I just purchased a 2002 Outlaw 29 with twin 496's. Its entire life it has always had Mercruiser conventional oil. Every vehicle I have owned I have always used synthetic oil. So, what do you guys think about switching this boat over to synthetic? Would it do any harm?? Is it worth it now at this stage? Please help!!

I run Vr1 20w50 in my 500's

Just do it. It will be fine...

I run amsoil dominator synthetic 15w-50 racing oil in my hp500 efi's

I have the Merc 496s in my Formula. First oil change I did I switched it to the Amsoil. Runs fine now.

Like the Nike ad, just do it!

Mobil1 15w50
Wix (Napa) Oil Filters
Lucas Oil treatment

...my happy combo.

Where are you? Do you have an offseason? How many hours do you anticipate putting on per season? How often do you change it?

Those factors would make a difference to me in deciding how much I would spend on oil. You're certainly not going to hurt anything by switching to synthetic, but if you boat 20 hours per season and have a long layup winter season, I wouldn't spend the extra money. I always ran conventional VR1 20w50 / WIX filters in my stock 454s and 502s.

Where's Borgie???????????????

I switched to AMSOIL 15W50 Dominator in my 496...No issues, but it was a very low hour motor to begin with...I have heard on high hour motors making the switch may not be a good idea, but have nothing to validate that statement...

Cause there really is nothing to validate that statement.

Way, way, way back...yes...but that was because of old style seals and gaskets, and some synthetics didn't have certain additives in them.....but again, that's when I was a teenager. When Fred and Wilma Flinstone were a live.

Most synthetics have better cold flow and higher temp stability..so go for it if one wants.

What ever makes you sleep better at night, is what you should get. Just make sure the proper viscosity is chosen. (ie: no 0-20W / 5-20W schit)