Oil, and Filter Question

[204 Escape]

Our 5.0 Mercruiser, is still under warrenty. We've had it serviced last with QuickSIlver 25W-40 oil, at the dealership. We run Valvoline in everything else that we own. Would Valvoline be O.K. in the boat ??

Also, if I read the last service record right, the filter that was installed, (provided I read the paperwork right), was a #35-866340K01 Mercruiser filter. What is a cross reference # for another brand of filter ?? That isn't $10.00 apiece?? Is there a good one to be bought from a parts store, -OR- should I just buy the afore mentioned one ??

The engine is a 2006 5.0 Mercruiser Carb unit.

 

[joncrisler]

Re: Oil, and Filter Question

Running at various times either Mobil 1 15w-50 or Amsoil 20w-50 synthetic, my 1987 454 330hp lasted 1600 hours and was still running strong when I swapped it for a 430 hp crate motor. In fact it still ran so well that I got about $400 dollars for the used motor from a guy that needed a cheap running engine for his boat. Had it been a closed cooling system engine I might have gotten even more money for it...

Your opening up the dreaded oil thread, but my opinion is that any good gasoline engine rated 25w-40, 20w-50 or 15w-50 will work fine. I would not use a 10w-40, 10w-30 or any 5w-x oil unless your owners manual calls for it at the expected tempurature of operation. I would never use a straight 20w, 30w etc. oil (that is so old school).

Your owners manual says that synthetic oil is not needed. However, the Merc 25w-40 is actually a semi-synthetic oil.

Generally, your filter will be the same general design as that used for Chevy 350's (5.7 liter) engines from the 80's and 90's. The Amsoil part is SDF-25 (short filter) or SDF-24 (long filter), or the newer EAO-24/25 filters. One of the Purolator parts is PL34631 (long) , one is PL20049 (short) and another is L24736. The long and short filters are interchangble but you might not have space for the long filter depending on where its mounted. I prefer the long filter myself, but you will not have any fitment problems on the short filter.

From the cross reference guides, the most direct replacement I can find is Amsoil EAO-59 or EAO-25 and Purolator PureOne PL20049. Of course, almost any filter manufacturer will have a compatible unit if you can figure out the cross-reference. Here are some others that will work in alphabetical order:

Amsoil EAO-25 or EAO-24 or EAO-59*
AC PF-25, UPF-25
Baldwin B27
Cam2 C49
Carquest Red B49
Champ-Luberfiner AR25 or PH25
Defense DL30
Donaldson LPF550025
Firestone TF30
Fram DG30, HM30, PH30, TG30, XG30
Hastings LF225, LF25, P225
Jiffy Lube HL30, L20049
K&N HP2002
Kmart K3, MP3
Lee LF25 (and lots of compatibles)

Castrol Max Pro CM30
Mobil 1 MO49, MO5313, M1202
Napa 1069,21069
Penzoil PZ3
Purolator PL20049, L20049, PER49
Sierra 187824
Toyota (? !) 15601U212071
Valvoline DF3, VO2
Walmart WF25

If you want my recomendation on brands, I would go with (in alpha order)

Amsoil*, AC, Baldwin, Donaldson, Mobil-1, Purolator*.

(* = my favorites)

I would stay away from any low-end Fram, and anything sold at a major lube-change chain.

There is an excellent lubrication website called "Bobistheoilguy" (no kidding) but like anything else, including me, there is as much opinion as fact.

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: Oil, and Filter Question

Yep use a good automotive filter for that chevy motor and you will be fine. Make sure you get a filter that is correct for your engine. I cut apart a quote marine filter and the filter material and such is no different than your cheap automotive filter. I try not to buy the cheapest filter available, add a few bucks and get a better filter.
Use the weight oil your boat recommends. I agree stay away from the 5w, 10w oils. I would run nothing less than a 15-40 diesel grade oil. If your oil pressure is low run a thicker oil. I run Delo-400 30W in my 3.0L mercruiser. If I was running the boat in cold weather I would go with a 15-40 Delo 400, or 20-50 weight or synthetic. I like to stick with diesel grade oil in gas engines that work hard.

 

[joncrisler]

Re: Oil, and Filter Question

I hear lots of good things about Delo and Delvac oil.

