Jim,
Yes, I got hauled out last weekend and am trying to wrap up all the wintering tasks as it gets colder and colder. It was a good long season becasue I was able to get launched before June. Here is the link for Moyer: http://www.moyermarine.com/ As well as selling A4 parts and supplies, and rebuild services, he hosts a Q&A bulletin board. If you have a question about the A4, Don or one of his members (us) will know the answer. I do suspect that I change oil more than necessary, but I use a different mix in the fall than in the spring. Don Moyer recommends the use of Marvel Mystery Oil to keep the valves, rings and other parts from sticking. It may be a snake oil solution, but lots of people buy it. I put some in the gas routinely and replace 1 quart of regular oil with 1 quart of MMO in the fall. I wouldn't want to run the engine regulaly with that mix, but do for a short time in the fall and leave it in though the winter. Each cylinder gets a shot of MMO after I'm on the hard too. The A4 is a great engine, in spite of people's fears of explosions. (If the explosion risk was so high, I'd have to wonder why there aren't more power boats blowing up each season.) Anyway, the A4 is a very straight-forward basic gas engine that is easy to work on (depending on access in your boat) by yourself and has a good supply of parts from various sources. Enjoy, ken ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Bernstorf" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Sent: Sunday, November 2, 2008 8:20:19 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: RE: catalina27-talk: atomic 4 oil Ken, I am new to the Atomic 4. This is my first season in this boat. I did think about the dusty road thing after I sent the last post. That would account for the lack of air and oil filter since the grit wouldn’t be getting in the oil. I do wonder about the fall and spring change. One of the books I read says that but it seems if clean oil is sitting there for four months over the winter that it shouldn’t break down due to engine heat or get dirty. My logic would point towards a mid-summer and a fall (winterizing) change. However, I do understand that my faulty logic has gotten me in trouble on other posts on this site. With you being in Vermont is it safe to say that you are done for the season? I spent a summer in New Hampshire in the early 70’s. Beautiful country up there. Jim Percy Priest Lake , Nashville , TN From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, November 01, 2008 10:07 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: catalina27-talk: atomic 4 oil Jim, Can't tell whether the A4 is new to you to not, but Moyer Marine is a tremendous resource for this engine. On topic, the amount of oil needed depends on the tilt of the engine in the boat, but is geneally around 4 qts. If you change the oil regularly, you don't need to worry about an oil filter. I don't put more than 35 hours on my engine each season (it's a sailboat), and change oil each spring and fall. An air filter isn't necessary because we aren't running down dusty roads. A fuel filter is another thing, although my 30 year old engine didn't get one until last year after I bought her. Fair winds, Ken - Obsession '78 C30 TRBS #0973 Lake Champlain , VT ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Bernstorf" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Sent: Saturday, November 1, 2008 10:32:24 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: RE: catalina27-talk: atomic 4 oil This is pretty wild. This is a four cylinder gas engine…with no oil filter, no air filter, no fuel filter (until I added one), its thirty years old and still runs…..incredible! I was shopping around for a pump, and went out to the boat today to see what else I needed. It looks like with some creative cutting of a gallon milk carton I may be able to drain the oil without a pump. Jim From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Dave Robinson Sent: Saturday, November 01, 2008 4:04 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: catalina27-talk: atomic 4 oil There is no oil filter...... I believe the service manual (on the boat...) says the engine holds 5 quarts, but you never get all of it because of the tilt of the engine. I believe last time I changed the oil using a pump with the feed line down the dipstick hole, I used about 3 1/2. On 1-Nov-08, at 3:17 PM, Jim Bernstorf wrote: Dave Robinson Peregrine 1978 Catalina 27 #3695 QCYC, Toronto "Any damn fool can navigate the world sober. It takes a really good sailor to do it drunk". -Sir Francis Chichester while loading his boat with gin. Does anyone out there know what oil filter and how much oil is needed for an oil change for an atomic 4? I have skimmed through the owner’s manual and don’t see the answer. In fact, the different pictures of the motor don’t even show a location of an oil filter. I will be able to find it, but matching it is my concern. Thanks Jim Bernstorf Jules Distribution 6025 Cloverland Drive Brentwood , TN 37027 615.833.1848
