[C320-list] Yanmar 3GM30F - Synthetic - why not

[Robert Seastream]

You must've missed my prior comments to the list.  I change at fall  
haul so dirty oil doesn't sit through the winter.  In spring, I run  
the engine for 30-60 minutes, then change again.  I think this  
procedure provides a 'flush' of the engine that otherwise wouldn't  
happen.

Bob

On Jan 18, 2010, at 6:06 PM, Scott Thompson wrote:

> Apart from caution, is there really a need to change your oil at  
> launch if you changed it at haul out?  My engine must get about 20  
> minutes of run time between those two events at the most.  I've been  
> in the habit of changing oil at haulout, and then (optionally) again  
> in the middle of the summer if I've used the boat a lot.
>
> Scott
>
>
> Robert Seastream wrote:
>> I also considered using 'synoil' in my Yanmar, mostly because it  
>> should increase the interval between changes.  However considering  
>> Yanmars' response included the comment "please continue to change  
>> it at the recommended interval for your engine as specified in the  
>> operator's handbook." and the higher cost of synoil, I see no  
>> benefit to its' use.  I change my oil twice yearly (haulout &  
>> launch), and put 250 hours or less on the engine per year.
>> Bob Seastream
>> Intuition # 906
>> On Jan 18, 2010, at 10:36 AM, <sail-ability at sympatico.ca> wrote:
>>>
>>> I am a mechanical engineer with over 40 years experience in the  
>>> automotive arena. Without getting into a long diatribe on the  
>>> where's and whyfore's, one can never go wrong with the  
>>> manufactures recommendations for service intervals and fluid use.  
>>> I've seen many cases of destroyed machinery due to owners trying  
>>> to second guess; it falls under the category of " if the book says  
>>> one drop, then two must be twice as good"! It doesn't work that way.
>>>
>>> Cheers
>>>
>>> JohnM
>>>
>>>> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>>>> Date: Mon, 18 Jan 2010 10:20:54 -0500
>>>> From: wflowe3 at netscape.net
>>>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Yanmar 3GM30F - Synthetic - why not
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Not that this has anything to do with our Yanmars, but I just  
>>>> bought a new VW with a diesel and it comes with, and recommends  
>>>> using only synthetic oil. Oil changes are recommended at 10,000  
>>>> mile intervals. That said, I can't see any advantage to using  
>>>> synthetics if it doesn't provide some measurable benefit.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: Pat Ireland <cherie320 at gmail.com>
>>>> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
>>>> Sent: Sun, Jan 17, 2010 10:41 pm
>>>> Subject: [C320-list] Yanmar 3GM30F - Synthetic - why not
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> All
>>>>
>>>> It's about time to change oil and I suspect that synthetic oil  
>>>> should be a
>>>> better oil for diesels that standard petroleum oil. But the manual
>>>> recommends not to use synthetic oil. Does anyone know why  
>>>> synthetic oil
>>>> is not recommended for a yanmar 3GM30F?
>>>>
>>>> In looking for data, I found this quote on a web search. It was  
>>>> in a
>>>> thread about cold starting a Yanmar 2GM20.
>>>>
>>>> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>> After receiving numerous different answers from Yanmars USA tech  
>>>> support
>>>> (mostly IMHO run by local distributors who are selling *Yanmar*
>>>> non-synthetic
>>>> oil), I decided to write directly to Yanmar in Japan about the  
>>>> use of
>>>> synthetic
>>>> oil ...... the following is the answer I received.
>>>> Mr. Guthrie,
>>>> Your Yanmar pleasure boat engine should be broken in before using  
>>>> the
>>>> sythetic oil. As long as you have at least 50 hours on the engine  
>>>> and it
>>>> has be used at all RPMs, then synthetic oil is OK to use. Please  
>>>> continue
>>>> to change it at the recommended interval for your engine as  
>>>> specified in
>>>> the operator's handbook. You can expect slightly increased oil  
>>>> consumption
>>>> and posibly a drip or two under the engine. Synthetic oil tends  
>>>> to find
>>>> its way past gaskets and seals a little easier than petroleum based
>>>> products. Depending on temperature, you can also use a petroleum  
>>>> based
>>>> 10-30 or even a 5-20 if it is cold enough. Just be sure to use a  
>>>> premium
>>>> grade oil.
>>>>
>>>> Regards,
>>>> Earl Helmer
>>>> Director, Service Warranty and Engineering
>>>>
>>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>
>>>> Anyone have info that would dispute this information?
>>>>
>>>> Pat Ireland, Cherie, 801
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>
> -- 
> Scott Thompson
> Surprise, #653