Synthetic Oil in Vortec 5.7

[dslkd]

Does anyone run fully synthetic or synthetic blend in their Vortec? If so what brand and weight. also anyone tried synthetic trany fluid?

Thanks,
Ben

[2kims]

i run synthetic in my 3500 chev 7.4L gas truck. 140000 miles and my VW TDI. i plan to put it in the 24v when its time for an oil change. I use Amsoil Series 3000 5-40W. I plan on using the same in the tige. we put about 125hrs a season on our boat.

[dslkd]

If I run synthetic I am Going to use Amsoil for sure.

[Tige M.D.]

check with the manufacture first. alot of them only warranty their product with certain oils. if there is a failure and the engineers find that it had unauthorized oil in it you can loose your warranty.

[dslkd]

Do you have any idea what they suggest for the Votecs the manual doesn't say anythig about what brands to use.

[Tige M.D.]

just called marine power and they are going to get back with me shortly.

[dslkd]

Thanks, What brand and weight oil do you normaly service with in both tranny and engine?

[Tige M.D.]

marine power has no problem with you using synthetic oil in the engine.
we use valvoline 40wt in the engine and dexron III in the transmission.

[dslkd]

Thats good to know Thanks for all yor help!!! I guess il contact amsoil and see what they suggest, ans try it this oil change. They didn't happen to say if they had noticed any diffrence or if it was worth the exta money ?

Ben

[GIZMO]

I build engines for sand rails and use mobil 1 or Red Line, They seem to hold up the best.

P.S. Dont change to synthetic unil the motors broke in.

[dslkd]

Its got about 45hrs so it should be broke in i think. What is the fluid capcity of the trany fluid on the 22V I cant find my book and the dealer here knows less than I do.

[Tige M.D.]

approx. 1 1/2 qts.

[Ruune]

isnt marine oil formulated differently for a higher humidity, given that there is humid air going through the engine?

Isnt the advantage of synthetic that it breaks down less under high heat? That said, and given the fact that we've got a constant supply of cool water coming into the cooling system, doesnt that negate the advantage?

Just a thought.

[raythompson]

Originally posted by Ruune
isnt marine oil formulated differently for a higher humidity, given that there is humid air going through the engine?

Isnt the advantage of synthetic that it breaks down less under high heat? That said, and given the fact that we've got a constant supply of cool water coming into the cooling system, doesnt that negate the advantage?

Just a thought.

Yes, those are all partly true.

The humidity is not an issue as in the south (as you know) the humidity can get quite high and cars survive with no problems. When the air is moving the humidity is not much greater on the water than what is normally in the air. The heat of the engine and oil will evaporate any water that gets into the oil. Besides most engine crankcases are sealed and moisture should not get into the oil.

The cooling supply may be plentiful and at a constant temperature, but the engine is stull subject to a lot of heat generation, especially under high load. And marine engines are almost always under high load. Hot spots still develop in the engine.

Synthetic oil is also supposed to handle higher load pressures on the bearing surfaces without the lubricating film being squeezed out. This is supposed to prevent any metal to metal contact on the bearing surfaces.

Now my opinion is that synthetic is a waste of money. Change your regular oil often along with the filter and an engine will last a very long time. My old boat was 20 years old with thousands of hours and the engine was still working fine. The oil was changed twice during the summer working season, once at the beginning, and once about in the middle of the season.

The boat started it's life on Canyon Lake Northwest of San Antonio and also spent some time on the Guadalupe River (put in where I-10 crossed the river). A lot of time was spent on Canyon Lake. Now I live in Tennessee where the lakes are bigger, and more importantly, much much smoother than Canyon Lake. And we don't have to dodge sail boats.

[Ruune]

thanks for the clarifications... and yeah, Canyon can get kinda choppy! Medina is really nice... theres always calm water SOMEWHERE! We dont have many sailboats to dodge, but Jethro and his brother/cousins Jim-bob and Joe-bob in their "fitty horse skeeters" and NASCAR hats, camo clothes shirts and florescent PFDs (never quite got that) are another story.

[raythompson]

Originally posted by Ruune
thanks for the clarifications... and yeah, Canyon can get kinda choppy! Medina is really nice... theres always calm water SOMEWHERE! We dont have many sailboats to dodge, but Jethro and his brother/cousins Jim-bob and Joe-bob in their "fitty horse skeeters" and NASCAR hats, camo clothes shirts and florescent PFDs (never quite got that) are another story.
Went to Medina once, and it was so low that I was scared of running aground so I did not get much joy out of that experience.

