chaser720 wrote:
steveA20 wrote:
Today I had my 50 hr service on my 16 A20 and was 2 quarts low since the 25 hr service. I hadn't checked it and hadn't got any alarms. I talked to the service manager and the master tech and was told by both that the PCM 350's are consuming oil due to high RPM's and heavy loads. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't concerned about burning 2 qts in 25 hrs. I only run around 2500k ballast and wakeboard 99% of the time. Engine runs between 3800 and 4k RPM's. I guess I'll be packing some oil with me on the boat for now on. Over here in AZ my dealer uses Castrol 20w-50. They told me I could switch to straight 40w. What is the exact amount of oil the 5.7 holds, 5 or 5.5 qts?
I have about 60 hours this season since my last oil change. I've burned a minimum of 4 quarts this season if not more. We board 50%, surf about 30% and cruise unloaded the rest. Never run more than 3K lbs. I just check my oil level at the beginning of every weekend and add accordingly. I wouldn't be surprised if I had a steady leak somewhere but I've never seen it in the bilge. I'm going to ask the dealer to look at it at the end of the season but don't expect to find anything.
Found my leak but burning still occurring, check rear starboard valve cover at outside corner nearest bow.(technically the left valve cover at left rear of motor on outside corner ). Leaks onto various hoses and cables including fresh water line with the clear trap I think the line that the flush ties into somewhere? Forget if my indmar is 3 yrs on my 14, if so warranty this winter. I wipe the top of head under cover and down to the block and the hoses and the bilge area where the oil runs down the water line and saturate its underside and drips info bilge where shaft support bolts in. I hand inspected the pan seam and have zero leaks there as well as Union of head to block all by hand with and without paper towels and found no others including where oil change line joins pan. This all was and is a pain the a** to clean and diagnose and check rest of motor lying on your belly for an hour on that wall frame and back of hull shell top. It does not acct for my usage by no means. So we have all three combinations of usage in these last posts and all burn oil, me 1-3 qts per change. If you always top off like I do now, oil changes with part synthetic mercruiser oil should allow for extension of that 50 hour rule because your oil changing 20-60% each 50 hours and because I top off I have clearer oil now, but running the motor low dirties the remaining oil faster. I noticed same thing with synthetic oil on my high mileage 5.9 ltr dodge , so I try to top off. By the way I ran that 2000 ram on less that 3 qts only the result was dirtier oil but no problems , not smart , but these small blocks are amazing motors and if they burn oil to take their load, then I'm all for it . Ram really burns oil pulling the rig at very reasonable speeds but slightly higher rpms in 3 rd gear
