I would like to know what is the best oil to use with a 1976 Volvo Penta MD6AThanksSent from my iPad
Engine oil used
- Thread starter Yvon
- Start date
I personally use any of the major Diesel engine oils. I don't run my
engine a lot so I change oil once a year and never need to add any.
I have the same engine you have. Mine seems to be in excellent
condition other than having some salt in the water jacket. I run
fresh water through it a few times a year and that seems to help
keep her pumping a good stream when running. I put a hose on the
outlet and the water hose on the intake and run water through all
day, for a couple days. It gets rid of a lot of the sea salt. I
think the previous owner had a high temperature thermostat in her
and that makes them pack up with salt. Other than it's been run and
enjoy.
--
Doug Pollard
Albin Vega Sea Legs 2225
KK4YGO
On 05/20/2014 01:04 PM, Yvon
legendetr@... [AlbinVega] wrote:
engine a lot so I change oil once a year and never need to add any.
I have the same engine you have. Mine seems to be in excellent
condition other than having some salt in the water jacket. I run
fresh water through it a few times a year and that seems to help
keep her pumping a good stream when running. I put a hose on the
outlet and the water hose on the intake and run water through all
day, for a couple days. It gets rid of a lot of the sea salt. I
think the previous owner had a high temperature thermostat in her
and that makes them pack up with salt. Other than it's been run and
enjoy.
--
Doug Pollard
Albin Vega Sea Legs 2225
KK4YGO
On 05/20/2014 01:04 PM, Yvon
legendetr@... [AlbinVega] wrote:
I use 30 wt. Not 10 w 30. I also carry along a little propane
torch in the winter time. This just in case I need to crank her to
start her. On a cold day she is almost impossible get her to crank
over top dead center and fire. I have on one occasion directed the
torch into the air intake so that the wared air in the cylinder is
not as dense and so will compress more easily to make cranking
easier. The outside temperature was 38 degrees that day. I have a
tube of oldfashioned water pump grease that I use in my stern
bearing. It is said to be water proof? I would think any grease
would be waterproof but I just assume that what the manufacturer is
saying is legitimate??
I absolutely love that little engine and will not replace her
until she is completely worn out. I don't think there are any other
diesels that really can be cranked. In the fall we will be going to
the Islands and there is no better piece of mind than knowing I can
hand crank her to start and charge batteries.
--
Doug Pollard
Albin Vega Sea Legs 2225
KK4YGO
On 05/21/2014 06:31 AM, Yvon
legendetr@... [AlbinVega] wrote:
torch in the winter time. This just in case I need to crank her to
start her. On a cold day she is almost impossible get her to crank
over top dead center and fire. I have on one occasion directed the
torch into the air intake so that the wared air in the cylinder is
not as dense and so will compress more easily to make cranking
easier. The outside temperature was 38 degrees that day. I have a
tube of oldfashioned water pump grease that I use in my stern
bearing. It is said to be water proof? I would think any grease
would be waterproof but I just assume that what the manufacturer is
saying is legitimate??
I absolutely love that little engine and will not replace her
until she is completely worn out. I don't think there are any other
diesels that really can be cranked. In the fall we will be going to
the Islands and there is no better piece of mind than knowing I can
hand crank her to start and charge batteries.
--
Doug Pollard
Albin Vega Sea Legs 2225
KK4YGO
On 05/21/2014 06:31 AM, Yvon
legendetr@... [AlbinVega] wrote:
I use Rotella 15w40. I know that these engines originally specified a single viscosity oil, but times have changed and oils have improved. The multi grade oils give a low viscosity in cold weather allowing for easier starting in the winter. From my research I couldn't find any reason not to use a multi-grade oil and lots of reason to. I'm not a a mechanic or engineer though so proceed do your own research first.
Bob FuchsSilentium
Bob FuchsSilentium
For an older engine the conventional logic is to use a single weight oil, such as 30 weight. However,I believe the first thing to consider is where your boat is used. If it is in the Northwest, such as mine, where the water temperature is cold year around, then a 15-30 is probably OK. But then it depends on how many hours your engine has (thus wear and looseness) and also how you run it (if you run the engine hard for long periods of time). However, when I had a boat in Mexico and Tahiti for a few years, where the water never was much below 70 and often in the 80s year around, I always used 30 weight.
Be sure to use a heavy duty oil such as Rotella (Shell) or Delo 400 (Chevron). I had a friend who used to sell Amsoil and swore by it (but then he sold the stuff). Diesels require the heavier duty oil because of the extra strains caused by the higher compression ratios.
