98 Speedster- What kind of oil?

[casims2000]

I went to a Seadoo dealer to purchase oil. He said I was fine to use the BRP XPS semi-synthetic. I've read threads on here and it seems I should be using the full-synthetic. Am I correct? Should I take the case back and exchange it for full synthetic?

Also, last summer when we purchased the boat, we were out on the lake and the oil light came on. We were low so I bought a gallon at the Marina. I have no idea what kind it was just that it was 2 stroke. Could this do any damage running the 1 gallon? I believe it was just regular 2 stroke. Where and how do I check for damage if that was the wrong thing to do? I have not added any more oil and planned on draining the remaining oil in the tank before adding the BRP oil. Do I need to "flush" the system to remove the oil?

Edit: I found another thread where it's highly recommended to use the full synthetic due to having Rave Valves. Can anyone help with whether or not it's caused any damage or does it affect the Rave Valves only so they would need to be checked and cleaned if necessary?

 

[rotaxrule1]

I use semi synthetic and my machines seem happy. When you fill, make sure you flush the old stuff out. I learned the hard way that mixing oils plugs the injection lines and cooks the motor.

But yes, I have ran semi synthetic xps since and have had good luck, just have to clean my raves once a year.

 

[casims2000]

I use semi synthetic and my machines seem happy. When you fill, make sure you flush the old stuff out. I learned the hard way that mixing oils plugs the injection lines and cooks the motor.

But yes, I have ran semi synthetic xps since and have had good luck, just have to clean my raves once a year.

Thanks for your response. How exactly would I flush out the old stuff?

 

[RFoster130]

You really should be using a full synthetic oil. I would also clean out the junk you have in there. I can almost guarantee its not a low ash oil. That is the main reason I use quicksilver oil, I can get it at most wal marts. I make sure to always fill it up before a weekend out and i always carry a spare jug in the storage compartment. I would rather spend $40 on oil compared to $1000 on a motor when I run out of oil out in the middle of the lake.

 

[1800chall_tim]

i use the xps semi synthetic and my 787's run great in my challenger. i bought the boat last fall and have been using the semi synth. that came with the boat. this spring,two weeks ago to be exact, i pulled the raves for the first time and they were filthy beyond belief.it took a full can of parts cleaner and lots of scrubbing and brushing to clean them. i would recommend cleaning your rave valves mid season if you run your machine hard. (or just switch to full synthetic)

 

[rotaxrule1]

Yep good point on the full, it's a bit more work to keep raves clean using semi. But it seems that semi was like 10 bucks cheaper a gallon (could be wrong). Anyway, As for flushing, just pull the line going to your oil pump at the filter, let it drain into a cool whip container or something that will fit. Then I would run some xps all the way through to make sure it's flushed. Then you may as well change your filter, make sure you go through the proper priming steps for your oil system once you put it all together. If you search for forum, you will find some good posts on that. I would also run a quart to 1 full tank premix on your first run to make sure all the bubbles work themselves through after priming.

Anyway, a few options there. Good luck.

 

[casims2000]

You really should be using a full synthetic oil. I would also clean out the junk you have in there. I can almost guarantee its not a low ash oil. That is the main reason I use quicksilver oil, I can get it at most wal marts. I make sure to always fill it up before a weekend out and i always carry a spare jug in the storage compartment. I would rather spend $40 on oil compared to $1000 on a motor when I run out of oil out in the middle of the lake.

Ok, so I called the Seadoo shop where I buy parts and talked with the owner. He's actually the only employee and works on the Seadoos too. I told him it was highly recommended to use full synthetic oil instead of semi and I let him know that I'd be exchanging my semi case for a case of full synthetic. His response was that I need to stop visiting forums. He said the semi-synthetic is fine for the boat which is why he suggested it. He explained that when my boat was manufactured, there was only full synthetic oil and mineral oil. He said full synthetic oil never completely burns and though mineral oil burns more, it doesn't protect the engine as well as the full synthetic. He said Seadoo then came out with a semi-synthetic as a solution in order to burn more and better protect the engine.

What do you all think of this? RF Foster highly recommends the full as it doesn't gum up the valves as often and the post from 1800chall_tim says the semi seemed to gum up the valves pretty badly, but didn't mention when they were last cleaned. Anyone else want to chime in to help me make a decision? The Seadoo guy also said the full synthetic gums up the valves.

 

[LouDoo]

Actually there is some truth to what he's saying, I saw a statement from earlier this year that SeaDoo has approved the synthetic blend for all engines except the 951. However I've seen the effects of running synthetic blend, it gums up the RAVE valves. But to be honest it wasn't SeaDoo's brand. It's not going to do any damage but you will probably be cleaning the RAVE valves more often.

I think Griz400 made the post. If it were me for the little difference in price I would stay with the full synthetic.

I hope I haven't opened up a can of worms.

Lou

 

[rotaxrule1]

Ok, so I called the Seadoo shop where I buy parts and talked with the owner. He's actually the only employee and works on the Seadoos too. I told him it was highly recommended to use full synthetic oil instead of semi and I let him know that I'd be exchanging my semi case for a case of full synthetic. His response was that I need to stop visiting forums. He said the semi-synthetic is fine for the boat which is why he suggested it. He explained that when my boat was manufactured, there was only full synthetic oil and mineral oil. He said full synthetic oil never completely burns and though mineral oil burns more, it doesn't protect the engine as well as the full synthetic. He said Seadoo then came out with a semi-synthetic as a solution in order to burn more and better protect the engine.

What do you all think of this? RF Foster highly recommends the full as it doesn't gum up the valves as often and the post from 1800chall_tim says the semi seemed to gum up the valves pretty badly, but didn't mention when they were last cleaned. Anyone else want to chime in to help me make a decision? The Seadoo guy also said the full synthetic gums up the valves.

I think you are worrying too much. The options discussed here have all been good ones. If you have the oil already, just flush it and use it. I think you can switch to full synthetic later without flushing if you end up wanting to.

 

[RFoster130]

Sure you can use it, but for only 10 bucks a gallon more, I'll choose full synthetic every time. I pull my RAVE valves every year and they always look good and clean.