1 - Mechanical wear damages your engine
Over time, friction wears out the metal parts. Deposits form and clog your engine. The role of oil is to ensure that the mechanical parts slide perfectly against each other. This is why you need a good oil that is also stable over time to ensure its role.
2 - Poorly lubricated, an engine loses performance
If the oil no longer facilitates sliding, your engine will lose power due to friction. It will also have less acceleration and will consume much more. Not to mention the risk of breakage that can result from abnormal wear of mechanical parts. A good lubrication is therefore a protection against all these malfunctions.
3 - Not all motor oils are created equal
Motor oils are developed according to their uses. A land engine, for example, will heat up more than a marine engine, which will have good cooling with the surrounding water. Nautical oils are developed to work with "cold" engines. That's why you shouldn't just take any oil to change your boat engine. To find your way around, the safest thing to do is to follow the recommendations of the engine manufacturers. They have tested the oils and validated certain standards.
4 - Use the right viscosity indexes
The viscosity index of an oil is indicated by 2 numbers separated by a W (W=winter). Thus, an oil whose index is 15W40 means a fluidity of 15 when cold (calculated at -18°C) and 40 when hot (calculated when the oil is at 100°C). This viscosity index is defined by the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) standard.
5 - Have the right reflexes: check the oil regularly
Monitoring your oil level regularly allows you to have a "vision" on the state of your oil. In addition to the right level, it also allows you to spot if you have a problem with water in the oil (mayonnaise). So don't hesitate to pull the dipstick regularly.
