Saildrive - water in oil

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BobOwen

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I have two Volvo 2001 engine / saildrive setups.
Just checked the gearbox oil yesterday, to find one has emulsified oil.

I'm not sure of the sealing arrangements on these legs. There's the seal on the prop shaft I know, but is there another between gearbox and leg or does the whole gearbox / leg share the same oil?

My manual seems to indicate sae15/40 for the gearbox too. Can anyone confirm thats correct?
 
Oooooops

15/40 sounds about right for the saildrive oil. from experience of changing our saildrive seal. it may well be he two seals on the output shaft that has caused your water in the oil. we have a 120 sail drive and the seals were shot after 7 years. just lucky we got to in time.
 
Re: Saildrive - water in oil

There are two seals on the shaft. These can be replaced (I managed to do mine) but if the shaft is worn as well then you may need a new shaft which is very expensive. There was an article on here or in the magazine about sleeving a worn shaft at a fraction of the cost of a new one but I can't remember where I saw it. No doubt other forumites would know.

The gearbox and saildrive leg share the same oil chamber. SAE 15/40 sounds OK for Mediterranean waters. For colder waters 10/40 may be better.
 
Re: Saildrive - water in oil

If the shaft is worn, simply fit the new seals in a sligthly different position in their seatings to allow them to run on unworn shaft. You can use plastic washers as shims behind them if you want to. This is a perfect no cost modification and works!
 
Re: Saildrive - water in oil

Re shaft wear. I would imagine that it should be possible to metal spray the shaft. Has anyone done this on any boat parts?
 
Re: Saildrive - water in oil

Sometimes particularly on gear oils, in Greece they dont use SAE. What are the equivalents do you know?
 
Re: Saildrive - water in oil

Thanks all, for the info. As luck would have it, I searched through a number of PBO articles I have cut out and stashed away, to find the very one mentioned by Dipper. It looks the perfect (And cheap) solution, especially with a new shaft costing an incredible £435 !

I can see that extending the seating of the seal can get around the problem but I'm reluctant to reduce the seals sealing area. As for metal spraying - thats always another option. I know of a few conventional prop shafts that have been recovered by that process.

I'm just about to set off for this years cruising too - [--word removed--]!
I will refill and watch constantly with the ( Futile ?) hope it will manage for a while. Perhaps a lift out is un avoidable in the very near future.
 
BE VERY CAREFUL with the oil in the saildrive ,some models use special Hypoid oils and there are many records of them failing when filled with normal oils.i know one of them was mine,advice from agents and the so called handbook were completely wrong.I did get something back from Penta tho (must be a record) There is a long thread on this about 18months ago.I shall attempt to find it.
 
Chrisc - Yes I did wonder about using engine oil in a gearbox. Hence the question. The manual isn't clear, but it does seem to indicate that 15/40 is used.
I did a search before posting and didn't come up with anything - be good if you can find it!
 
Quoting from my official Volvo workshop manual (as opposed to the owners manual) -

"Oil quality - Engine luboil Service CE or CD

Viscosity Service SE
- Multigrade oil SAE 10W/40

Viscosity Service CD
- Above +10ºC: SAE 20W/30
- Below +10ºC: SAE 10W"

There is also a footnote that "Volvo Penta luboil can be used as an alternative - see Instruction Manual".

Don't ask me any more as I have reached the end of my expertise which is not really very difficult. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Are you sure the problem is not the seal/washer on the drain plug. Over the years
I've had this problem with water in the oil. The fibre washer compresses and need to be renewed evey time the oil is drained.
Hope this might save you some expense!!
 
Yes the newer models have "o" rings but I find they can still leak slightly if not fitted carefully. I use teflon tape on the threads just as back up.
 
My saildrive is a 120e this one defintely uses hypoid oil. There is a sticker on the saildrive that states 'use only hypoid oil' ,unfortunately this sticker is underneath the body of the gearbox and is only visible when the saildrive is out.It is easy to tell if you have hypoid in the gearbox just smell it .
 
This is the original thread.......

