[Electrosilver]

Hi Guys,

Just bought my first boat which is an 06 model SX19 with a 4.3 MPI Mercruiser Alpha I. And being a newb to boats I have an engine oil question....

The previous owner had it sitting at his place for quite some time and before I take this baby to the water, I want to change the oil. Engine's got approx 30 hours on it and I know the recommended oil from Mercury for this engine is the Quicksilver 25W-40 Full Synthetic oil however the engines in these boats being very similar to cars, can I put engine oils that go into cars?

eg. Mobil 1 25W-40 Fully Sythetic oil

Are engine oils for boats different to cars?

Thanks in advance.

[Dredd]

Yeah, you don't necessarily have to use marine oil. I would use a full synthetic since the manual specifically states that though. IMO, the main thing to keep in mind is that you probably run your boat motor quite a bit differently than you do your car motor... so don't be skimpy.

[ShabahZ250]

there are certain oils that you shouldn't use, and those are outlined in the Mercruiser Engine Service Manual. If I remember correctly, it's for non-synthetic oil (dino oils), and it has to do with the amount of detergent in the oil.

Personally, I wouldn't try and cut corners by using automotive oil. Sure there's the "Marine Mark Up" (anything with the word "Marine" on it costs at least 1.5x more), but remember, that's the oil the Mercruiser factory and all the authorized service facilities use to ensure maximum lubrication and maximum performance. Just remember, if something were to go wrong as a result of using the incorrect oil, the engine's the most expensive part of the boat to get fixed, and it's the one part of your boat that ruins all the fun if it doesn't work. Might be worth it to do what they say, even if it costs a little extra. That's how I always see it.