OK, I am a new boater and apparently have lots to learn... I have 3
or 4 questions for the experts:

a) My motor is a 1990 OMC Cobra 2.3L TwinCam (based on Ford engine).
Is it necessary to use specific MARINE engine oil or can I simply use
10W30? The book says "SAE30". However, it also says "OMC does not
recommend the use of 10W30 and 10W40 multi-viscocity oils". It is
unclear to me if they mean that I can't use 10W30 or the fact that
they don't recommend "multiviscocity" oils (whatever that may be)...
That is, it would be OK to use 10W30 as long as it is not the
multiviscocity type...

2) The book often refers to "solvent" as in "Wash the flame arrestor
in solvent and air dry thoroughly". What do they mean by solvent???

3) I also read "Proper oil pressure is vital to the engine; if oil
pressure is insufficient, the engine can destroy itself..." . Fair
enough! However, they do not tell me what it should be!!!! When I
first run the boat (say for the first 5 minutes, Oil pressure is
around 55-60 psi and then it settles in the 30 - 40 psi (at 40 the oil
pressure needle is in the middle of the display). Does that seems
about right??

4) To grease the gimball bearing (the hole seems to be on the
starboard side of the lower unit) can I simply use 3 Guard grease? If
not, what should I use?

I may not know much but I understand that is is important to regularly
maintain the boat so that it keeps running problem-free so I am keen
to learn about basic maintenance. Other suggestions are most welcome!

Andre

10W30 and 10W40 are multiviscosity oils: they range from SAE 10 to SAE 30
and SAE 10 to SAE 40 respectively. To follow the book, use SAE 30.
Solvent is something like mineral spirits that will dissolve grease and oil
so that it will wash away.
Your oil pressure readings are right. It's high when the engine's cold, and
comes down as the engine and oil warm up. 40 PSI is normal.
I don't know what 3 Guard grease is. I use the same Marine grease that I use
for everything else on my boat.
You can learn a lot by browsing the forums. This is one:
http://my.boatus.com/forum/default.asp

"Melandre" wrote in message
...
OK, I am a new boater and apparently have lots to learn... I have 3
or 4 questions for the experts:

a) My motor is a 1990 OMC Cobra 2.3L TwinCam (based on Ford engine).
Is it necessary to use specific MARINE engine oil or can I simply use
10W30? The book says "SAE30". However, it also says "OMC does not
recommend the use of 10W30 and 10W40 multi-viscocity oils". It is
unclear to me if they mean that I can't use 10W30 or the fact that
they don't recommend "multiviscocity" oils (whatever that may be)...
That is, it would be OK to use 10W30 as long as it is not the
multiviscocity type...

2) The book often refers to "solvent" as in "Wash the flame arrestor
in solvent and air dry thoroughly". What do they mean by solvent???

3) I also read "Proper oil pressure is vital to the engine; if oil
pressure is insufficient, the engine can destroy itself..." . Fair
enough! However, they do not tell me what it should be!!!! When I
first run the boat (say for the first 5 minutes, Oil pressure is
around 55-60 psi and then it settles in the 30 - 40 psi (at 40 the oil
pressure needle is in the middle of the display). Does that seems
about right??

4) To grease the gimball bearing (the hole seems to be on the
starboard side of the lower unit) can I simply use 3 Guard grease? If
not, what should I use?

I may not know much but I understand that is is important to regularly
maintain the boat so that it keeps running problem-free so I am keen
to learn about basic maintenance. Other suggestions are most welcome!

Andre

10w30 is multi-viscosity oil. Why it even has 2 viscosity numbers. Use the
standard great quality SAE 30 of your choice. Boats engines live in a very
limited temperature environment,

"Melandre" wrote in message
...
OK, I am a new boater and apparently have lots to learn... I have 3
or 4 questions for the experts:

a) My motor is a 1990 OMC Cobra 2.3L TwinCam (based on Ford engine).
Is it necessary to use specific MARINE engine oil or can I simply use
10W30? The book says "SAE30". However, it also says "OMC does not
recommend the use of 10W30 and 10W40 multi-viscocity oils". It is
unclear to me if they mean that I can't use 10W30 or the fact that
they don't recommend "multiviscocity" oils (whatever that may be)...
That is, it would be OK to use 10W30 as long as it is not the
multiviscocity type...

2) The book often refers to "solvent" as in "Wash the flame arrestor
in solvent and air dry thoroughly". What do they mean by solvent???

3) I also read "Proper oil pressure is vital to the engine; if oil
pressure is insufficient, the engine can destroy itself..." . Fair
enough! However, they do not tell me what it should be!!!! When I
first run the boat (say for the first 5 minutes, Oil pressure is
around 55-60 psi and then it settles in the 30 - 40 psi (at 40 the oil
pressure needle is in the middle of the display). Does that seems
about right??

4) To grease the gimball bearing (the hole seems to be on the
starboard side of the lower unit) can I simply use 3 Guard grease? If
not, what should I use?

I may not know much but I understand that is is important to regularly
maintain the boat so that it keeps running problem-free so I am keen
to learn about basic maintenance. Other suggestions are most welcome!

Andre

On Fri, 08 Jul 2005 05:15:25 GMT, Melandre
wrote:

OK, I am a new boater and apparently have lots to learn... I have 3
or 4 questions for the experts:

That is, it would be OK to use 10W30 as long as it is not the
multiviscocity type...

Use a straight SAE 30 weight oil the 10w30 is a multiviscocity oil.

2) The book often refers to "solvent" as in "Wash the flame arrestor
in solvent and air dry thoroughly". What do they mean by solvent???

Anything that will dissolve dirt, grease and grime. Any of the
regular commercial degreaser's will do the job.

