Volvo Penta 2002

[muzzaman]

I am about to do an oil change on the above engine and wanted to check what other owners use?

I have 2 manuals for this engine:

i) the "Volvo 2000 Series Operators" manual suggests 15w/40 (specifically for the 2002 model) and,

ii) the "Volvo Penta 2002 Owners" manual suggests 20w/30, (specifically for the 2002 model).

I am confused as to why they would be different!

In the past I have used a 15w/40 multigrade but now read that multigrade should be avoided.

I have two questions -

a) does it really matter if multigrade or not?
b) would you use 15w/40 or 20w/30?

Many thanks in advance.

Murray.

 

[robmcg]

15w/40 mineral oil is what we use in my fathers Volvo 2003. No problems to report.

 

[muzzaman]

15w/40 mineral oil is what we use in my fathers Volvo 2003. No problems to report.

Is 15w/40 multigrade similar/same as 15w/40 mineral oil? Apologies for my ignorance in this area!

 

[VicS]

Is 15w/40 multigrade similar/same as 15w/40 mineral oil? Apologies for my ignorance in this area!

The numbers refer to the viscosity grade. Two numbers separated by a / indicates that it is a multigrade oil.

It can have a mineral oil base, a synthetic base, or a semi synthetic base.

Very simply, too simply probably, multigrade oils have the viscosity of a higher viscosity oil at operating temperature and of a lower viscosity oil at low temperatures.

 

[muzzaman]

Thanks Vic, still can't understand there would be 2 different grades of oil suggested in volvo manuals that refer to exactly the same engine?!

The numbers refer to the viscosity grade. Two numbers separated by a / indicates that it is a multigrade oil.

It can have a mineral oil base, a synthetic base, or a semi synthetic base.

Very simply, too simply probably, multigrade oils have the viscosity of a higher viscosity oil at operating temperature and of a lower viscosity oil at low temperatures.

 

[black mercury]

Just keep using the 15w40, it is ideal, but make sure it is a mineral oil and not synthetic. You should never use a fully synthetic oil in that engine.

 

[robmcg]

Thanks Vic, still can't understand there would be 2 different grades of oil suggested in volvo manuals that refer to exactly the same engine?!

I suspect that the other reference is for oil spec if you are using the engine in high ambient temperatures.

 

[VicS]

Thanks Vic, still can't understand there would be 2 different grades of oil suggested in volvo manuals that refer to exactly the same engine?!

The current recommendation on VP's website is 15w/40 and specified in the owners manual that can be downloaded.

I suspect 20w/30 comes from an older publication

ITYWF that the only oil on offer from VP is 15w/40 and I suspect you will have difficulty finding 20w/30.

Halfords don't even seem to have 15w/40 any more. The nearest they have appears to be 10W/40.

 

[Chanquete]

I am about to do an oil change on the above engine and wanted to check what other owners use?

I have 2 manuals for this engine:

i) the "Volvo 2000 Series Operators" manual suggests 15w/40 (specifically for the 2002 model) and,

ii) the "Volvo Penta 2002 Owners" manual suggests 20w/30, (specifically for the 2002 model).

I am confused as to why they would be different!

In the past I have used a 15w/40 multigrade but now read that multigrade should be avoided.

I have two questions -

a) does it really matter if multigrade or not?
b) would you use 15w/40 or 20w/30?

Many thanks in advance.

Murray.

Hy Murray
The numbers refer to viscosity.
Lets talk about the first number:
When you start your cold engine it is recommended to have a low low viscosity. The lower the viscosity the sooner the oil will circulate minimizing dry friction time responsable for the greatest part of engine wear, protecting and lubricating your engine. Therefore 15 is better than 20. Experts recommend 5.

The second number is the viscosity at operating temperature of the warm engine. This viscosity is related to design aspects of your engine.
SAE 40 is an usual value.
Some yearse ago for my VP 2002 engine I used the Shell Hellix HX7 oil 10 W 40.
Its a multigrade modern semysinthetic oil.
In my actual engine a VP 2030 I am still using the same oil and be very happy with it.

Saludos

 

[VicS]

Hy Murray
The numbers refer to viscosity.
Lets talk about the first number:
When you start your cold engine it is recommended to have a low low viscosity. The lower the viscosity the sooner the oil will circulate minimizing dry friction time responsable for the greatest part of engine wear, protecting and lubricating your engine. Therefore 15 is better than 20. Experts recommend 5.



Saludos

So what does the W after the first number mean.

 

[reeac]

The W stands for Winter as its used to refer to the viscosity when cold ...curious notation but there you go. The only 20/30 oil that I can recall was Castrolite which was around in the 50's and 60's. Go for 15/40.

 

[vyv_cox]

Hy Murray
The numbers refer to viscosity.
Lets talk about the first number:
When you start your cold engine it is recommended to have a low low viscosity. The lower the viscosity the sooner the oil will circulate minimizing dry friction time responsable for the greatest part of engine wear, protecting and lubricating your engine. Therefore 15 is better than 20. Experts recommend 5.

As ever, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing! Small marine diesel engines have copper-lead bearings with a lead-tin or lead-indium overlay, running on an unhardened crankshaft. This is a very soft combination that requires a minimum oil film thickness to prevent metal-to-metal contact, especially on start-up. If contact occurs the bearing will wipe very readily. Thus the viscosity quoted, 15W-40, is designed to provide adequate oil film to combat this possibility, although for high ambient temperatures a 20w-50 may be needed.

