Sail Drive

[rivonia]

We have just had our Volvo md 2020 1000 hrs service and the two sail drives as well. The engineer wwas alarmed when I in formed him that we use the same oil in the sail drives as the engine, 15 w 40 as specified in the Volvo handbook. The engineer then pointed me to a warning label on the saildrives in the engine compartment, which stated that "SYNTHETIC OIL ONLY TO BE USED" So please be aware. We had to change both seals as the water had found it's way into the oil.

Fair winds

Peter

 

[CharlesSwallow]

So much controversy re this!

Volvo have a service sheet on this, recently published. The basic recommendations are:-

"Same as engine"

Models 100S,110S,120S, 120S-B, 120S-C, 120S-D, MS25S-A, MS25SR-A

"Synthetic API GL5 SAE 75-90"

Models 120S-E, IPS-A, IPS-B

"Volvo Penta 1161995; ATF Dexron II, III"

Models 130S-A, 130SR-A, 130S-B, 130SR-B, 150S-A, 150SR-A, 150S-B, 150SR-B.

The whole sheet which shows little more is available from the VP website at:- http://www.volvopenta.com/sitecollectiondocuments/penta/misc/drive_1_oil_rec_7745608.pdf.

Yes, many engines were supplied with this anomoly that the handbook showed "Same as Engine" yet the sticker on the back of the gearbox has the "synthetic" message. I have used the synthetic in mine for all of it's ten year life with no water ingress but I carry a complete set of driveshaft bearings, oil seals and gaskets, just in case.

Chas

 

[photon]

15/40, then Dextron 3, now 15/40 again, what next?

All very clear Chas and thanks.

Confusion was certainly caused by one Volvo dealer who advise me 3 years ago to change to ATF Dextron 3 for my MS25S-A Saildrive instead of the oil specified in the Operators Manual (SAE 15/40)
I followed the advice with all subsequent annual changes using Dextron 3 ATF, but it would now appear that the decision has been reversed and I for one will return to using "same as engine" in line with the page that Chas's link points towards on the Volvo website.

http://www.volvopenta.com/sitecollectiondocuments/penta/misc/drive_1_oil_rec_7745608.pdf

Does anyone know where this madness for ATF Dextron 3 started? It certainly has messed with my brain for the last few days.

Is there any reason not to use a fully synthetic 5W/40 oil in both engine (D2-55 ) and the MS25S-A saildrive? I would be grateful for any comments.

Photon

 

[Ariadne]

Do what the book says, and you'll have no problem.

The only time the seals have gone on our 110S is when I didn't turn the engine over and run it in gear over the winter (the engine was in bits so no chance of running it!) so they went hard through lack of use!

15W40 or whatever your using will do nicely, just remember to use a slightly thicker oil when you head for warmer clime's.

 

[Mrnotming]

Saildrive 120SE

My 2030 was initially filled as per the handbook with same as engine oil.
During the transit of Marne/saone with 12 hour days, the oil appeared outside the top gearbox and dribbled into the doughnut.Pampers controlled the situation, but I also reduced the level by 20mm to reduce the incidence.
As earlier poster says the plate on the actual drive leg g/box says synthetic only or words to that effect.
So as soon as this was observed the v expensive pukka Volvo product was purchased at some EU 68.00 for three litres,and oil changed.Seals were not replaced.
No recurrance of the overspill has since been observed despite long passages.The little "gasp" when the brown dipstick is loosened is still present, so all seems well, with clear oil.
The idea of carrying spare seals is a good one, thanks to poster.A sleeve can be obtained which can be put over worn portions of the prop output shaft to get over a scored area, so avoiding destruction of new seals, or rather the expense of replacing this shaft.Seem to remember it as an article published in PBO.
Good boating and sailing to all!

 

[ytd]

we have the same set up as photon. the dealer specified synthetic 80-90. a couple of years later a volvo mechanic said we should use the same oil as the engine, 15-40. saildrive seals failed this year (7 years old) and current volvo endorsed engineer said we should be using dextron. I showed him the sheet from the volvo website i printed out at the previous change of oil and he said that had been superseeded. so now we have dextron and a lot of rattles from the gearbox. I think volvo need to clear this up.