If I only changed oil once a year I would agree with you on the cost factor, but I usually change oil 3-4 times a season (20-25hrs) and at $200 a pop, it gets costly.

Cheers

Hey, Cmoney, maybe I should send some information on Oil Analysis. Have you ever done anything like that? Instead of changing my oil, I just have it analyzed by an independent lab. If the oil is still good, why change it?!! I've known people to go minimally 3-5 times longer than oem recommendations on oil changes. Now what could that save you. Oil tests run $15. Not to mention, it tells you how the oil is, any wear metals in oil, antifreeze, water dilution, fuel dilution and on and on. So lets say, instead of changing oil at 25 hours, you just test it, and comes back fine, now you just saved yourself $185, just because you ran twice as long now. Let me know what you think.

A simple test is to pull the dipstick and let a few drops run onto a white plastic spoon and smell the sample and try to discern if you can smell raw gasoline in the sample.

If a tough oil like V-Twin is free of gas and water I have run an analysis with a tbn which told me I can extend to another 30 hours out. 50 hrs total.

This guy races and knows his stuff...you will find mostly pure PAO Motul and the upper end Amsoil products in his cupboard. Looks like some Mobil-1 V-win and MXT-4 as well. Amsoil 5W-30 Signature as well. Also, Amsoil 20W50 V-Twin,

The guy knows what works for Racing/HP engines. Looks like it's 99.9% synthetic.

Sounds like a good idea to me, I didn't realize it was that cheap to have it tested. Where do you have yours done?

I use a company in Spokane, WA. Its called OIL ANALYSIS LAB. I use them instead of AMSOIL own lab, just because I've never wanted people to think it might be biased or whatever. You live in Michigan too, right? Send me a PM if you want, I can get you some more info.

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/free_test_kit.html

They will send you a free testing kit.

Any updates to this list? We don't run hard or for very long but I don't have a problem spending the coin for whatever is going to provide the best performance and protection.

I've recently changed boats but still have a case of Amsoil marine 10-40 and Amsoil marine drive lube left over from the old boat. Would these be appropriate for my 496HO/Bravo X? Can I use the 10-40 in my SBC powered tow vehicle if it isn't appropriate for the boat?

Which would be the better choice for a a 600 hp 521 ci NA big block marine engine turning 5800 rpm in a light 3700 lb hull that is not racing ..... Amsoil Series 2000 20W50 Racing oil or Amsoil 20W50 V-Twin and why? I have been running the former and am curious about the comparative merits of the latter that you mention.

Second question, how would Valvolene 20W50 racing oil compare with the Amsoil oils noted for my application?

Thanks in advance.

Any comment on the Amsoil web site posted test data that shows Mobil 1 V-Twin 20W50 with higher wear than the Amsoil Series 2000 20W50 Racing Oil?

Any performance reason in particular why the Redline Shock Proof Gear Lube is not included in the list of recommended drive gear lubes?

Sorry, the quote from Hydrocruiser that I was referencing did not carry forward.

RE:
"Outdrives:

RP 75W-90
M-1 75W-90
Amsoil Severe gear 75W-90

All seem to be a notch above Merc HP which is still real good stuff in my books.

Personally I would use M-1 75W-90 changed with every other oil change "

Same question, is there any performance reason that Redline Shockproof Gear Lube is not included in this list?

what do you think of valvoline synthetic. I have used valvoline products for 50 years I use 40 w racing in my boat chang every 25 t0 30 hours 500+hours no problums.

So here I am needing to change the oil and down to my last few qt's of Amsoil TRO so I go to place an order for the first time in close to a year and whatdayaknow! I've missed a few things at Amsoil! ;)

So what are the thoughts about the RD50 that replaced TRO? As I look, it looks like they've made a few changes in oils.

Ditto.

Looks like the choice is now either Amsoil RD50 15w50 Series 2000 Racing oil (the 20W50 is no longer available) and Amsoil 20w50 V-Twin Motorcycle oil for HP marine engines. Which is the best choice for a HP marine engine and why?

Bob Teague has been running that new 15w-50 for two years now. He ran a whole season on his race boat before pulling the engines apart, which before using Amsoil he would do 3 to 4 times per year, and after that whole season on the new 15w-50, he said, "I could put the bearings right back in each motor".

Anyone know anything about mercs synthetic 25/40 oil? 100% synthetic marine oil comes in red bottle,I know there other oils are pretty good i would assume the 100% synthetic oil would be good stuff.

