Engine oil - what to use

[mjf]

Since new my Volvo pentas TAMP's have used Volvo Oil and never have i needed to top up between oil / filter changes.

The unmarked 5 litres that Princess suppied was used over the years for the Genset oil change ....

I recall some on here like Shell - whats the view please use an oil co branded or continue with Volvo which must be blended by an oil major anyway?

 

[rafiki_]

Mike, I have Cat engines in Rafiki. Cat supply oil that is rebranded Exol. I buy Exol from a local oil supplier.

 

[Mr Googler]

Shell Rimula R4X is the forum oil of choice

 

[Sishoe]

Mike, I have Cat engines in Rafiki. Cat supply oil that is rebranded Exol. I buy Exol from a local oil supplier.

Does it work out much cheaper than Finnings supplied Cat oil?
Looking at last years service materials inv i paid £56.00 +vat per 20lts

 

[mcanderson]

As above.

 

[BruceK]

Shell Rimula R4X is the forum oil of choice

Why? They cost comparatively the same, so it must be because it's better but how so?

Edit: From a user's experience perspective

 

[IDAMAY]

Does it work out much cheaper than Finnings supplied Cat oil?
Looking at last years service materials inv i paid £56.00 +vat per 20lts

I have just had a quote from Finnings for this year. The price is the same as you paid last year.

 

[Portofino]

It’s just a case of checking on the label to make sure it’s Volvo spec .
There’s probably loads depending on the world markets .
I know MAN are pretty relaxed ,certainly not anal retentive, they just have a huge list in an appendix at the back of the operating manual .
If it’s any consolation the Yard we use just sells because it’s based in France Fina 15/40 turbo rubina , which has the approval ratings of my MAN and MTU ( Merc truck ) and Volvo ., as well as the various road trucks like Renault, iveco ,MB ,Scania etc .

However if we were based in say Malaysia then I would use Petronas .As long as it’s aporoved .

Another thing is if you change every 12 /12 let’s face it ave hrs ( mine was 80 last year ) the oils not exactly reaching its lifed capacity compared to a Eddie Stobbart truck .

The only thing with “ marine “ to think about is the the additives package .

So for us it’s more time in salty environment as opposed to the oil loosing it lub ability by hrs or Km ,s because the oil should be changed annually because the oil's additive package deteriorates over time and gets further used up holding contaminants in suspension. This is not related to engine operation (mileage/ hrs ) just time.

 

[Mr Googler]

Why? They cost comparatively the same, so it must be because it's better but how so?

Edit: From a user's experience perspective

Dunno...I used mannol in my 61’s...I’ve got Rimula for the kads. Supposed to be full of goodness but both are vds3. I’m told it’s good to stick with a brand rather than swooping about every change

 

[jon and michie]

I use Shell Remula RT4X which is VDS 3 compliant - after my first year of using it the oil when it got sucked out of the engine came out golden like it was only just put in good quality stuff.

jon

 

[CLB]

I use anything that is VDS 3 compliant. Sitting here right now I have 20 litres of Millers Multifleet 15w40 waiting to go into my engines. Cost £45 for 20 litres delivered to my door.

 

[scottie]

Might be worth checking Volvo Trucks prices

 

[No Regrets]

I use eBay sourced VDS3, have been for years, around £42-5 per 20 litres.

No issues, no leakage, no usage or funny noises on 35 year old TAMD40b's.

Says VDS3, so approved by VP

 

[rafiki_]

Does it work out much cheaper than Finnings supplied Cat oil?
Looking at last years service materials inv i paid £56.00 +vat per 20lts

I paid about the same, but got the higher quality marine 123 version. No delivery charge either.

 

[sailorman]

Shell Rimula R4X is the forum oil of choice

Shell Rimula RT4X provides:
Up to 50% better engine cleanliness1
Up to 50% more cleanliness control, i.e., less engine sludge, in different parts of the engine has been demonstrated in key engine tests for meeting US and European specifications.
Up to 50% better acid corrosion protection1
Shell Rimula RT4 X is proven to give up to 50% more protection in engine and laboratory tests and field trials under real-world truck driving conditions.
Up to 30% better wear protection1
In the Mack T-10 engine test, Shell Rimula RT4 X demonstrated up to 30% better wear protection of engine piston rings and cylinder liners than required to meet the API CI-4 specification.
Specifications:
SAE viscosity grade: 15W-40

API: CI-4, CH-4, CG-4, CF-4, CF. SL; ACEA: E7, E5, E3; Global: DHD-1; Caterpillar: ECF-2, ECF-1-A; Cummins: CES 20078, 77, 76 ,75, 72 ,71; DDC: 93K215; Deutz: DQC III-10; IVECO: T1 (Meets requirements);JASO: DH-1; Mack EO-M+, EO-M; MAN: M3275-1; MB-Approval 228.3; MTU: Category 2; Renault Trucks: RLD-2; Volvo: VDS-3;

SAE viscosity grade: 20W-50

API: CI-4, CH-4, CG-4, CF-4, CF; ACEA: E7; MAN: M3275-1; MB-Approval 228.3; JASO: DH-1; Deutz: DQC III-10

 

[Momac]

The Shell oil is now called Shell Rimula 4X
Cheaper than Volvo Penta branded oil but I am sure there are alternatives at even less cost
Such as
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Smith-Allan-Vection-Engine-Oil/dp/B00FGREQLQ?th=1

.

 

[BruceK]

I use Shell Remula RT4X which is VDS 3 compliant - after my first year of using it the oil when it got sucked out of the engine came out golden like it was only just put in good quality stuff.

jon

From a diesel engine? And this is a mineral oil? I'll have some of that!

 

[BruceK]

The Shell oil is now called Shell Rimula 4X
Cheaper than Volvo Penta branded oil but I am sure there are alternatives at even less cost
Such as
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Smith-Allan-Vection-Engine-Oil/dp/B00FGREQLQ?th=1

.

Its not cheaper I want. Its better. The cost of oil over a season comparatively is insignificant on our smaller engines. The big boys on the forum, maybe not so much. I fell off my chair last year at the sump capacity of one brute.

 

[Momac]

Its not cheaper I want. Its better. The cost of oil over a season comparatively is insignificant on our smaller engines.

I think the Smith ad Allan stuff would be fine.

But yes you are correct the Rimula 4X price is hardly a deal breaker
I bought it from the following source last time
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Shell-Ri...1:g:3joAAOSwUxhbOj9L:rk:1:pf:1&frcectupt=true

 

[MapisM]

From a diesel engine? And this is a mineral oil? I'll have some of that!

I suspect that such result mostly depends on specific engines and/or their usage, rather than the oil.
I can remember to have seen all sort of oils becoming very dark in VP, Cat, MAN, MTU and Yanmar engines - all in a matter of some hours after replacement.
Otoh, my previous Cat 3116 powered boat was a remarkable exception.
I always used Mobil Delvac 15W-40, which btw that doesn't meet Cat official recommendations of a so called SAEO (special application engine oil) for their 3116 and 3126 engines, but I followed some off records indications of a Cat engineer I trust.
Bottom line, I never had to clean transom soot and the oil was still yellowish after a whole season.
But on that boat the engines always ran at VERY low load, which is the reason why I mentioned also the usage.

PS: an interesting coincidence is that the very same oil does meet the MAN specs of the engines which I've got in my current boat, and that's what I'll put in them for next season. So, it'll be interesting to see if the oil will stay as clean as it did in the Cat 3116, but I'm not holding my breath...