ACEA A3/B3 verses ACEA E7 engine oils for Volvo D1-20

wizard

wizard

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I have in stock about 25L of Castrol GTX disel oil API CF, ACEA A3/B3 MB 229.1 which suited my 20 hp Yanmar. My new boat has a Volvo D1-20F in it and the book says it requires ACEA E7 or ACEA E5 if the E7 is not available

Is their much difference between the oils? because doing a search gives as far as I am concerned results which are too technical for me. A further complication is that Volvo now say that you put the same 15W-$0 engine oil in the saildrive! Why the change from EP oils?

Any help would be appreciated ...
 
I doubt that there is a huge difference but the people who really know what is suitable are the engine makers. If I were stuck in the middle of noweher with no choice I wouldnt think twice about using the non recommended grade but that isnt the situation is it.

I once polished the bores of a yanmar by using semi synthetic oil rather than the basic stuff they recommended. I didnt believe Yanmar but Castrol tech dept confirmed it. You can use too good and too modern an oil for an old design engine, and contrary to what you might think, the designs of Yanmar engines are more traditional than european units.

Use what volvo say. If you were nearer I would buy the old oil from you.
 
If your engine is new, buy the recommended oil from a VP dealer and keep the receipt. In the unlikely event of subsequent engine problems, you'll be able to demonstrate that you've followed their instructions.
 
wizard said:
A further complication is that Volvo now say that you put the same 15W-$0 engine oil in the saildrive! Why the change from EP oils?

Any help would be appreciated ...
Click to expand...

EP oils were never used in saildrives - either engine oils or ATF. The latter was specified for the 130S drive you have originally, but around 2011 the recommendation reverted to engine oil, preferably draining all the ATF out and refilling.
 
Tranona said:
EP oils were never used in saildrives - either engine oils or ATF. The latter was specified for the 130S drive you have originally, but around 2011 the recommendation reverted to engine oil, preferably draining all the ATF out and refilling.
Click to expand...

Not quite true the old MB2-50S drive uses EP 90 gear oil as does the 120S-E drive. All the others use engine oil although the 130 and 150 series originally used used ATF .

Other makes of sail drive (eg Yanmar) may also use an EP gear oil.

No idea why VP changed from ATF to engine oil in the 130 and 150 drives . It is the subject of a Service Bulletin dated 10-2010 but there is no explanation


http://www.volvopenta.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/Penta/Misc/drive_1_oil_rec_7745608.pdf

http://www.marinepartsexpress.com/saildriveoilchange.pdf
 
Last edited:
pvb said:
If your engine is new, buy the recommended oil from a VP dealer and keep the receipt. In the unlikely event of subsequent engine problems, you'll be able to demonstrate that you've followed their instructions.
Click to expand...

That is a very good point, thank you
 
Tranona said:
EP oils were never used in saildrives - either engine oils or ATF. The latter was specified for the 130S drive you have originally, but around 2011 the recommendation reverted to engine oil, preferably draining all the ATF out and refilling.
Click to expand...

The Yanmar SD20 that I had for 10 years did.
 
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