Acceptable Oil Consumption
#11
My engine was rebuilt end of last year. Pulls 13-14 inches of vacum at idle. Putting my hand over the breathers on the valve covers i dont feel any blow by. But every time i run my boat i have to add at least a qt of oil. i figure its burning somewhere around a qt every 10 hours or so. I am running Royal Purple 20w50 HPS. Does this seem too high or is is normal for a synthetic motor oil.
#12
Registered

Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,295
Likes: 1
From: Baton Rouge La.
Did you have the problem prior to using Royal Purple ? I went on a RP binge and put it in my truck , mc and boat . It seems to break down very quick and boat - truck are eating it . More expensive junk in my book , i'm going back to Mobile I which i never had a problem with !!!!!
#13
Thread Starter
Registered
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: Gonzales, La
thanks for the replies. im gonna try switching oils to see if that makes a difference. Would like to stay with a synthetic. so ill try the Mobil one first. and see how it does. I know the valve stem seals were replaced. ill have to ask my engine builder about the guides. Next time i do a leak down ill warm the engine up first to get a better read.
i would think the engine would be broken in by now. ive put 40-50 hours on it since.
i would think the engine would be broken in by now. ive put 40-50 hours on it since.
Last edited by spark plug; 07-11-2012 at 10:26 AM.
#14
Registered
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,554
Likes: 3
From: Fredericksburg, Va
did you break in with the royal purple ? if so there's the problem...NEVER break in with synthetic....always use std for a while...I use rotella, and now I don't even go to syn any more...waste of $$$ my .02
#15
Registered
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,621
Likes: 402
From: Cheboygan, MI
thanks for the replies. im gonna try switching oils to see if that makes a difference. Would like to stay with a synthetic. so ill try the Mobil one first. and see how it does. I know the valve stem seals were replaced. ill have to ask my engine builder about the guides. Next time i do a leak down ill warm the engine up first to get a better read.
i would think the engine would be broken in by now. ive put 40-50 hours on it since.
i would think the engine would be broken in by now. ive put 40-50 hours on it since.
#16
Registered
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: Gulf Shores, AL.
I use Castrol GTX 20 W 50 in my Merc HP 500 carb engine, seems to do fine, however they are known to loose about a half a qrt when run hard, mine seems to do fine though. I have some Brad Penn I recently bought, but may stay with the Castrol so far it's been fine.
#17
I agree with others to switch oil and see what happens then go from there.
#18
Thread Starter
Registered
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: Gonzales, La
The engine was broken in using a specific break in oil made by Lubeatech Advanced Technologies. LAT 20w50. Engine was warmed up on the dyno and we made 7 pulls to 6k rpms on this oil. After the dyno i changed the oil to royal purple and dropped the engine in the boat.
It does seem to burn more oil when im running it harder. My normal cruising speed is 3500-4000 rpms. and at WOT i can spin it to 5400. but it likes to drink way too much fuel at anything higher than 3600. so try to keep it reasonalble.
Im really not ready to pull the motor back apart less than a year later. Figure worse case might foul some plugs out. So if switching oil brands doesnt seem to help ill just let er eat, and keep checking oil level
It does seem to burn more oil when im running it harder. My normal cruising speed is 3500-4000 rpms. and at WOT i can spin it to 5400. but it likes to drink way too much fuel at anything higher than 3600. so try to keep it reasonalble.
Im really not ready to pull the motor back apart less than a year later. Figure worse case might foul some plugs out. So if switching oil brands doesnt seem to help ill just let er eat, and keep checking oil level
#20
Registered
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
an easy indication of worn valve guides is after the engine is fully warmed up, shut it off swim around for an hour then watch out your exhaust as you start it back up if you get a brief puff of blue smoke your guides are worn




