Originally Posted By: doitmyself
roadrunner1,
I use Plus 50 in my workplace farm tractors. How does marine engine use compare to farm tractors or heavy equipment regarding the "stresses" imposed on the oil (shearing, dilution, heat, etc.)?
Do you think we can correlate your results to other, more typical uses of this oil?
Have you used any other 15w40s? I wonder how they would compare?
Thanks.
i had a bad uoa using thier 0w-40 plus 50, but i don't think that can be used as a comparision here.
this particular engine was put into service in the summer of '92, and averages roughly 600hrs. yearly.
ideling hrs. probably accounts for 40% of total hrs., running the hydralic system and the rest is at or very near full load.
the major advantage of the marine environment is there is no dust and as far as temps go it is for the most part a "controlled environment", although that can have its own drawbacks. there is no airflow around the block, like a tractor would have, but we use a closed "keel cooled" system which is basically a radiator immersed under water so the cooling system instead of depending on ambient air temp is more influenced by lake water temp (35f-80f) for instance in june we can have near 100f days but lake surface temps may only be in the low 60'sf, so the coolant doesn't know its that hot only you do. the same situation in the late fall ambient air temp may be 10f but surface temps could be in the low 40'sf.
with all of the different oil systems on board thermostat controlled it is a very much different operating environment then say a piece of heavy equipment or a farm tractor. i had to install in-line oil thermostats for the marine gear because the oil would never reach proper operating temps, and the engine has its own oil cooler.
as far as other oils used this engine, when new, used deere 30wt. for a couple of years until i made the switch to the plus 50 15w-40.
the only comparision i can offer is i have a friend who operates the basically the same as me and used rotella 15w-40 for years in everything. after seeing one of my uoa's, he decided to try some plus 50, and couldn't believe the difference, virtually no make-up oil. he told me with rotella he was changing it at 150 hrs. due to having to add so much oil, and with the plus 50 he is running to 300hrs. with almost no make-up oil
Also, I enjoy the excitement you have created here with your excellent results. But, a few years ago someone here posted of horrible shearing of Plus 50 in their vehicle and there was a feeding frenzy declaring what a poor oil it was. I educated myself through conversations with the late Stinky Peterson of Butler Cat Labs and am still using it. But, I think it is wise not to develop "herd" mentality based on one person's experience, good or bad. Thanks for sharing your results...it reinforces my confidence in Plus 50.
