branko
New member
One logical question. Is it necessary to change oil in saildrive every year if it looks clean and without "cream" from water ?
Would you pls. give your oppinion.
Would you pls. give your oppinion.
Volvo Penta saildrive 120 oil change
- Thread starter branko
- Start date
boatmike
Well-known member
Personally I don't. I do inspect it though to see if it's clean. I think the key really is how many hours does it run each year? Less than about 500 hours and I would leave it assuming you get no water in the oil but change it every other year at least.
starboard
Active member
I dont either, If oil looks clean and free of emulsified oil it will be fine...........how often do you change the oil in your car gearbox???? and I guess that does a few more miles than the boat.
Paul.
Paul.
scarlett
New member
Me, I agree the above and doing about 100 hours per year change mine every other year, even though there is no obvious need.
I spoke to the Volvo man at LIBS and he confirmed that the same leg is used for every engine from 10 hp upwards, This implies that my little 18 hp 2020 is giving it less work. He also said the change to more expensive sythetic oil was necessitated by the increased power put on the leg and box by more the powerful engines. This implies that such expensive oils are unnecessary for little 'uns, though he did not say this when pushed. My gearbox has the 'use synthetic' instruction on it. He also said he did not know the reason for the latest change of gearbox on the leg other than to save money. For what its worth.
I spoke to the Volvo man at LIBS and he confirmed that the same leg is used for every engine from 10 hp upwards, This implies that my little 18 hp 2020 is giving it less work. He also said the change to more expensive sythetic oil was necessitated by the increased power put on the leg and box by more the powerful engines. This implies that such expensive oils are unnecessary for little 'uns, though he did not say this when pushed. My gearbox has the 'use synthetic' instruction on it. He also said he did not know the reason for the latest change of gearbox on the leg other than to save money. For what its worth.
starboard
Active member
If they specify synthetic you should use it as mineral oil will destroy any seal fitted!!!!!!!!
Paul.
Paul.
LauraKatie
New member
On the general subject of sail drive.My volvo 2020 with saildrive produces the whirring noise whilst under way..engine off. I have shifted the lewmar throttle into foward and reverse but I can still hear the gearbox whirring away regardless.
Is this normal or is there something I need to know or do?
Is this normal or is there something I need to know or do?
mwersall
New member
Volvo Penta sail drive oil
There is a warning for overfill the saildrive gear oil. Does anyone know why? What happens if you run it with a higher level? Our ship yard keeps over filling it.
There is a warning for overfill the saildrive gear oil. Does anyone know why? What happens if you run it with a higher level? Our ship yard keeps over filling it.
tom52
Active member
There is a warning for overfill the saildrive gear oil. Does anyone know why? What happens if you run it with a higher level? Our ship yard keeps over filling it.
The pressure of too much oil means the oil will force its way out past the oil seal.
Once breeched the oil seal will let in sea water and emusify the oil.
njsail
New member
I just changed my saildrive oil - right now I do it every year and I must say it was perfectly clean and I wondered why I'm changing it. It's the recommended synthetic Volvo oil. It was an absolute pain to remove the oil nut (actually a big screw) on the bottom of the saildrive. It really needs to be drained from the bottom vs being sucked out from the top if you want to change all the oil. It's really thick and takes a long time to drain. When filling it helps to actually fill it from the bottom of the saildrive and push the new oil up into the drive verses let it slowly drip into the oil fill on top. If you feel like constantly filling the funnel with a little oil and waiting for it to drip down that's fine too - just bring a good book - it'll take a while.
I also took the fixed aluminum prop off stripped it and refinished it. When I replaced the zinc I noticed one of the heads on the stainless screws holding it onto the leg was missing. I replaced the screws with new ones. Now the drive seems to run incredibly smooth.
I also took the fixed aluminum prop off stripped it and refinished it. When I replaced the zinc I noticed one of the heads on the stainless screws holding it onto the leg was missing. I replaced the screws with new ones. Now the drive seems to run incredibly smooth.
Slowtack
Well-known member
Checking only the dipstick in the upper gearbox will not indicate if there is emulsified oils at the bottom of the leg.
SAWDOC
Active member
njsail
New member
There is a drain plug (actually just a big screw) on the bottom of the sail drive. After opening and draining you can use a manual hand pump with an adaptor and hose attached into that drain plug under then pump. It pushes the thick viscous oil into the gears instead of letting it drip slowly down into the gears.
Martin_J
Well-known member
I would guess that filling speed and viscosity depends on whether your saildrive leg takes the thick gearbox oil or the standard 15/40 engine oil.
Standard engine oil (2.6 litres in the case of the 120s) just pours in through the dipstick hole, using a funnel. Undo the top cap to let air out but no problems with having to wait... a minute max.
I have not got the manual handy - but am I also right in thinking the level is measured with the dipstick just resting in place and not fully screwed in?
Standard engine oil (2.6 litres in the case of the 120s) just pours in through the dipstick hole, using a funnel. Undo the top cap to let air out but no problems with having to wait... a minute max.
I have not got the manual handy - but am I also right in thinking the level is measured with the dipstick just resting in place and not fully screwed in?