New engine but which oil......

[Piddy]

I've seen a few threads about engine oil over the years and have been comfortable with what to put in my old Thorneycroft engine.

Now I have purchased a shiny new engine (Sole 42 - Mitsubishi based), I have the following oil recommendation to meet: ACEA E5/E3 or API CH-4/SJ grade 15w40
The service intervals quoted by the manufacturer is 250Hrs (which feels uncomfortably long on a boat engine...) so I am keen to use an oil that is likely to last this long.

- Any recommendations of make/Type? It's a bewildering range of choices.......

Thanks.

 

[vyv_cox]

Select any big name manufacturer. All will have gone through stringent industry tests and will be totally satisfactory.

 

[superheat6k]

As Vyv says - just look for the 15W40 bit, semi synthetic would be my choice. I use this stuff in my Cummins 6BT5.9M (Thornycroft), but mainly because it was free from a client who used the stuff in there emergency supply generators..

Duron HP 15W40

Shell Rimula R4 15W40 is another popular choice.

The API standard CH4 is a laid down standard, so the make doesn't really matter, as long as the oil complies with this standard.

From Google search - took around 4 seconds to find

CH4 - Current - [FONT=&quot]Introduced in 1998. For high-speed, four-stroke engines designed to meet 1998 exhaust emission standards. CH-4 oils are specifically compounded for use with diesel fuels ranging in sulfur content up to 0.5% weight. Can be used in place of CD, CE, CF-4, and CG-4 oils.[/FONT]

Be aware most Thornycroft were simply a name applied to someone else's engine once marinised.

 

[Graham376]

Mine is most likely the same engine (Mitsubishi S4L) but marinised by Thornycroft, it's old tech and Thornycroft specified mineral oil. Mitsubishi manual specifies CD grade, which is obsolete. https://www.manualslib.com/products/Mitsubishi-S4l-4028224.html

 

[PetiteFleur]

On my Beta 25, Kubota based, I was told it must be a Mineral oil 15w40. Engine seems fine after over 1000 hrs, never uses any oil between annual changes.

 

[Piddy]

Thanks all that replied.

Google had already shown those items however, I am still undecided about Mineral Vs Semi-synthetic. I have read a lot of the prose on here and other places but it seems that it's a personal choice rather than any overwhelming technical fact.

I'm slightly nervous at going 250Hrs between oil changes - does anyone else leave it that long?

 

[Old Harry]

Thanks all that replied.

Google had already shown those items however, I am still undecided about Mineral Vs Semi-synthetic. I have read a lot of the prose on here and other places but it seems that it's a personal choice rather than any overwhelming technical fact.

I'm slightly nervous at going 250Hrs between oil changes - does anyone else leave it that long?

250 hr equates to approx 10k mls in a car, if thats any help

 

[lw395]

On my Beta 25, Kubota based, I was told it must be a Mineral oil 15w40. Engine seems fine after over 1000 hrs, never uses any oil between annual changes.

Gen-yew-whine Kubota own brand oil appears to be CI4 CH4 ACEA E7 FWIW

Q: Can I use synthetic oil in my Kubota engine?

A: Kubota recommends oil with an API rating of CF or higher. If the synthetic oil meets those standards, it can be used in Kubota engines.

 

[scottie]

P

Thanks all that replied.

Google had already shown those items however, I am still undecided about Mineral Vs Semi-synthetic. I have read a lot of the prose on here and other places but it seems that it's a personal choice rather than any overwhelming technical fact.

I'm slightly nervous at going 250Hrs between oil changes - does anyone else leave it that long?

I fully understand why you might be concerned at leaving oil change to what is possibly 5 years
Does the book not have X hours or Y years
Perhaps I am old fashioned but oil and filters each year as a minimum seems right despite what the book says

 

[RichardS]

250 hr equates to approx 10k mls in a car, if thats any help

Probably even less than 10,000 miles ..... and my diesel car has manufacturer oil change every 25,000 miles which would be over 800 hours in a boat.

250 hours between oil changes using synthetic oil would be throwing away oil in virtually new condition unless seawater is finding it's way into the sump. However, your metal to metal friction surfaces would last forever under such a regime.

Richard

 

[Lucy52]

Euro Car Parts sell a suitable oil and not too expensive.

 

[Graham376]

I'm slightly nervous at going 250Hrs between oil changes - does anyone else leave it that long?

I change mine at 100 hrs, filters at 200, whatever time of year it reaches those figures. At around 18 euro/5 litre for Galp multi-diesel, it's cheap enough.

 

[Plum]

I've seen a few threads about engine oil over the years and have been comfortable with what to put in my old Thorneycroft engine.

Now I have purchased a shiny new engine (Sole 42 - Mitsubishi based), I have the following oil recommendation to meet: ACEA E5/E3 or API CH-4/SJ grade 15w40
The service intervals quoted by the manufacturer is 250Hrs (which feels uncomfortably long on a boat engine...) so I am keen to use an oil that is likely to last this long.

- Any recommendations of make/Type? It's a bewildering range of choices.......

Thanks.

I have been using this oil in my volvo penta for 5 years although I change it every 12 months (or 100 hours) https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EXOL-ENG...OVED-20-Ltr-/351199111854?txnId=1080736647022

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

Change the oil and filter as frequently as possible, within reasons. Use full Synthetic oil of the right specification.

 

[macd]

I'm slightly nervous at going 250Hrs between oil changes - does anyone else leave it that long?

Certainly, if that's what the book says.

Note that one of the factors in service intervals will be oil capacity. My standard sump Beta 50 holds 9.5 litres and has 250 hour oil-change intervals. However, the shallow sump version holds seven litres, with a commensurate reduction to 150hrs.

As said, your handbook will probably include a caveat something like "every year or 250 hours if sooner".

 

[Venus1]

Y

250 hours between oil changes using synthetic oil would be throwing away oil in virtually new condition unless seawater is finding it's way into the sump. However, your metal to metal friction surfaces would last forever under such a regime.

Richard

Food for thought. I respect manufacturer’s recommendations...... however, I’d be interested if anyone has heard someone say “I wish I’d changed my oil more frequently”

 

[vyv_cox]

Y

Food for thought. I respect manufacturer’s recommendations...... however, I’d be interested if anyone has heard someone say “I wish I’d changed my oil more frequently”

Not quite that but a story from the dim and distant past. A garage I used to work with in the 1960s had an old Austin van, petrol of course, used for collection of parts and odd jobs. These were the days when a decoke was needed at around 50,000 miles on almost every vehicle. The driver of this van was semi-retired, his duties including maintenance of it as well as driving. He used to change the oil every week on Friday afternoon! The van had done 100,000 miles without any mechanical intervention, unheard of in those days.