Oil weight for small block
 

I am wondering what weight oil to use for my 2002 Caravelle Interceptor 212 with a 5.0L M.P.I. Merc with an Alpha drive. It has 50 hours on it and I have used 25w40 Quicksilver as recomended by Mercruiser, and I want to switch to synthetic as that is all I use in my cars, and love it. I live in New Orleans so the weather is hot most of the year, and I dont go out in weather below 65. I have been reading all the oil discussions, but you guys all have the big block big horse engines, and I am wondering if the same rules aply to small blocks. I am switching my outdrive gear oil to Redline Shockproof and need to know which synthetic oil weight to go with. I am kind of thinking to go with a straight weight 40 from what I have read here due to the high temps, maybe Royal Purple. Thanks alot for everything!
p.s. I am not the jackass with the 100m.p.h. Caravelle!

I have a small block Ford 351W that all I've used is Valvoline 40w in combination with Lucas and never had a single problem. I know it's not synthetic but it's a lot less expensive and any way I changed the oil approx. every 25 hours of use.

15w-40 synthetic
30 weight conventional
25w-40 Merc oil

In summer I run 15-50 Mobil1 and for winter, such as it is, I use 5-30 Mobil1.
The lighter weight oil will build oil pressure quickly after sitting for the winter.

NOT NOT being a smart ass but don't tell it thats its going in a small block it'l never know :D :D

Mc's right on what to use and IGGY if its real cold in anything !!!!!
:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

I know it's overkill, but you should've seen how fast it built oil pressure after sitting for 5 months. :D

HEY IGGY I'm all for over kill ,,for sure your right :D :D