Saildrive oil change- how often?

[Ripster]

Changed the oil in my D130 leg in Dec (used 15-40 as I have always done) after 2 seasons of use. No water ingress and the oil looked as clean as new. It had done about 120hrs.

 

[RichardS]

Changed the oil in my D130 leg in Dec (used 15-40 as I have always done) after 2 seasons of use. No water ingress and the oil looked as clean as new. It had done about 120hrs.

I wonder what result you would get if you sent a sample of the used oil for analysis?

A sample of the engine oil in earth moving equipment and massive commercial generators is sent for analysis on a regular basis and only changed when the results indicate that the breakdown of the polymer chains or anti-oxidant additives has reached a certain level. If the polymer chains are still good, sometimes extra additives are added to the existing oil.

I wouldn't be suprised if your oil came back from analysis as being in A1 condition.

This would form the basis of a very interesting article in PBO magazine who would have access to a suitable testing laboratory and could obtain lots of oil samples from forumites.

Richard

 

[Daydream believer]

As VicS says, this is the reverse of Volvo's advice as of about year ago. For instance, the 120S range of legs all specified engine oil, except for the 120SE which used ATF; Volvo said recently that even this one could now use engine oil.
Perhaps someone should call Volspec and query their advice.

Went into Volspec at Tolesbury today & asked. it was clear that different saildrives have different oils ie engine oil or ATF so it probably means that we are all correct if we are referring to our own saildrive. there was one saildrive ( forget number) which has a special gear oil but hey! its not mine.
they confirmed i am using the correct oil & so i am happy - good luck you can all argue as much as you like- i am OK:encouragement::encouragement:

 

[VicS]

Went into Volspec at Tolesbury today & asked. ------------ you can all argue as much as you like- i am OK:encouragement::encouragement:

Nobody is arguing Most of us know where to find the lubrication chart for VP sail drives

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

A good many of us also know about the Service bulletin, mentioned earlier in #16, regarding the change to 15W40 for those drives which previously used ATF.