fluids and spark plugs

greenwell001

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 5, 2009
Messages
121
dont tell me to read the manual please and that only merc oil is the only thing to use please......i am just wondering about other oils (valvoline racing)and among others.....what weight to use and is there any other brands and weights that you guys use in your mercs...also before a carb rebuild my merc was very very rich and dont know how long it did cuz i have only had it a year so what plugs do you guys use....mairine?what brand? or non marine with antisieze.....thanks
 

fossill

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 20, 2009
Messages
427
Re: fluids and spark plugs

Shell Rotella T 15W-40. Use it in everything. Never had an issue in 20+ years. Any heavy duty engine oil in straight 30 or multigrade 40 will suffice.
 

JoLin

Vice Admiral
Joined
Aug 18, 2007
Messages
5,146
Re: fluids and spark plugs

Your question is just an open invitation to get a different opinion from everyone who responds to it. How's that going to help you?

Your engine manufacturer publishes all the specs you need (weight and certification) to use any brand of oil you choose. Anything that meets those specs will be fine. If there's a particular brand you're partial to in your car, you can use that.

My .02

Oh- and read the manual :)
 

Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Aug 31, 2004
Messages
62,321
Re: fluids and spark plugs

I've said this a thousand times on a thousand different oil threads (they are very common)
IF you don't want to use what the manufacturer recommends, then use whatever you want. Someone on this board has already used it and thinks it's the best thing since sliced bread.
As long as you change the oil and filter every 100 hours or yearly, (which ever comes first), as the manual recommends, you won't have any problems.
I have never seen an engine damaged due to the type of clean oil and filter they use. Water and lack of maintenance is what destroys marine engines, not type of oil.
 

Jeepster04

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jan 5, 2009
Messages
481
Re: fluids and spark plugs

Shell Rotella T 15W-40. Use it in everything. Never had an issue in 20+ years. Any heavy duty engine oil in straight 30 or multigrade 40 will suffice.

Thats what we also use in our 5.0 Volvos. You can buy a 2.5 gallon jug at walmart for a great price. We also use Mobil 15w-40 synthetic for our 4.3L Volvo Penta.
 
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