Oil Change in the 496HO
 

Im gonna change my oil for the year in my Baja 30OL with twin 496HO's. What is the best oil to run through these engines? ive been told Synth blend merc 25/40, but im wondering if there is anything better, or less expensive for same quality. Also whats the best filters to use?

Thanks!

I used synthetic last year in my 496, I did allot of reading on this myself, I switched to Valvoline 20w50 conventional racing oil, might have to change the oil half way through the year but if your motors have the drain hose its not a big deal to do. If I remember correctly there is more zinc in this oil.

Now after more reading Im wondering if I went in the right direction, Now im hoping that someone else chimes in here, I am also running a stock mercury oil filter, after some reading Im hearing Wix but do we run a racing filter on ours or a regular Wix filter one of them does not back flow so you have pressure right away when you turn it over.....Im going to have to come back to this one, maybe I spoke up to soon now I am second guessing myself.

now i have bigger motors but i am trying royal purple. i have be told its up there with being the best thing to run. now for the filter not shire on the best one to use.

Ive been reading that Mobile one 10w-30, or Mobile 15w-50 is great to use too.

What viscosity?

This is a nice deal
http://www.asaperformance.net/servle...-Engine/Detail

If You have some time,this is a good read. Click the Chaparral link in the first post.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...43287494,d.dmg

straight 50

that or amsoil was what i was going to go with and went with royal purple

How many hours to you put on the boat a season?

If you honestly can find something better than the AMSOIL Dominator 15w-50, I would be extremely surprised! I would recommend that, along with their oil filter, the EAO-24.

+1 although the Amsoil 20w50 is also good. I have spoken to the Royal Purple tech support people (and the Amsoil tech support) many times, so I would not veto Royal Purple either. What you want is something in the 20w-50 range or 15w50 range unless you boat in colder northern temps.

I use mine about 50-70hrs a season.

So it looks like Amsoil, or Royal Purple 50 weight is the ticket. What is the very best filter?

What drive lube do you recommend?

I've got 400 hours on my 496. Mobil 1 15W50 and Wix 51086 filter. Has never touched a drop of oil and always maintains good oil pressure. Still runs like new. Amsoil Marine Gear lube in the drive.

I would not run straight 50 weight.

This looks like a nice deal for the Amsoil oil

https://www.theoilhub.com/AMSOIL_Dom...G_4?src=Google

Mobil 1 V Twin with a wix racing filter.

PS. I would run any oil 70 hours, but that's just me.

50-70 hours a season is 2-3 oil changes; about 25 hours per oil change, NO more than 30.

I run 7 quarts of Mobil1 15w50 and 1 quart of Lucas Oil Treatment (Synthetic, black label) with Wix Racing filters from Napa.

wow lots of different info here. My buddy gas 6.2's would you still run one of these oils in that?

Changing oil every 25 hours is ludicrous.

If anything oils, and solvents have gotten better over the years. not worse, let alone engine tolerances, and build quality. Every merc 454 and 502 i have ever had, or seen got an oil change once a year, and they ran intot he 100o hours. no reason to think differently on these.

Now that being said if you run your boat at 5000RPMS all the time maybe so. But I personally use mine like a cruiser 99% of the time, its a 3500 rpms cursing at 42-44mph. and maybe a quick WOT run for a min or so (cleaning it out, letting them stretch there legs,and for fun). then back to normal.

This kind of operation does not even get the oil dirty in. I change mine every season. to keep fresh oil, and the detergants fresh on the sitting winterized motors.

I live in pittsburgh, and my mechanic says 10w-40 marine royal purple would be ideal. He said the 15-50 might be bad for cold starts

Totally with you! I like the V Twin as it has more wear additives than reg 15 50 Mobil 1 but the interval and fliter is spot on IMO.

Happy boating!

I to normally run 10W 40 in a boat.