Also I don't believe in adding any additives to my oil as I think the oil company engineers probably have a pretty good idea how to formulate the stuff in the first place.
Be sure to use a heavy duty oil such as Rotella (Shell) or Delo 400 (Chevron). I had a friend who used to sell Amsoil and swore by it (but then he sold the stuff). Diesels require the heavier duty oil because of the extra strains caused by the higher compression ratios.
Also I don't believe in adding any additives to my oil as I think the oil company engineers probably have a pretty good idea how to formulate the stuff in the first place.
Chris, There is another thing where these old salt water cooled
diesels are concerned. I am not sure what the effect is but these
engines are supposed to run @ 140deg. All newer engines have 180 or
higher degree thermostats in them so they run about 4o or 50 degrees
hotter. My thinking is that the hotter engine may need 4o weight oil
but a cooler running one might do well with thirty weight. An old
retired friend who tested lubricants for the military base said all
engines should have man made oil in them as well as grease in the
rear ends transmissions and wheel bearings. Supposedly his testing
had proven that out. I can't remember for sure but I think Volvo
suggested 30 weight in the winter and 40 in the summer. A Dutch
Machinist I knew said the little Volvo diesels where around in the
1920's when He maintained them to pump water in low areas of
Holland. He said they had no starters on them so the guys had to
crank them to get them running. I guess they were hard to start in
the winter. He said the little engines ran 24-7 for 10 years and
they stopped them once a week to check the oil after that time they
were rebuilt. Every now and then somebody tries to tell me these
little engines are no good. To that I can't help but remember mine
and a huge number of other Vegas still have their little engines
after 40 couple years. MY engine is fairly well documented and has
had very little done to it. I am not disagreeing with anything said
here because I sure don't know a whole lot about engine oils.
Actually I am using the same oil the original buyer used. I figure
it must have worked for him? By the way I am on the Chesapeake bay
and try to sail up until it gets cold in December.
--
Doug Pollard
Albin Vega Sea Legs 2225
KK4YGO
On 05/21/2014 12:16 PM, Chris Brown
svflyaway@... [AlbinVega] wrote:
diesels are concerned. I am not sure what the effect is but these
engines are supposed to run @ 140deg. All newer engines have 180 or
higher degree thermostats in them so they run about 4o or 50 degrees
hotter. My thinking is that the hotter engine may need 4o weight oil
but a cooler running one might do well with thirty weight. An old
retired friend who tested lubricants for the military base said all
engines should have man made oil in them as well as grease in the
rear ends transmissions and wheel bearings. Supposedly his testing
had proven that out. I can't remember for sure but I think Volvo
suggested 30 weight in the winter and 40 in the summer. A Dutch
Machinist I knew said the little Volvo diesels where around in the
1920's when He maintained them to pump water in low areas of
Holland. He said they had no starters on them so the guys had to
crank them to get them running. I guess they were hard to start in
the winter. He said the little engines ran 24-7 for 10 years and
they stopped them once a week to check the oil after that time they
were rebuilt. Every now and then somebody tries to tell me these
little engines are no good. To that I can't help but remember mine
and a huge number of other Vegas still have their little engines
after 40 couple years. MY engine is fairly well documented and has
had very little done to it. I am not disagreeing with anything said
here because I sure don't know a whole lot about engine oils.
Actually I am using the same oil the original buyer used. I figure
it must have worked for him? By the way I am on the Chesapeake bay
and try to sail up until it gets cold in December.
--
Doug Pollard
Albin Vega Sea Legs 2225
KK4YGO
On 05/21/2014 12:16 PM, Chris Brown
svflyaway@... [AlbinVega] wrote:
Doug, Just looked you up on QRZ.com. You're farther from the bay than I am (Reston, Fairfax County). Where do you moor your boat? I have been a VEGA fan since back in the 70's. I haven't gotten to own one yet but with retirement looming in the pretty near future, you never know. Should you be looking for crew sometime with a little prior notice, I could be available. Haven't been on the water since I left Oregon back in the 90's and sold my last sailboat (Catalina 22). My email is listed on my QRZ page. CAtch up with you sometime soon, hopefully. Will be one of the Virginia operators for the 13 Colonies Special Event over the wekend of the 4th. Look for me on 20 or 40 Meters phone. Bill McCourt - WF1L