I'm sure this has been ask many times before!!<br />I have a mercruiser 1988 3.0 I/O, is it OK to use an AUTO oil filter. If not what is the difference.<br />Thanks
www.oilfilterstudy.com<br /><br />May help you answer your own questions. <br /><br />My conclusions: Marine filters are made with high flow in mind vs. high filtration.
Most all oil filters come from the same couple of factorys with different logos on them. I get mine a Pep Boys. First thing to look for is good quality filtration (go ahead and spend the $6.00) and the second is a good thick case. I have read more then one post here about oil filters rusting out. Most boaters leave there filters on for a very long time (I do mine every 2 months) sometimes for a year or more (crazy) and salt water eats them up. So if you are one of those boaters that leaves it sit a lot and there will a long time between oil changes (because it has a few hours on it a year) you are looking for trouble with a cheap cased oil filter. <br />PS don't buy any thing mercruiser unless you have to. The mark up will kill you.
Usually factory marine oil filters will be powdercoated, heavily painted, or protected to inhibit rusting. As was posted earlier, the biggest problem in salt water environments is rusting through. For folks who do not maintain their engine often enough, many times have had to buy a new motor since their regular filter rusted out and leaked all their oil out very quickly. Who watches their oil pressure gauge constantly ?
I used FRAM filter that I buy from Wal-mart. A whole lot less $$$ than the factory recommended ones. You inboard engine is like an auto engine so IMHO a generic filter would do. It is not too expensive and I change them when I check the oil when the oil needs changing.
Decent filtering and low flow is why I wouldn't use a Fram filter in a boat (www.oilfilterstudy.com). You would be better off buying the $1.97 SuperTech filter (made by Champion labs -- like AC, K&N, etc.) at Wal-mart than the Fram for $3 with very little media. On a car it wouldn't matter as much, but I want high flow when I am running my little V6 at 4800 / WOT.
