Which Engine Oil Do You Use (& Why)

[Wotname]

What engine oil (mineral, semi- synthetic, full synthetic) and API rating do you use (for small yacht diesel engine like Yanmar, Volvo, Bukh etc)?

In another thread Dockhead posted this link Oil for yacht engines
and it got me thinking (usually not a good thing ).

A couple years back when I fitted a new 2GM20 I couldn't find the Yanmar recommended API CD rated oil in the local retail outlets so I did what the salesman suggested and used a CH-4 product.

The above link re-awakened my original concerns and I finally tracked down an Australian supplier of a API CD rated mineral oil - it wasn't easy
Most manufacturers no longer make oils to an obsolete rating.

So now I'm wondering what the rest of you use...

[cpa]

I have a Beta B60 that requires: API classification CC/CD/CE.
I use Delo 400 15w-40. I have 37 hours on the motor and will be doing my first oil change soon.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by cpa

I have a Beta B60 that requires: API classification CC/CD/CE.
I use Delo 400 15w-40. I have 37 hours on the motor and will be doing my first oil change soon.

There seems be several Delo 400 series oils so I assuming you mean this one -
Delo® 400 Multigrade SAE 15W-40
Premium performance, multigrade, heavy-duty diesel engine oil specifically designed to lubricate a wide range of diesel engines requiring API CI-4 PLUS, CI-4, ACEA E7 or JASO DH-1 performance lubricants operating under the most severe service conditions.

[Thin Line]

Rotella

[accomplice]

From that link, "Yacht auxiliary engines generally run for short periods"

They do? On a passage I have sometimes run the engine for 24+ hours straight. I'm all for sailing when I can, but when I cannot, the diesel goes on. Do other cruisers only use their auxiliary for short periods?

I use Yanmar 15W-30 in my 4LHA-STP. In my old 2GM20F, I've used Rotella HD (Shell) when I couldn't get the Yanmar.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Thin Line

Rotella

Just to expand this, are you using T1, T Triple, T5, T6 or some other Rotella?

[barnakiel]

Mineral CD.

Volvo Penta MD7.

Because when the engine was made, synthetics did not exist.

I buy plain oil and change it very often because we use the engine very little.

Now and then I get a can of higher rated stuff to flush/clean the engine.

b.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

Mineral CD.

Volvo Penta MD7.

Because when the engine was made, synthetics did not exist.

I buy plain oil and change it very often because we use the engine very little.

Now and then I get a can of higher rated stuff to flush/clean the engine.

b.

Have you had any difficulty in sourcing a mineral CD oil?

I can't find it on the shelves at general retail outlets in Oz.- although as stated in the first post, I have sourced some from a specialised outlet.

[cpa]

Originally Posted by Wotname

There seems be several Delo 400 series oils so I assuming you mean this one -
Delo® 400 Multigrade SAE 15W-40
Premium performance, multigrade, heavy-duty diesel engine oil specifically designed to lubricate a wide range of diesel engines requiring API CI-4 PLUS, CI-4, ACEA E7 or JASO DH-1 performance lubricants operating under the most severe service conditions.

Yes and also non synthetic.

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by Thin Line

Rotella

Same here. I use it because it's a high quality, heavy duty oil that meets the engine manufacturer's specifications and it's relatively inexpensive. Walmart sells it for $14 per gallon. West Marine is about double that.

[bob_77903]

I use Delo 400 Multigrade 15W-40 for my Yanmar. Also used it in my Cat C15 and C16 truck engines for over a million miles with excellent service.

[MarkSF]

I use Shell Rotella T 15w40 in the boat, and also it is the recommend oil for the V8 in my Land Rover. It took about 500 miles to fix a very noisy tappet. It has a good concentration of ZDDP for older engines, and a powerful detergent package. Great stuff.

[rossny]

Hi, Anybody using synthetics ? How many hours do you wait (from new) before you switch ? Also are the blends any good ? Thanks

[clyde]

i have an older volvo [40 yrs], so use #30 mineral oil. if i had a small engine in a sail boat, i also feel that 10/30 multigrade is best for newer engines...i would use mobil one, or the new penzoil ultra...i would also use a good bypass oil filter like the 'gcf.com' [gulf coast filters, uses a bounty paper towel, or the frantz toilet paper filter, website is 'we filter it.com' and i use scott 1000 toilet paper...they filter down to 1 or 1.5 microns...normal screw on filters are at 28 to 32 microns...i change the large paper towel filter @ 200 hrs on our boat, and add what is needed, on my 92 dodge/cummins and the frantz, it gets changed at 2500 miles, and the 1st time i sent in a sample each time...any questions, pull my chain...clyde

[Stu Jackson]

Synthetics are a waste of $$, IMHO. They have also been reported to attack seals in older engines (this is NOT a new issue, nor something that hasn't been posted many times before).