Synthetic Oil in Vortec 5.7

[raythompson]

Originally posted by Ruune
thanks for the clarifications... and yeah, Canyon can get kinda choppy! Medina is really nice... theres always calm water SOMEWHERE! We dont have many sailboats to dodge, but Jethro and his brother/cousins Jim-bob and Joe-bob in their "fitty horse skeeters" and NASCAR hats, camo clothes shirts and florescent PFDs (never quite got that) are another story.

Went to Medina once, and it was so low that I was scared of running aground so I did not get much joy out of that experience.

Here the rivers are for the most part navigable and maintained by The Core of Engineers. If you stay between the channel markers you are always guaranteed an 8 foot depth. And I have detailed charts of the river system that show the depth and what to watch for.

I can also travel 50 miles in one direction which was a nice change from Canyon Lake. Smooth water here can be found in many coves, tributaries (Little Emory River is especially fine) and some days in the middle of the lake. Early morning and you can travel 10 miles in a straight line. Get outside the wake and it is an incredibly smooth ride.

I know what you mean about billy bob in their 50hp smokers with Nascar hats (turn backwards naturally). Nascar is big here also. People buy a Dodge because it won at Nascar and next Monday think they can draft on the interstate just like number 8.

Many of the fishing types here use Norris Craft (built locally), and some others. Many have 200(+) engines on their boats so they can get to their favorite spot fast. Yeh right. It is just an excuse to have a fast boat.

Then there are the dipwads that have jet boats with the 500hp blown rigs that are little more than a slab of fiberglass with an engine. Little freeboard, can hold three people if they get real friendly. They fly down the river and just think it is great.

When I was at Canyon I would sometimes encounter the sail boats having a regatta. I would park my boat in the middle of the course, turn the engine off and just sit. Used to really tick off the sailboats as they had to go around me.

Now I have been in a bass boat (Allison) that was fitted with a Mercury racing outboard. The chap that owned the boat took me for a little ride in his craft. We got up to 96 mph on the Clinch River. I was sore when we got done as all my muscles were tensed the entire time. That was just a little too fast for me on the water. If we had hit a floating acorn we probably would have flipped.

My 2005 Tige 22V should be here on Tuesday. The trailer arrives Monday (custom with disc brakes on all 4 wheels). Next weekend is supposed to be in the 60's so I will take delivery on the boat at that time. I will go out with the dealer and do a water test and make sure all is at it should be.

Almost hated to sell my old boat. It had served me well for 20 years.

[Ruune]

Yeah I remember when medina was that low. The Edwards underground water district bought half (or more) of the water in the lake, and when its full, the water seeps into the aquifer. For this reason, they like to keep the lake full and as a result, its been at capacity for the last few years. As an added bonus, property values have grown exponentially- 5-10x what they were 15 years ago.

yeah, we have all types here too- especially jethro and his flat-bottom with the blown 5-0-deuce.

as for weather, we're sittin' pretty at a GORGEOUS 76 degrees. Tomorrow is forecasted to be 85! ... and my boat is at the dealer getting a new propshaft (among other things)!!! argh!!!!!

[raythompson]

Originally posted by Ruune
as for weather, we're sittin' pretty at a GORGEOUS 76 degrees. Tomorrow is forecasted to be 85! ... and my boat is at the dealer getting a new propshaft (among other things)!!! argh!!!!!

Oh yeah, I remember those days. I lived in Live Oak (north of SA on I-35) for 15 years. Several years I would have the old boat up on the lake in December when the temperature reached 75 or better. More than once I have skied on Canyon in December and January. Of course I had a wet suit as the water was still cold.

San Antonio did have some of the best tasting drinking water that I have encountered. It all came from the aquifer, it was clean, it was good. Even with the mineral deposits that settle at the bottom of your glass from the melting ice cubes. I really miss that water.

Then the dog days of August when it was just too hot to be at the lake. The lake water got too warm to be refreshing.

I have been following your propshaft and other problems. That is a real bummer. The good news is that it is still under warranty.

I had to replace the transom on my old boat after 17 years. That was not a cheap operation. At least with Tige the hull is covered by a lifetime warranty and I will never face that expense again.

[rushin]

looking at the mobil 1 website they do not have a single viscosity oil synthetic as recommended by marine power but they do have a 20w-50 synthetic for motorcycles. Can the 20w-50 synthetic be used? I would like to use mobil 1. Anyone any thoughts?

[rushin]

Ok, I talked to Lee @ Marine power and says it is not a problem for a synthetic oil and says try and stay away from Quaker State because it gums up under the intake. He also said that do not change over to the synthetic until there is 100 hours on the engine thats when he says the rings are good and set.

I also talked to Mobil and they recommend the Mobil 1 15w-50. It is for higher reving engines.