Oil questions for new 500H.P. airboat..

[bigkavr]

Ok, I know this isn't a truck question but the airboat IS pulled by my truck and it's got the diesel soot stains on the bow to prove it. Does that count??

Anyway my dilemma is this, the airboat is set up for rescue operations in NW Ohio. It's got a 502 cu. in. Chevy crate engine, @ 502 H. P. , Aluminum heads, SS headers, bla, bla, bla... .

The only oil that is listed on the instructions as recommended for this engine is CASTROL 40 wt. . Even the two dealerships I called said only use this oil. This might be fine for a race car or street rod, but how in the he!! am I going to start this thing when the temp. drops below freezing??:{ :{ Not to mention, in a rescue situation, I don't have a lot of time to sit around and wait for the engine/oil to warm up... .

With all the oil professors on this site, I'm hoping someone can give me some directions on what will safely work with this engine.

It's basically a marine environment with some nasty temperature extremes too. . The boat may get towed for up to and hour in below zero conditions

and then promptly started and expected to perform flawlessly... .

I'm looking at a synthetic multi-weight, but don't have any knowledge of how or what to expect with this type of engine/environment...

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Brian

 

[lschultz]

Go to http://www.amsoil.com/ and read all about it. It's good oil the first in synthetics. Theres some other good oil out there. Its your choice.

 

[JR2]

I think I would have an ESPAR engine heater installed and have a 5 gallon diesel tank for it. That way it could keep the engnie warm all the time... . just my ideas. I am sure ESPAR or Wabasto make a heater for this type of app. .





By the way, there is a guy I work with who is thinking of using a Ford Power stroke motor on an airboat. . I told him it was too heavy but he said it will work. A diesel Airboat would be cool.....

 

[nickleinonen]

if they want castrol oil, put in 5w50 syntec. . although... the mobil 15w50 flows better when cold. [i did my own freezer test. mobil1 5w30 & 15w50, castrol 5w50, esso semi synthetic 0w30... mobil #1 5w30 & #2 15w50, #3 5w50, #4 0w30 - in order time wise from which poured out 1 cup of oil quickest. all oil in freezer for 48 hours @ 0°f]

Originally posted by JR2

By the way, there is a guy I work with who is thinking of using a Ford Power stroke motor on an airboat. . I told him it was too heavy but he said it will work. A diesel Airboat would be cool.....

he may need to put a overdrive box on it to get enough prop speed. .

 

[Blakers]

15W-40 should work just fine. Delo, Rotella, any good name should do. I've used this oil in gasoline engines for years at all northern Ohio weather conditions.



Blake

 

[dmurdock]

Contact General Motors, explain the situation, and ask for their advice. Those crate motors aren't cheap...

 

[CROW]

As an alternative, go to www.bobistheoilguy., join and ask the question. Not that you would not get an excellent response here at the TDR, but some of the guys at the above board are "really serious" as well as knowledgeable about oil and lubricants. A couple of them work in the industry.

 

[Bill Lins]

Originally posted by JR2

A diesel Airboat would be cool.....

A few years back, I saw a Cat V-8 powered airboat at the Houston Boat Show. If I remember correctly, it was built by an outfit in Louisiana- but them folks is crazy over there!

 

[hv2hunt]

Trail Boss out of Texas makes a Diesel air boat. Leave it to those Texans to make that.