Here the rivers are for the most part navigable and maintained by The Core of Engineers. If you stay between the channel markers you are always guaranteed an 8 foot depth. And I have detailed charts of the river system that show the depth and what to watch for.

I can also travel 50 miles in one direction which was a nice change from Canyon Lake. Smooth water here can be found in many coves, tributaries (Little Emory River is especially fine) and some days in the middle of the lake. Early morning and you can travel 10 miles in a straight line. Get outside the wake and it is an incredibly smooth ride.

I know what you mean about billy bob in their 50hp smokers with Nascar hats (turn backwards naturally). Nascar is big here also. People buy a Dodge because it won at Nascar and next Monday think they can draft on the interstate just like number 8.

Many of the fishing types here use Norris Craft (built locally), and some others. Many have 200(+) engines on their boats so they can get to their favorite spot fast. Yeh right. It is just an excuse to have a fast boat.

Then there are the dipwads that have jet boats with the 500hp blown rigs that are little more than a slab of fiberglass with an engine. Little freeboard, can hold three people if they get real friendly. They fly down the river and just think it is great.

When I was at Canyon I would sometimes encounter the sail boats having a regatta. I would park my boat in the middle of the course, turn the engine off and just sit. Used to really tick off the sailboats as they had to go around me.

Now I have been in a bass boat (Allison) that was fitted with a Mercury racing outboard. The chap that owned the boat took me for a little ride in his craft. We got up to 96 mph on the Clinch River. I was sore when we got done as all my muscles were tensed the entire time. That was just a little too fast for me on the water. If we had hit a floating acorn we probably would have flipped.

My 2005 Tige 22V should be here on Tuesday. The trailer arrives Monday (custom with disc brakes on all 4 wheels). Next weekend is supposed to be in the 60's so I will take delivery on the boat at that time. I will go out with the dealer and do a water test and make sure all is at it should be.

Almost hated to sell my old boat. It had served me well for 20 years.

[Ruune]

Yeah I remember when medina was that low. The Edwards underground water district bought half (or more) of the water in the lake, and when its full, the water seeps into the aquifer. For this reason, they like to keep the lake full and as a result, its been at capacity for the last few years. As an added bonus, property values have grown exponentially- 5-10x what they were 15 years ago.

yeah, we have all types here too- especially jethro and his flat-bottom with the blown 5-0-deuce.

as for weather, we're sittin' pretty at a GORGEOUS 76 degrees. Tomorrow is forecasted to be 85! ... and my boat is at the dealer getting a new propshaft (among other things)!!! argh!!!!!

[raythompson]

Originally posted by Ruune
as for weather, we're sittin' pretty at a GORGEOUS 76 degrees. Tomorrow is forecasted to be 85! ... and my boat is at the dealer getting a new propshaft (among other things)!!! argh!!!!!
Oh yeah, I remember those days. I lived in Live Oak (north of SA on I-35) for 15 years. Several years I would have the old boat up on the lake in December when the temperature reached 75 or better. More than once I have skied on Canyon in December and January. Of course I had a wet suit as the water was still cold.

San Antonio did have some of the best tasting drinking water that I have encountered. It all came from the aquifer, it was clean, it was good. Even with the mineral deposits that settle at the bottom of your glass from the melting ice cubes. I really miss that water.

Then the dog days of August when it was just too hot to be at the lake. The lake water got too warm to be refreshing.

I have been following your propshaft and other problems. That is a real bummer. The good news is that it is still under warranty.

I had to replace the transom on my old boat after 17 years. That was not a cheap operation. At least with Tige the hull is covered by a lifetime warranty and I will never face that expense again.

[rushin]

looking at the mobil 1 website they do not have a single viscosity oil synthetic as recommended by marine power but they do have a 20w-50 synthetic for motorcycles. Can the 20w-50 synthetic be used? I would like to use mobil 1. Anyone any thoughts?

[rushin]

Ok, I talked to Lee @ Marine power and says it is not a problem for a synthetic oil and says try and stay away from Quaker State because it gums up under the intake. He also said that do not change over to the synthetic until there is 100 hours on the engine thats when he says the rings are good and set.

I also talked to Mobil and they recommend the Mobil 1 15w-50. It is for higher reving engines.