More corrosion inhibitors to deal with the marine environment, long periods of inactivity and long periods of operation at low speeds during which the engine is below its ideal operating temperature.A container with the FC-W (CAT) symbol signifies a marine oil designed to be compatible with four-stroke marine engines that have an exhaust catalyst.Ĭompared to regular motor oil, FC-W oil features: Oil that is certified to meet this standard will have the FC-W symbol on the label. Most manufacturers will require oil that carries an FC-W® certification, a minimum standard devised by the National Marine Manufacturers Association® (NMMA®) for marine engines.
#Inboard vs outboard saltwater manual#
The FC-W® StandardĪlways consult your owner’s manual for the exact oil type and viscosity specification recommended for your engine. This leads to greater wear or even catastrophic failure in extreme cases.
Under shear stress, oil becomes thinner, permanently losing viscosity and its ability to separate moving parts. This extended high-rpm operation can literally shear (or split) additive molecules in ordinary automotive oil, reducing lubricity. But a marine engine is designed to operate for hours at high rpm and under heavy load. How often do you drive your car or truck wide open, with the pedal pressed to the floor? Maybe for a few seconds as you accelerate onto a freeway or pull out to pass? An auto engine spends most of its time just loafing along. In a saltwater environment, that air is even more corrosive.Ī marine engine is also a real torture chamber for oil. When the engine is not in use – often for weeks at a time – this humid air can enter combustion chambers through open valves, where it can condense on bare-metal surfaces and cause corrosion on components such as valve springs. With each piston stroke a marine engine draws in very humid air directly off the water’s surface. In fact, it’s one of harshest environments imaginable for an engine. The inner workings of your boat engine might look like those of an automotive engine, but your boat engine operates in a much different environment. Is it OK to Use Automotive Engine Oil in a Marine Engine?Īutomotive oil definitely does not belong in the sump of your marine engine – outboard, sterndrive or inboard. In Boats, Products, Quicksilver Garage, Rambling
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