3) I also read "Proper oil pressure is vital to the engine; if oil
pressure is insufficient, the engine can destroy itself..." . Fair
enough! However, they do not tell me what it should be!!!! When I
first run the boat (say for the first 5 minutes, Oil pressure is
around 55-60 psi and then it settles in the 30 - 40 psi (at 40 the oil
pressure needle is in the middle of the display). Does that seems
about right??

Yes - you will get an initial higher oil pressure and as the oil warms
up, you will lose a little pressure.

4) To grease the gimball bearing (the hole seems to be on the
starboard side of the lower unit) can I simply use 3 Guard grease? If
not, what should I use?

That would be fine. Use it to grease the prop shaft also.

The last time I did some research, Mercury oil is 25w40 with no viscosity
improvers. Marine engines are always under HI load conditions unlike a
car/truck engine.


Solvent, local autoparts stores has brake clean products in a spray can
which cleans well.

"Melandre" wrote in message
...
OK, I am a new boater and apparently have lots to learn... I have 3
or 4 questions for the experts:

a) My motor is a 1990 OMC Cobra 2.3L TwinCam (based on Ford engine).
Is it necessary to use specific MARINE engine oil or can I simply use
10W30? The book says "SAE30". However, it also says "OMC does not
recommend the use of 10W30 and 10W40 multi-viscocity oils". It is
unclear to me if they mean that I can't use 10W30 or the fact that
they don't recommend "multiviscocity" oils (whatever that may be)...
That is, it would be OK to use 10W30 as long as it is not the
multiviscocity type...

2) The book often refers to "solvent" as in "Wash the flame arrestor
in solvent and air dry thoroughly". What do they mean by solvent???

3) I also read "Proper oil pressure is vital to the engine; if oil
pressure is insufficient, the engine can destroy itself..." . Fair
enough! However, they do not tell me what it should be!!!! When I
first run the boat (say for the first 5 minutes, Oil pressure is
around 55-60 psi and then it settles in the 30 - 40 psi (at 40 the oil
pressure needle is in the middle of the display). Does that seems
about right??

4) To grease the gimball bearing (the hole seems to be on the
starboard side of the lower unit) can I simply use 3 Guard grease? If
not, what should I use?

I may not know much but I understand that is is important to regularly
maintain the boat so that it keeps running problem-free so I am keen
to learn about basic maintenance. Other suggestions are most welcome!

Andre

Andre,

Generally speaking, they reccomend straight weight oils because it
tends to hold up better under constant heavy loads. Their's not much of
a differance, but the manufacturer takes the safe rout by reccomending
this. Marine oils tend to have additional compounds in them that help
prevent rust inside the block, but I've never seen it make a
differance. On your flame arrestor, anything from diswashing liquid to
engine degreaser works, I always preferred the degreaser myself. On oil
pressure, general rule of thumb, 10 pounds of oil pressure for every
1000 RPM's, lower than that, you've probably got a problem. I'm not
sure about your grease other than marine grade (water resistant) is the
way to go. Stick to the maintenance, don't beat on the engine, and
you'll be addicted to boating like the rest of us in no time.

Enjoy
John

Capt John wrote:

Generally speaking, they reccomend straight weight oils because it
tends to hold up better under constant heavy loads.

Untrue & folklore. 10W-anynumber is 10W oil with vicosity improvers
that preserve its film integrity up to the temperatures that 30W oil
would otherwise be required for the same film strength.

Their's not much of
a differance, but the manufacturer takes the safe rout by reccomending
this.

Untrue and folklore. Oil molecules act like little balls
(oversimplification) and 10W "balls" are smaller than 30W "balls", if
you will. You may think of it as pouring liquid ball bearings into
your engine. The fooken engine & its clearances have been designed for
a specific "size." The difference btw 10W30 & 30W is night and day
from this standpoint. As another pointed out, this kind of boat engine
runs in a narrow temp range and at generally steady loads. Today's
engineers & designers may commit many stupid and even idiotic things,
but they are not yet so lame as to "take the safe route by recommending
this" - there is a very good reason for it.

Marine oils tend to have additional compounds in them that help
prevent rust inside the block,

Folklore & a little creative marketing at times.

but I've never seen it make a
differance. On your flame arrestor, anything from diswashing liquid to
engine degreaser works, I always preferred the degreaser myself.

A solvent is a solvent, and these are not, despite the fact they may
work somewhat. Gasoline does as well or better and is a solvent. So
is xylene, and others, from Home Depot. Any of them plus a toothbrush
will work better & faster than those 2 non-solvents. Mineral spirits
is not worth a crap as a carbon dissolver/cleaner.

On oil
pressure, general rule of thumb, 10 pounds of oil pressure for every
1000 RPM's,

Dangerous folklore. Modern engines have various degrees of oil
pressure regulation.

lower than that, you've probably got a problem.

If he has 10 psi at 1,000 rpm (not), he/she sure has a big fooken
problem. :-)

I'm not
sure about your grease other than marine grade (water resistant) is the
way to go.

White lithium is the general standard used everywhere in small marine
use. To be sure something different isn't required or for warranty CYA
purposes, RTFM rather than ask on usenet.

but I've never seen it make a
differance. On your flame arrestor, anything from diswashing liquid to
engine degreaser works, I always preferred the degreaser myself.

A solvent is a solvent, and these are not, despite the fact they may
work somewhat. Gasoline does as well or better and is a solvent. So
is xylene, and others, from Home Depot. Any of them plus a toothbrush
will work better & faster than those 2 non-solvents. Mineral spirits
is not worth a crap as a carbon dissolver/cleaner.


DO NOT USE GASOLINE as the solvent. One spark and if you are lucky, you
only lost your facial hair,