for these engines or any engine that does not require it.
It may say it meets and supersedes, but it does not contain the zinc materials in the oil the old engines, marine engines and diesel engines need for lubrication.

 

[2kwik4u]

........ but it does not contain the zinc materials in the oil the old engines, marine engines and diesel engines need for lubrication.

This is a valid reason for not using Synthetics. I would caution a blanket statement though, some Synthetics have high zinc content, some don't. So many different formulations out there now.

 

[rsg1963]

I use Amsoil Marine 10-40 and Yamaha filters but would use a K&N without hesitation as I have used those on my Kawi 300X fo0r over 5 years without issue.
I see a LOT of mis-information about synthetic oil here and am surprised it's still being repeated. But old beliefs die hard. And truthfully, any quality oil will do just fine. Non-synthetics have come a LONG way since the old days.