ATF or 15-40

[billyfish]

Ok . So had the boat a couple of seasons and have changed the gearbox oil twice. When I first changed it it wasn't ATF (wrong colour) so questioned it and was told by a dealer to use the same oil as the engine ie 15-40. Which I have done twice now with mo adverse effects. The more I read and it says in the manual to use ATF the more I worry it could be damaging it over time. The engine is a volvo Penta D1-30. The gearbox MS10A-B both 2006 vintage. Any comments welcomed

 

[RJJ]

On my D2 of similar age, the original recommendation was ATF. Volvo themselves later changed to 15-40. Hence pretty much all engineers and owners are (unusually) ignoring the original manual.

 

[Slowtack]

15W40

 

[PeterBoater]

Who is likely to have the more expertise in this matter, the manufacturer or the dealer?

 

[ithet]

Same here, MD-2030D. We are talking about the ZF-Hurth gearbox. VP have changed their recommendation from ATF to engine oil and I was advised by dealer to change.

 

[Portofino]

Twin disc recommend a single grade depending of ambient temp .Either straight 30 or 40 .
They warn not to use a multi grade because it foams , not sure where poss the disks ?

 

[Tranona]

Twin disc recommend a single grade depending of ambient temp .Either straight 30 or 40 .
They warn not to use a multi grade because it foams , not sure where poss the disks ?

These are not Twin Disc boxes but made by ZF/Hurth. They use multigrade engine oil

 

[billyfish]

My last box was a Hurth and I used ATF. Hence the confusion

 

[Tranona]

Volvo changed the recommendation about 6 or 7 years ago for both reduction boxes and saildrives (which are also made by ZF). Hot entirely sure that it really matters as the same boxes ran for years with ATF - and the change was "as and when". I had just bought a new boat with a D1 30 just as the change was made. Mine was filled with ATF, but changed by the d ealer at the first service.

 

[Rafiki]

Ok . So had the boat a couple of seasons and have changed the gearbox oil twice. When I first changed it it wasn't ATF (wrong colour) so questioned it and was told by a dealer to use the same oil as the engine ie 15-40. Which I have done twice now with mo adverse effects. The more I read and it says in the manual to use ATF the more I worry it could be damaging it over time. The engine is a volvo Penta D1-30. The gearbox MS10A-B both 2006 vintage. Any comments welcomed

I have a D2-40 of same vintage. The Owners handbook on board when I bought the boat referred to ATF, but if you print off a Volvo Owners Manual now for the same engine it refers to 15-40. It doesn't say use 15-40 from engine serial number xxxx. Hence I use 15-40, and don't change it very often, after all how often do you change the gearbox oil in your car!