Volvo S-drive oil

wiggy

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Can someone give me a definitive answer- should my saildrive leg have the same oil as the 2020 engine block? If yes-what grade and will Tesco cheapy do OK?
 
Can someone give me a definitive answer- should my saildrive leg have the same oil as the 2020 engine block? If yes-what grade and will Tesco cheapy do OK?
Which leg is it. Some are same as engine oil, some synthetic, some ATF and maybe even hypoid.

Vic will be along soon with his chart.
 
So from the service bulletin it seems that SAE 15W-40 is to be used in all S-Drive legs, thatmakes life nice and easy. Thanks for the advice folks.
Not that simple. 120S-E uses synthetic gear oil. and some MS25S use ATF, at least mine does, confirmed to me by Volspec.
 
This says all S drives, and is taken from the linked post:

AB Volvo Penta

SE-405 08 Göteborg
Sweden

Service Bulletin


Group Number Version

44-1 85

Changed oil quality recomendation for S-drives

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

Binder: Date: 10-2010

SAE 15W40
ONLY 3306 301 026
P0014226

Page: 1(1)

Volvo Penta has changed the recommendation for oil
quality in S-drives.

S-drives manufactured September 2010 onwards will
have a sticker with the information "SAE 15W-40
ONLY" attached in connection to the oil filler.
Older drives have a sticker with the text "ATF OIL
ONLY".

Volvo Penta recommends that all S-drives change
from ATF oil to engine oil SAE 15W-40 at next oil
change.

It is possible to replace oil without laying up the boat,
pelase refer to the Operator’s Manual. However, with
this method some ATF oil will remain in the stern drive.

For problems concerning sliding / delayed engagement
Volvo Penta recommend change of disk package
and replacing the oil with engine oil SAE 15W-40.

IMPORTANT!
Gear when sailing

When sailing, set the control lever to reverse if a folding
propeller is fitted.
If a fixed propeller is fitted the control lever should be
set in neutral or reverse. When using a fixed propeller
and sailing with the control lever set to reverse the
speed is slowed down though less noise is being
made.

 
Volvo leg saildrive 120SE

Well posted Geoid96.
As I have Volvo ATF in the 120SE for a few years, boatyard filled it with 15/40 engine oil initially, but the oil came out to see me on French Canals when constant running in warm intake water made oil escape due to boiling I presume, something that the more expensive Volvo supplied lubricant does not do!No doubt it gets just as hot, but does not overflow.Big thanks to all especially VicS who usually has the full story about these mysterious changes in production.
 
For clarification, in the 120 model it was only the 120S-E that required gear oil, not the 120S-D which used engine oil.
I had heard it said that if the leg has been run for years on gear oil, it would be better to stick with it rather than change now. Do you have a view on this, Vic?
 
Do you have a view on this, Vic?
No.

I have no idea what differences there are in the gearboxes that would dictate what type of oil should be used.

I assume the gear oil is an EP oil. (I think GL5 oils are EP oils) Maybe there is some reason why that is specified for the 120S-E.
 
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