Would you guys recommend royal purple drive lube? I have a bravo X drives

http://royalpurpleconsumer.com/produ...rine-gear-lube

well i decided to go with

Royal Purple 10w-40 oil
Royal Purple 80w-90 gear lube
Royal Purple Oil Filter

Mobil 1 15-50 is not what it used to be. Changed in the last year or two. Go rp, amsoil, vtwin. Read hydrocruisers thread.

+1

That is some good $hit!

And it runs really well in a 496. That is an excellent filter choice too.

If you dont want to order this get Mobil 1 20-50 and the K&N filter with anti drainback. Better oil pressure at idle.

WTF? How cold is it in Pittsburgh during the summer?


Joking aside, I put about 600 hours on my 496's before I puked one. And now 60 hours on the 496/650's. Running the 10-40 wont have any adverse effects but I jumped up to 15-50 and 20-50 for two main reasons:
1-Decresased lifter noise at start up. 496's old and new will clatter a little louder than usual at start up and the heavier stuff prevents it.
2-Idle oil pressure mas MUCH better after long hard runs

On the original 454-330 hp in my Velocity, I went 1600 hours on the first engine. First 150 hours were Mobil 1 15w50, last 1450 hours was with Amsoil 20w50. Engine was still running very strong at 1600+ hours, but I had a burning sensation for more power and picked up a 454-HO crate engine as a basis for a hotter build. That engine has now gone 500 hours with the same Amsoil 20w50. Oil was changed once a year in the fall, or at 100 hours whichever came first. This is on the Chess Bay area so temps are similar to Pittsburg. I would go with a full synthetic 15w50 or 20w50.

Blown BBC
 

I am getting close to finishing the build of my 571 CI motors. 900 HP each. After break in period, what oil should I use? Full synthetic 15/50 or 20/50? Amsoil? Royal Purple? Castrol 20/50?

Rick

Good oil filters for this motor (part numbers if you have them) that have the drain back, Im running the stock mercury oil filter, its brand new, changed the oil last fall so its fresh for the spring so changing a fliter would not be a big deal before first start up.

Last minute change up do to a fellow forum members recommendations!

1 Case of 4 Gallons RD50 Dominator Racing 15w-50
1 Gallon of RD50 Dominator Racing 15w-50
2 Quarts of RD50 Dominator Racing 15w-50
7 Quarts of AGM Marine Gearlube 75w/80w-90
2 EAO 24 Oil Filters

The Amsoil Marine gear lube is a great value for a full synthetic.

I've read lots of good things about the bravo shops NEO oils, and there geare lube.,I haven't tried yet, but i will be doing my next service with there products!

In most stock motors you could use WalMart 99 cent oil, changed whenever, and you would never know the difference. That is what I did in my 305ci Merc 228 and it lasted 3000 hours without a rebuild.

I'm at 700 plus hours on stock untouched 502 mpi mags that still run as great as when I got them with 200 hours. I have been using Merc 25-40 syn blend oil changed in the fall every season. I think oil and brands of oil get over talked about, I feel if you got oil issues in mild or stock engines it's not from the oil itself. JMO

I use straight 40w Valvaline and fram HP4 filter, change it 20 hours, no bottom end problems after 13 years, running hard most of the time.

Exactly....that is what I use...excellent stuff.

20w 50 VR1 Racing Synthetic. My 383 is an older mid 90's block with upgrades to the heads, intake, etc. I changed the oil this week and will run about 10 to 15 hours on it before changing it again. Might seem like overkill on the oil changes, but we only take it out about 10 times or so...and it is cheaper than a rebuild. I like the security of the heavier weight since my motor is a little older.

WHile its your boat, and your money. so do what you want.

But changing oil eery 20 hours, is like buying new tires every year for the corvette that you only drive 500 miles in the summer. its just not reasonabl at that low of use. maybe 50 if you where a lite boater. but at 50, thats still 2-3 times as much as your 15-20 hours.

its just wasting money.

oil does not break down that fast.

If you have ever owned a vette, and drove it 5000 rpms on a reg basis, you just might be changing tires every 500!