Cobra750
regular


Reged: 23/11/2003
Posts: 11
Saildrive oil. What type
#496373 - 02/04/2004 20:56 Edit Reply Quote Quick Reply



Dear all. Seen postings suggesting the oil in sail drives shouldn't be as per manuals that suggest engine oil. Can anyone please clarify what type of oil is the safest to use? Thanks
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scarlett
regular


Reged: 21/12/2002
Posts: 632
Loc: Greece six months, Hull most o... Re: Saildrive oil. What type [Re: Cobra750]
#496381 - 02/04/2004 21:12 Edit Reply Quote Quick Reply



Volvo suggest engine oil for their older saildrives but later ones use synthetic. Mine [1999] has a little lable to that effect hidden at the end furthest from the engine. I've no idea why [ see below]. I suggest you ring Volvo with its serial number.

PS Volvo oil is twice the price. In Greece, it cost me nearly £50 to refill the leg.
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starboard
regular


Reged: 22/12/2003
Posts: 1406
Loc: N5533 W00441 Re: Saildrive oil. What type [Re: Cobra750]
#496413 - 02/04/2004 22:22 Edit Reply Quote Quick Reply



The same oil as in the engine. I have an old MD5b with S110 leg and use a single grade "Classic" moter oil SAE30 made by COMMA and costing £12 per 5 ltr in both engine and leg.If it is an old engine DO NOT use a modern oil, these were never designed for the older engines.
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snowleopard
regular


Reged: 16/05/2001
Posts: 6626
Loc: SW hang on! [Re: Cobra750]
#496423 - 02/04/2004 22:56 Edit Reply Quote Quick Reply



there isn't a generic saildrive oil, it depends on manufacturer and model (hint - fill in your profile for best advice).

for example on yanmar they fit the same model of saildrive to 1/2/3gm engines, for the 1gm they advise engine oil, for 2gm & 3gm it's 90 grade gear oil!
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tom52
regular


Reged: 23/09/2001
Posts: 312
Re: Saildrive oil. What type [Re: Cobra750]
#496562 - 03/04/2004 13:20 Edit Reply Quote Quick Reply



Suggest you do a search. This has been extensively covered in the past.
At some point Volvo changed the oil spec for 120 SD. More recent are synthetic.
Dont switch if you are one of the older versions. Synthetic is much more expensive.
You can tell whats been used previously by the smell. Synthetic smells like BO
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jackho
regular


Reged: 22/03/2003
Posts: 162
Re: Saildrive oil. What type [Re: Cobra750]
#497813 - 06/04/2004 12:54 Edit Reply Quote Quick Reply



My engine Volvo 2030 is 2 years old and the handbook spec. for the saildrive is the same as the engine SAE 15w - 40. I use the cheapest oil that matches the number ie. spec. outlined in the Volvo instruction book. Cost approx £10 for 5L.
Can't see any benefit in using Synthetic oil in a Saildrive as there's no high temperatures or sulpher deposits etc. etc. - only my opinion but the API web sites all seem to suggest the same.

Jackho
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philwebb
regular


Reged: 08/05/2002
Posts: 154
Loc: london Re: Saildrive oil. What type [Re: starboard]
#497856 - 06/04/2004 14:23 Edit Reply Quote Quick Reply



Hi Starboard, What boat do you have? My engine and drive setup is the same as yours
However I have been using Halfords Hypoy 80 or 90 gear oil in my saildrive for several
years now I will check my manual but surely this is a better oil to use in a gearbox
Regards Phil.

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xcw
regular


Reged: 14/06/2002
Posts: 116
Re: Saildrive oil. What type [Re: Cobra750]
#497863 - 06/04/2004 14:33 Edit Reply Quote Quick Reply



I changed mine over the weekend - a Volvo 2020 engine on a Bav 36 built in 2002. According to the Volvo dealer there are three types of oil depending upon the saildrive; engine oil, synthetic and ATF (automatic transmission fluid - I think). Mine used ATF. I paid £24 for 2litres and an anode from the Volvo dealer which I didn't think was too bad.
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chrisc
regular


Reged: 11/07/2001
Posts: 470
Loc: SWEDEN and working again UGH..... Re: Saildrive oil. What type [Re: Cobra750]
#497884 - 06/04/2004 15:55 Edit Reply Quote Quick Reply



Please check with Volvo
some of the dealers are not that well informed ,well i asked three and got
the wrong answer from all of them.My saildrive is a 120 se (fitted to Bav 34
in 2000) did about 250 hours after being filled with engine oil rather than hypoid.
then bang.
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