4 stroke engine oil

[diver 1]

I'm wondering how many people on here use automotive rather than marine 4 stroke engine oil in their motors?

Suzuki recommends a 10W 40 oil meeting API specification 'SJ' for my 2002 motor and changing it every 100 hours.

This would equate to 3 or 4 oil changes per year.

I wonder if using something like this would cause any harm?
Mobil Super 2000 X1 10W40 Super Premium 5 Litre

There's huge debates on this subject if you do a google search, but in UK conditions, in real life has anyone had any good or bad experiences of using aftermarket oil?

Thanks

[Nick Hearne]

I'm using the very same as it met my engine requirements no problem as yet

[yam man]

As long as it meets the specs it shouldn't be problem .

[jyasaki]

I use marine oil (given the cost increase vs time it's not all that much), but I would have no hesitation in using automotive oil of sufficient grade, should I not be able to get marine stuff.

I do not put much credence in branded oil (i.e. Yamalube, Quicksilver, etc.), however, as none of them actually refine or mix the oil and are (as far as I know) purchasing and packaging it in their branded bottles.

jky

[jeffstevens763@g]

Get the data sheets for both and compare you might be suprised

[diver 1]

I have had a look at the data sheets and can't see a huge difference but I'm not an oil expert.

Am I missing something?

[diver 1]

Looking very carefully at all of the data sheets the viscosity of the Suzuki approved Motul Marine 4 stroke oil at 100 degrees C is lower than all the automotive oils. Is that a good thing? An oil that goes very runny when very hot? I'm not sure that's a benefit.

Looking carefully at the specs of all the major brand 10w40 oils available from Eurocarparts it seems that the Shell Helix HX7 10W 40 might be slightly closer to the Motul Oil specification. However it meets a high API classification than Suzuki recommend. From more research the API SN classification that the Shell oil meets is a more recent and superior classification than the API SJ classification required...

So if I buy the Shell Helix HX7 I should be exceeding the oil specs stipulated by Suzuki and the cost for 6 litres of oil and a filter would be £28.70 per oil change rather than almost £55 for the Suzuki oil..

[jeffstevens763@g]

i am not an expert but i would say that the cooling system will have something to do with it as a car has an enclosed system and the outboard an open system [constant cool water] hence the temp difference. and looking at 50% increase in price i would expect that since the market is smaller that the automotive market anything boating and all that.for me and only my opinion i stick with the Suzuki oil as i did with the yams oils when i had a yam.

[Fenlander]

I had 20yrs involved with cars and knew exactly what advice to give there... change on time... go by spec and don't pay for the name.

However it's a bit different for outboard oil. Marine oils have to pass tests in relation to their anti-foam performance for obvious reasons at sea... their performance when left for long periods unused with regard to suspended contamination not blocking filters... their ability to prevent internal rust bearing in mind the wet salty atmosphere they operate in.

Now it could be some automotive oils would perform OK in these regards but as they aren't tested to marine standards you can't say if they are OK or not.

With low HP outboards taking such a small amount it's easy to stick with the marine types and I appreciate the huge cost difference with large motors running lots of hours.

[jeffstevens763@g]

just out of interest i had a look at oil prices winsormarine services for a Suzuki 175hp 2 5lts of oil+ filter + sump plug washer £63.50 ish + post thats cheaper than i pay for my motor vehicle.