Switching from conventional oil to synthetic????
 

I just purchased a 2002 Outlaw 29 with twin 496's. Its entire life it has always had Mercruiser conventional oil. Every vehicle I have owned I have always used synthetic oil. So, what do you guys think about switching this boat over to synthetic? Would it do any harm?? Is it worth it now at this stage? Please help!!

I run Vr1 20w50 in my 500's

Just do it. It will be fine...

I run amsoil dominator synthetic 15w-50 racing oil in my hp500 efi's

I have the Merc 496s in my Formula. First oil change I did I switched it to the Amsoil. Runs fine now.

Like the Nike ad, just do it!

Mobil1 15w50
Wix (Napa) Oil Filters
Lucas Oil treatment

...my happy combo.

Where are you? Do you have an offseason? How many hours do you anticipate putting on per season? How often do you change it?

Those factors would make a difference to me in deciding how much I would spend on oil. You're certainly not going to hurt anything by switching to synthetic, but if you boat 20 hours per season and have a long layup winter season, I wouldn't spend the extra money. I always ran conventional VR1 20w50 / WIX filters in my stock 454s and 502s.

Where's Borgie???????????????

:throw: :nhl_fight::argue:

I switched to AMSOIL 15W50 Dominator in my 496...No issues, but it was a very low hour motor to begin with...I have heard on high hour motors making the switch may not be a good idea, but have nothing to validate that statement...

Cause there really is nothing to validate that statement.

Way, way, way back...yes...but that was because of old style seals and gaskets, and some synthetics didn't have certain additives in them.....but again, that's when I was a teenager. When Fred and Wilma Flinstone were a live.

Most synthetics have better cold flow and higher temp stability..so go for it if one wants.

What ever makes you sleep better at night, is what you should get. Just make sure the proper viscosity is chosen. (ie: no 0-20W / 5-20W schit)

Have always used Amsoil 15W40 Diesel and Marine. Also Amsoil Gear Lube for the outdrive.

Ditto on the Amsoil 15W40 Diesel and Marine on my 2002 HP 500s.

I can say that my old 454 mags would not carry oil pressure with synthetics. Switched back to regular oil and pressure stays up.

I have always run Merc oil. I currently run the Merc synthetic blend in my 496's. Usually put around 40-45 hrs per season.

what!

Pretty easy to understand. Synthetic oil and my pressure would run 20 psi regular oil 40 psi. Can't say if the regular is better or worse for the engine, but sure would rather see 40 psi.

I've never seen an oil pressure drop with switching to synthetics, but I did have an issue when I was younger with a timing cover leak after switching to synthetics. I switched back to conventional and it sealed up.

Thanks for all the advice guys. I really appreciate it!!

I have converted many things to synthetic oil, some as part of our business. This is what I can tell you, IF your motors leak oil at all dont think of it under any circumsatnces. If they dont leak and dont burn oil its the first thing I would do. I have personally seen flat tappet motors make higher hp on the dyno with ultra slippery oils n(like sentinel with moly in it) (our factory stock 355 sbc picked up around 10-12 ft lbs tq at peak on chassis dyno in back to back testing). I have also seen cars run faster ets with all synthetic conversions, case in point I used to own a bone stock pontiac 400 350 HP 69 Pontiac GP that I raced quite a few times, it ran 15.01 to 15.11 depending on air, it NEVER broke into the 14s ever. Switched everything over and it ran a best of 14.87 , it also leaked like a sieve thru the old style crankshaft rope seal and every other seam on the motor that used to just leave a few drops (it was 22 years old at the time and had never been apart). MY big hp boat motor on the other hand didnt pick up any hp anywhere on dyno at over 1000 hp, we were expecting a measurable increase when our 260 hp circle trcack motor saw such good results!, FWIW, Smitty
Avoid Royal purple, seems to be garbage especially their gear oil vs Amsoil in all my testing.