engine oil.

[chrishelen]

Hi I need to change the oil on my Perkins perama, I usually get this done by the marina workshop guys, but I am doing it myself this time as the costs are mounting up. The engine works hard and does at least 40 hours a week.
Despite trawling the net and looking at vyv coxes excellent website I am a bit confused at which is the correct oil to use.
I usually change oil and filters after 250 hrs, or about every 6 weeks.
So any help would be great thanks.

 

[Tranona]

Most basic 15/40 mineral oil from the supermarket. Usually labeled "for older diesel engines". No need for anything fancy and definitely no synthetics.

 

[Heckler]

Hi I need to change the oil on my Perkins perama, I usually get this done by the marina workshop guys, but I am doing it myself this time as the costs are mounting up. The engine works hard and does at least 40 hours a week.
Despite trawling the net and looking at vyv coxes excellent website I am a bit confused at which is the correct oil to use.
I usually change oil and filters after 250 hrs, or about every 6 weeks.
So any help would be great thanks.

250 hrs every six weeks! I normally do 100 hrs a yr!

 

[Heckler]

Most basic 15/40 mineral oil from the supermarket. Usually labeled "for older diesel engines". No need for anything fancy and definitely no synthetics.

Going off piste, the smkt in Faro the other day, 20/50 CD 12 euros for 5 ltrs! I had just changed mine with Tescos finest brought with me!
S

 

[sailorman]

250 hrs every six weeks! I normally do 100 hrs a yr!

He obviously does more boating than most of us

 

[macnorton]

He obviously does more boating than most of us

Could be a generator?

 

[vyv_cox]

I can't advise the viscosity for that engine but the manual should tell you. It depends on the ambient temperature where you are but I would not go below 15w-40 unless it is a very modern engine with hardened shaft journals and aluminium bearings.

In most cases a cheap multigrade oil from a supermarket, with a spec of API CF4 or similar is perfect for older design marine engines. It sounds like yours gets plenty of hard work so I would be buying a major oil company product rather than a supermarket own brand.

 

[chrishelen]

I can't advise the viscosity for that engine but the manual should tell you. It depends on the ambient temperature where you are but I would not go below 15w-40 unless it is a very modern engine with hardened shaft journals and aluminium bearings.

In most cases a cheap multigrade oil from a supermarket, with a spec of API CF4 or similar is perfect for older design marine engines. It sounds like yours gets plenty of hard work so I would be buying a major oil company product rather than a supermarket own brand.

Hi guys, thanks for the info, I took the spec sheet from the w/manual to the local motor factors and they sold me 4 ltrs of ' silver line heavy duty oil 15/40. Exceeds CH-4. CG-4. Cf4. CF2. SJ and SJ oils' so guess i'm good to go ?

Skipper stu, charter boat= lots of hours.

 

[chrishelen]

I can't advise the viscosity for that engine but the manual should tell you. It depends on the ambient temperature where you are but I would not go below 15w-40 unless it is a very modern engine with hardened shaft journals and aluminium bearings.

In most cases a cheap multigrade oil from a supermarket, with a spec of API CF4 or similar is perfect for older design marine engines. It sounds like yours gets plenty of hard work so I would be buying a major oil company product rather than a supermarket own brand.

Hi guys, thanks for the info, I took the spec sheet from the w/manual to the local motor factors and they sold me 4 ltrs of ' silver line heavy duty oil 15/40. Exceeds CH-4. CG-4. Cf4. CF2. SJ and SJ oils' so guess i'm good to go ?

Skipper stu, charter boat= lots of hours.

Sorry posted twice for some reason.

 

[Allergy]

Most basic 15/40 mineral oil from the supermarket. Usually labeled "for older diesel engines". No need for anything fancy and definitely no synthetics.

+1

 

[vyv_cox]

If a supermarket oil has an API specification rating of CF-4 and a major oil company oil has the exact same rating of CF-4 then they are exactly the same specification of oil and both will have met the requirements needed to achieve that rating. Hence both will be suitable for the job even if the price is very different. If the supermarket oil had inferior or different qualities then it would have a different rating.

Obviously if it says 'good for frying chips' on the label then avoid it for engine use!

They will all meet the minimum requirements of the specification but a supermarket oil may well be a base oil bought somewhere plus an additive package bought from a specialist supplier, of which there are many. An oil bought from a major will usually have their own additive package or one that has undergone extensive testing to ensure compliance with their own specifications.