I would stick with the VR-1. good oil

Not sure where you get your pricing, but AMSOIL is not more expensive by the gallon. All their products are less per case and less per larger quantities.

Amsoil is popular so no discounts. Unless you become a dealer. Sounds like Amway to me. I used Amsoil and was not impressed for the money spent. If I had to pick a syn oil it would be redline or Joe Gibbs. Plus less expensive.
If you buy Brad Penn, two or mores cases you will get a discount. Swepco you can if you work or own a shop you buy at wholesale. Joe Gibbs I have not found any breaks yet. Shop around on line, you usually can catch a deal.

So, I've always run Merc 25W-40 dino until last year switched to Merc 25W-40 semi-syn in all 3 current 4 cycle marine engines. Always changed at 50 hrs std duty engines and 25 hrs high perf engines. I've got 330 hrs on 05 525's, 180 hrs on an 07 current 350 MAG, had 225 hrs on 04 496's, and had 500 hrs on an old 87 350MAG before rebuilt for tuliped valve. I've had no oil related probs I know of or is ignorance bliss? What is "wrong" with the Merc oils? :cartman:

Me too, my stock 502 mpi mags that have never been opened up have 705 hours on them. I was using the Merc. 25w-40 regular oil then switched to their semi-synthetic oil at about 400 hours. In that time I have been doing 50 hour oil changes, but I have been running the Amsoil synthetic media oil filters with Filter Mags (magnets) on them.

Brad Penn purchased the Kendall refinery in PA. Brad Penn has nothing to do with Kendall motor oil. Kendall motor oil is now owned by Phillips/Conoco. The other half of the old Witco Chemical, Amalie, is now located out of Tampa I think.

Ken

What about breaking in a new motor, run conventional then change to synthetic, or break it in with the oil your gonna run

Break your engine in with a high quality petroleum oil.

Once oil consumption stabilizes, run what ever you want.

Ken

100% agree!