That is good news.

Attached is a comparison of Amsoil MCV, TRO, RD50 and Mobil 1 V Twin oil test data from the Amsoil web site. Comments solicited.

Sorry, attachment was corrupt file.

Haven't looked at the site , but would this be a 4-ball wear test?

Ken

Yes, that is correct.

I have 2 issues with the test, First, I can't think of any place in my engine where this type wear senario comes into play and second, the Amsoil still left a scar. Please explain to me the additional life expectency of my engine with an oil that leaves a smaller scar in a test that has no correlation to what is happening inside my engine.

Now if we are testing gear lube, I might say maybe. There is a wiping action in a hypoid application.

I wouldn't change from any quality engine oil, be it petroleum, blend, or full synthetic based on that test. And I sure wouldn't worry if I was using Mobil 1.

My 2 cents.

Ken

These days I use (personal preferences):

Mobil-1 V-Twin 20W-50 or Motul 15W-50 oils.

M-1 Oil Filters or Amsoil EA

I like Amsoil Severe Gear products

When it comes to grease Mobil-1 or Amsoil.

One general comment is that there are a lot of new synthetic products out there and they are all better than what we had just a few years back.


Want a great reasonabley priced oil for you car or truck?

Autozone sells 0W-30 German Made Castrol which has a VOA of 0W-40 when tested. (It's green in color) and it says Made in Germany on the bottle about $6/qt.

Things are changing fast!

Some gear lubes have too much sulphur additive built into them, which can sometimes have adverse effects on certain metals, especially those used in drive applications. I can't say for sure without info in front of me, but that would be my guess.

Somebody here tried Shockproof Redline and said it looked like Peptobismol and was thick and was messy to work with.

BUT...it is a great HP product and I see no reason you can not use it.

Personal preference.

Amsoil has a new Racing 4-stroke oil. 15-50wt. You stated that the Racing Oils are for single race usally. If used in a high performance marine motors, how often then should a user change the oil used in this situation?

The sulpher and chlorine in the GL-5 additive package may/could have a negitive effect on any "yellow" metals, bronze/brass in transmissions.

Ken

I'll keep you posted. I should have my oil analysis results back from my boat hopefully this week. I will try to post them on here. I ran 52 hours on the AMSOIL Series 2000 Racing Oil.

I will try to post mine as well when I get them on the Amsoil Series 2000 20W50 racing oil @ 35 hours. Unfortunately this will be for a freshly rebuilt engine though I did flush the rebuilt engine first with 15 min 30w oil and filter run/change and then a three hour engine break in procedure oil and filter run/change first. I also have a baseline oil analysis on the fresh oil. I still have enough of this oil for another season so that will likely be more telling.

Your comments are spot on. The stuff is hideous to work with. I hate it. But I wanted the best oil to protect my X1 drive from 600 hp and I thought that this was it. Am I wrong? I would love to see a test data package that shows a more user friendly oil is just as good or better than the Redline.

One opinion against the Redline product from a drive industry guy was that its consistancy would likely hold wear debris in suspension rather than let it fall out of the way at rest as he would prefer. He noted that this was just an opinion.

Anyone out there with any compoarison test data?

read this........
http://www.amsoil.com/products/gearl...hitePaper.aspx

Its a good reading. It tests all kinds of gearlubes.

Thanks. I should have thought to look there in the first place. In God We Trust....everyone else show me data.

Don't forget TORCO 75w-90 synthetic Gearlube.

I believe Merc uses this in their racing drives. It's a GRP V. synthetic. The very best of the best...


http://www.torcousa.com/products/pro...a-cd0965cef88c

I can not get the URL to work.

OK, here is the attachment.

Again.

Torco recommends MTF in the #6 drive, not the gear lube.

Ken

Hydrocruiser,

Thanks for the help finding the TORCO web site.

The TORCO gear lube was included in the Amsoil white paper testing. It did not seem to do so well in some of the tests.

Your thoughts?

http://www.amsoil.com/products/gearl...hitePaper.aspx

...ever see Amsoil products doing as good or worse in thier "studies"?..:)


Amsoil Severe Gear and Torco products are comparible I think as the Torco synthetic gear lubes are GL-6 rated.

I ran M-1 syn gear lube and it is also really good as is Royal Purple's gearlube.

Just an fyi...Merc HP gearlube is not be be discounted....it works well...however...I didn't see as much on the magnet when I went over to a syn.