Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 11
  1. #1

    Default Note from Indmar - Change your oil!

    The great folks at Indmar have done some fantastic work to debunk some of the "myths" around oil usage & consumption for our boats that get loaded with ballast for wakeboarding and surfing. We've had some good debates on this forum, so I hope this helps you out.

    Bottom line is that if you load up with ballast to wakeboard or wakesurf, stay on the safe side by checking your oil level often and changing your oli & filter every 30 hours.


    In the past few years we have noticed an increase in discussion related to oil consumption in engines that are used in high load activities, namely wakeboarding and surfing. Indmar has always believed engines used in low speed, high load activities can have a tendency to burn more oil than unloaded engines. Indmar now has the data to support it and a solution for our customers. We are supplying this information to you as a tool so you can inform and educate your customers on how they can better protect and properly service their engine especially if it is being used primarily under load.

    The chart below depicts engine loads for a car, normal boat operation (no ballast), surf and wakeboard (full ballast). All of this data was derived from an LSA engine in a 24’ boat. The Wakeboard testing was performed using a highly ballasted boat with 5700 lbs. of ballast, a common configuration for events. Surf mode was tested using 2800 lbs. of ballast. The normal load curve was developed from boat testing with no ballast in the boat. The car data was taken from prior testing within the industry.



    As you can see the horsepower required for wakeboarding and surfing is infinitely higher in comparison to a car or even in normal boating operation. With our LSA test engine loaded we see that wakeboarding requires nearly 450 horsepower at 23 mph and surfing requires nearly 380 horsepower to push out 11 mph while the car requires a mere 75 horsepower to achieve 80+ mph.

    During our *480 hour durability test we noticed that when engines under normal load (no ballast) reached 30-35 hours between oil changes they experienced greater oil consumption due to the breakdown of oil viscosity. Oil was changed every 50 hours per the owner’s manual and this was the findings and our collective takeaway:

    *Engine also had appropriate break-in hours


    After 30 hours – ˝ qt. loss
    35-38 hours -1 qt. loss
    40-45 hours – 1.5 qt. loss

    *Note With ballast added, the oil consumption could increase from the values listed above.

    Oil viscosity breaks down much quicker in engines operating under greater loads, the most extreme during wakeboarding loads and speeds. With this information we are recommending that your service techs inform your customers that if they are operating their boats under these typical loads for wake sports they should change their oil every 30-35 hours. This will help reduce oil viscosity breakdown, increase engine life and minimize their concerns and experiences related to oil consumption. Boats that are predominantly used in normal boating or skiing conditions can maintain their 50 hour oil change regimen per the owner’s manual.

    We hope that you found this research helpful and you continue to feel confident that Indmar will go the extra mile in maintaining that unique customer care and distinct customer service advantage. As always, we encourage any feedback to make us all stronger.

    Team Indmar

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    183

    Default

    I would question if this differs if using synthetic oil. Also not sure how to interpret this as my boat doesn't even have 450 HP and I can certainly wakeboard at 23 MPH.

    I get the drift however, boat engines work hard, take care of them and they'll take care of you.
    2009 21V

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Lafayette, IN
    Posts
    87

    Default

    doesnt seem right, wakeboarding requires 450 hp?? My indmar only produces 325hp

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Flowery Branch Georgia
    Posts
    2,742

    Default

    This would be a better article if they got more detailed. What brand and grade of oil was tested? As others have said what about synthetic oil its viscosity doesn't break down. Are they saying that 30 hour changes cures the problem or just covers the oil consumption. What if you just check and add oil as needed and change at 50 hours. Is 5700 lbs of ballast common in your wake boat ? I'm way under 2000 in one boat and 0 in the other where does that put me as far as oil changes?

  5. #5

    Default

    That article was based on data from an LSA engine which is our supercharged small block engine. That engine uses Mobil 1 fully synthetic 5W30 oil as specified by General Motors. The data is consistent with what we see on conventional 5.7L and 6.0L engines that use conventional 15W40 oil.
    Last edited by Engine Nut; 03-25-2012 at 03:38 PM.
    Larry Engelbert
    Indmar Marine Engines

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    183

    Default

    Very cool that you are posting and posting f/u. I appreciate it. It's surprising to me how much oil these engines are consuming.
    2009 21V

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Central Virginia
    Posts
    160

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by pap View Post
    Very cool that you are posting and posting f/u. I appreciate it. It's surprising to me how much oil these engines are consuming.
    So is this chart saying that engines <450 hp are going to have Oil break down even faster, and may not be sized right for wake-boarding/surfing applications?
    2011 Malibu Wakesetter 247LSV

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Vancouver BC Canada
    Posts
    96

    Default

    First off I always use synthetic oil and only change it in the fall even if I put 100 hrs on that season* One time I did 140 hrs but I did change it halfway thru the season at 70 hrs.

    What I have been told to do by my Supra Mechanic is this, if doing alot of surfing add half a liter more of engine oil to make up for excessive bow lift and sideways tilt and also use about a pint extra of transmission fluid in your transmission

    I use synthetic in transmission fluid also ( Red Line)

    Hope this helps>> Dave

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Posts
    1

    Default

    Is this accurate with the "surf" engines? I know there was something done to the oil pan but does that just adjust for the steep pitch of some loaded out surf boats? Also may be a different thread, but what does everyone use for water intake? Fake a lake? My sa 350 has a valve that looks like it's threaded for a hose. Do the new engines have water intake setup so you can do in the driveway?

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Posts
    2

    Default

    Can you repost the image?

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •