billyfish
Active member
How often do you change gearbox oil . I do mine annually
Gearbox oil change
- Thread starter billyfish
- Start date
Refueler
Well-known member
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm trying to remember ..... might have been 3yrs ago ??
Think beginning next season - get out Pela and change it !!
Think beginning next season - get out Pela and change it !!
PeterBoater
Active member
Whenever the gearbox manufacturer's service schedule says so.
vyv_cox
Well-known member
With gearboxes that use engine oil it is worthwhile to change annually as they do not contain a lot of EP additive.
jdc
Well-known member
It may differ between gearboxes. Mine takes ATF and I change it every ~5 years. Taking the car figure, in normal service load its about 90,000 miles. Divide by a realistic 40 to 50 mph and that's around 2000 hours. I don't do 400 hours a year but err on the safe side, hence changing it after about 5 years.
geem
Well-known member
Every 250 hrs. That's what the manual says
billyfish
Active member
Ar, but volvo penta manual also says use ATF then they changed it to engine oil which is why I do it annually
eebygum
Active member
Interesting thread, I think I need to change mine more frequently.
I had to lookup what ATF is...... "A couple of differences are the following: Motor oil is designed to deal with the products of combustion, whereas automatic transmission fluid (ATF) does not see contaminants from fuel burning. An ATF is basically a closed system and the lubricant must last for a long period of time
I had to lookup what ATF is...... "A couple of differences are the following: Motor oil is designed to deal with the products of combustion, whereas automatic transmission fluid (ATF) does not see contaminants from fuel burning. An ATF is basically a closed system and the lubricant must last for a long period of time
doug748
Well-known member
Used to be every three years, that's what the manual says but I now change it every year. Gearboxes with internal clutches do generate a deal of contamination from the friction material, that's my theory anyway.
vyv_cox
Well-known member
Also, ATF has a very high loading of EP (boundary) lubricant, as gears do not develop hydrodynamic films.
billyfish
Active member
So...are VP wrong in changing over to 15/40 engine oil
jdc
Well-known member
Beta recommend every 750 hours, which is about 5 years at an average of 150 a year.
One reason it may be this long an interval is that there isn't a clutch in the conventional sense, for instance when the gearbox is not being driven the output shaft is free to turn even if the control lever is in gear. But frankly I don't understand how it works - must look it up!
Edit: having look it up I was wrong! (don't know why an exclamation mark really as I'm often wrong). There is a clutch, but maybe its hydraulic actuation is less prone to wear that a conventional.
One reason it may be this long an interval is that there isn't a clutch in the conventional sense, for instance when the gearbox is not being driven the output shaft is free to turn even if the control lever is in gear. But frankly I don't understand how it works - must look it up!
Edit: having look it up I was wrong! (don't know why an exclamation mark really as I'm often wrong). There is a clutch, but maybe its hydraulic actuation is less prone to wear that a conventional.
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Refueler
Well-known member
billyfish
Active member
And I'm happy with the same oil as well . Might as well change it same time as the engine as it only takes a couple of minutes
Poignard
Well-known member
I use an SAE 30 oil in the gearbox of my BUKH engine
vyv_cox
Well-known member
No, lubrication requirements are set by tooth loading and temperature. Presumably they have now decided they can go to a lower additive content.
jdc
Well-known member
I don't see the benefit of changing over from ATF to engine oil. Sure it would do, but is it a benefit?
ATF (Castrol transfix Dexron III) cots £6 a litre. My engine uses 15w-40 from Kubota, cost £5 a litre.
Change oil annually if engine oil, every 3 to 5 years if ATF. Clearly ATF is cheaper, and less effort as you change it less often, so less wasteful and it's nicer to handle and to clean up any spillage.
Sure, I have to carry one extra substance, but I already have cans in my garage for: 2-stroke oil for air-cooled garden tools, 2-stroke oil for the outboard, 2-stroke petrol, 4-stroke petrol, chain-saw oil, diesel, paint-brush cleaner, weedkiller, screen wash, methylated spirits, cutting fluid, patio magic, brick cleaner, oil for my car, oil for my boat and garden machinery, antifreeze for the boat's engine, antifreeze for the house radiator system, antifreeze for my water-maker, grease of 3 or 4 types, sealants various, Paints various, tomato feed, pesticides, etc etc. Really, adding a 5 litre can of ATF isn't a big deal!
ATF (Castrol transfix Dexron III) cots £6 a litre. My engine uses 15w-40 from Kubota, cost £5 a litre.
Change oil annually if engine oil, every 3 to 5 years if ATF. Clearly ATF is cheaper, and less effort as you change it less often, so less wasteful and it's nicer to handle and to clean up any spillage.
Sure, I have to carry one extra substance, but I already have cans in my garage for: 2-stroke oil for air-cooled garden tools, 2-stroke oil for the outboard, 2-stroke petrol, 4-stroke petrol, chain-saw oil, diesel, paint-brush cleaner, weedkiller, screen wash, methylated spirits, cutting fluid, patio magic, brick cleaner, oil for my car, oil for my boat and garden machinery, antifreeze for the boat's engine, antifreeze for the house radiator system, antifreeze for my water-maker, grease of 3 or 4 types, sealants various, Paints various, tomato feed, pesticides, etc etc. Really, adding a 5 litre can of ATF isn't a big deal!
billyfish
Active member
I know I used ATF for years but going with what VP recommended ?
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