I forgot to mention: if you get the impression that external size and proper threads are important, in reality they are not so important as long as you have proper clearence. (ok thread size is very important). What is much more important is the internal structure of the filter: media type, flow rate, pressure bypass valve etc. Thats why what seems to be identical filters have different model numbers. BUT you also have the case of the same brand having good, better, best etc. filters- like Fram.

I would also like to point out that the reputation of Fram products is so-so. Fram is like McDonalds food- it will keep you from starving, but you get what you pay for. Fram filters will not kill your engine, but there are plenty of better products out there for the same money (or slightly more).

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Oil, and Filter Question

I hear lots of good things about Delo and Delvac oil.

I forgot to mention: if you get the impression that external size and proper threads are important, in reality they are not so important as long as you have proper clearence. (ok thread size is very important). What is much more important is the internal structure of the filter: media type, flow rate, pressure bypass valve etc. Thats why what seems to be identical filters have different model numbers. BUT you also have the case of the same brand having good, better, best etc. filters- like Fram.

I would also like to point out that the reputation of Fram products is so-so. Fram is like McDonalds food- it will keep you from starving, but you get what you pay for. Fram filters will not kill your engine, but there are plenty of better products out there for the same money (or slightly more).

Hi, I see you really know your oil filters, So I thought maybe you would like to see this link about most of the auto style oil filters broken down and studied. I liked it, I thought It was A good study. So Enjoy, I hope you like it also

http://people.msoe.edu/~yoderw/oilfilterstudy/oilfilterstudy.html

Also there is a high number of High performance boaters that love to use the WIX oil filter. And in this breake down the WIX get's high ratings.

Wix
Another quality oil filter similar in design to the Purolator. It has metal end caps on the filter element, a standard nitrile anti-drainback valve, and a seemingly good flow. They are manufactured by the Dana corperation. These appear to have a depth gradient filter element, which uses cotton fibers to progressively trap smaller particles as they get deeper in the filter. This helps maintain good flow as the filter gets plugged.

 

[204 Escape]

Re: Oil, and Filter Question

THANX for all replies !!! I have no problem with buying a GOOD filter. I was just trying to find a "like filter" for less money than a dealer gets for one.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Oil, and Filter Question

Gee, I strongly disagree with running automotive multivis motor oil. I think you should run the 25W-40 Mercruiser oil, or an equivalent FC-W motor oil made for stern drives. Multivis auto oil was never designed to handle the constant stress the sterndrive engine will put on it. Running your boat is the equivalent to continuously running your car up a steep hill at full throttle.

Mercruiser has never recommended multi-vis auto oil.

I agree that a standard automotive oil filter listed for that V8 is sufficient.

 

[joncrisler]

Re: Oil, and Filter Question

Gee, I strongly disagree with running automotive multivis motor oil. I think you should run the 25W-40 Mercruiser oil, or an equivalent FC-W motor oil made for stern drives. Multivis auto oil was never designed to handle the constant stress the sterndrive engine will put on it. Running your boat is the equivalent to continuously running your car up a steep hill at full throttle.

Mercruiser has never recommended multi-vis auto oil.

I agree that a standard automotive oil filter listed for that V8 is sufficient.

I can understand your point of view, but if you dig into what the FC-W standard actually defines, you will find that many automotive oils already meet that standard. The standard defines minimum viscosity thinout and anti-corrosion properties. It was also developed primarily for the 4-stroke outboard market but its (limited) benefits apply to marinized auto/truck engines as well.

You also need to know that many oils that you would call "multi-vis" oils are not that at all. For instance, most good true synthetics based on PAO technology have little or no viscosity improvers- thats the additive that makes an oil act like a thicker weight oil, but this additive is one that can quickly wear out. Lets take a popular 20w-50 synthetic oil- its really a 20 weight oil, but the base is so good that it performs as a 50 weight oil would at high tempurature. M1 Extended Protection 15w-50, most Amsoils, Redlines, any PAO group 3 oils etc. are like this.

The numbers for the Merc 25w-40 imply that its a multi-vis oil, but like the synthetics above (and the Merc is 90% synthetic) it has little or no VI improvers and meets both standards.

Lets compare this to the old Castrol Syntec 5w-50: this was a group 4 non-PAO "synthetic" (NOT!). It has lots of VI improvers to act like a 50 weight oil at higher temps, but this additive quickly breaks down, and after 2 to 3k miles in the average car you really have a 5w-30. This would probably be a very bad oil to use in a marine engine.

Again, you have lots of options, and lots of opinions.