By contrast, very low viscosity oils are specified for small automotive engines for one reason only - fuel economy. To combat the possibility of bearing problems with very small oil film thicknesses the bearings are far harder, typically aluminium-tin but many exotic mixtures are now being used, running against hardened crankshafts.

Although low viscosity base oils can be given a seemingly high viscosity at temperature, e.g. a 5w-30 or even 0w-40, the 'hot' figure is given by VI improvers, which are not as effective as using a higher base oil viscosity. Traditional engines running on low viscosity base oils will suffer increased wear levels or possibly even serious failure.

Once again when it comes to lubricants I will point out - boats are not cars! The conditions experienced by modern car engines are totally different from those in yachts.

 

[RIBW]

As ever, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing!

Flexing my near zero knowledge of engines, B&Q do a nice line in 15/40 mineral oil for about £12/5 litres. The label makes mention of suitability for "old marine diesels" or words to that effect.

Cheers
Bob

 

[vyv_cox]

Flexing my near zero knowledge of engines, B&Q do a nice line in 15/40 mineral oil for about £12/5 litres. The label makes mention of suitability for "old marine diesels" or words to that effect.

Cheers
Bob

Their API CF-4 grade is used by many for older yacht engines now that API CD is unobtainable. Morris Lubricants specialise in oils for older engines, especially for canal boats but they don't do API CD, only API CC, which is not a great deal different. I buy that for my BMC 2.2 diesel in UK but I can still find API CD in Europe, which I use in my Yanmar 3GM30F. Both 15w-40.

 

[Chanquete]

So what does the W after the first number mean.

The "W" refers to "winter." The first number is the viscosity when the oil is cold.

Take a look in : http://www.ehow.com/about_6392085_do-oil-numbers-mean_.html

 

[VicS]

The "W" refers to "winter."

But all the oils I can find in say Halfords are "something W /something". If the W is for winter what do I use in the summer. I dont see 15S/40 anywhere.

 

[ithet]

The two Volvo 2002 manuals come from different dates - I have both copies also, they recommend the grade of oil that VP happened to market themselves at the time. I generally use a supermarket 15w-40 but would have 20w-30 in (slight) preference if found. As vyv-cox says you can generally only find API CF-4 not the API CD as was originally specified. However, I found API CD in the Hypermarket at Cherbourg last year and it was still on sale three weeks ago.

 

[muzzaman]

Thanks everyone for all the replies and information. It really is appreciated!!

 

[reeac]

But all the oils I can find in say Halfords are "something W /something". If the W is for winter what do I use in the summer. I dont see 15S/40 anywhere.

See my reply, nothing to do with Summer or Winter but with cold or hot engine. As I said ... a curious notation.

 

[Chanquete]

As ever, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing! Small marine diesel engines have copper-lead bearings with a lead-tin or lead-indium overlay, running on an unhardened crankshaft. This is a very soft combination that requires a minimum oil film thickness to prevent metal-to-metal contact, especially on start-up. If contact occurs the bearing will wipe very readily. Thus the viscosity quoted, 15W-40, is designed to provide adequate oil film to combat this possibility, although for high ambient temperatures a 20w-50 may be needed.

By contrast, very low viscosity oils are specified for small automotive engines for one reason only - fuel economy. To combat the possibility of bearing problems with very small oil film thicknesses the bearings are far harder, typically aluminium-tin but many exotic mixtures are now being used, running against hardened crankshafts.

Although low viscosity base oils can be given a seemingly high viscosity at temperature, e.g. a 5w-30 or even 0w-40, the 'hot' figure is given by VI improvers, which are not as effective as using a higher base oil viscosity. Traditional engines running on low viscosity base oils will suffer increased wear levels or possibly even serious failure.

Once again when it comes to lubricants I will point out - boats are not cars! The conditions experienced by modern car engines are totally different from those in yachts.

That was long ago.
Today most small marine diesels (if not all) are adapted motors originally developed for other uses.
If you detect the original tractor or industrial applications you can buy spare parts at half the price.
For example the Volvo penta 2030.
Originally Perkins 103-10. Perkins started importing these 100 series engines from a Japanese company called Ishikawajima Shibaura Machinery, Ltd. nearly twenty years ago. ISM is part of Ishikawajima Harima Industries, one of Japan’s largest industrial companies. Perkins marketed this engine in a marinized version as the Perama M30. They sold the engine to Volvo Penta who marketed it as their MD2030. They also sold the engine to Massey Ferguson, McCormick, Terramite, Textron, Jacobsen, Cushman, Vermeer, Leech Lewis, JCB, Kobelco, and Northern Lights to name just a few. In 1997, Perkins was acquired by Caterpillar. With an added boost from Caterpillar, this little engine has become one of the most popular engines in the world. It’s used in turf equipment, tractors, mini-excavators, brush choppers, compressors, welders, pumps, generators, etc. etc. etc.
Beta Marine, based in England, marinizes Kubota [Japanese] industrial diesel engines.
And Vetus Mitsubishi diesels.

The lubricating film concept is ok, and the film of heavier oils is also more resistant, but, on the cold engine many parts are dry. After the start the oil must travel a long way to reach the parts to lubricate. The smaller the cold viscosity the quicker the lubrication films will be generated.