Volvo Saildrive oil slightly over filled - should I Pela?

[RichardS]

The saildrive in question is a Volvo Penta one so what you both do with your Yanmars is irrelevant

Which sail-drives do you have ?

Do you seriously think that I am going to answer any more of your questions after being spoken to like that?

Richard

 

[VicS]

Do you seriously think that I am going to answer any more of your questions after being spoken to like that?

Richard

I 'm not surprised you didn't answer the question

 

[Halo]

Volvo will, almost certainly, simply quote from the manual as manufacturers are normally only interested in covering their backsides.

It's the expansion and contraction of the air inside the sail-drive that is the problem, not the lubricant. A vent in the cap would solve the problem although I don't believe that any sail-drives include such a thing, perhaps because there are downsides.

Richard

Richard
I think that if the seals are gone on the shaft and water is getting in then a hole in the dipstick could allow oil and then water to leak into the boat. Put the other way round the seal of the dipstick cap limits the water that will get into a sail drive with leaky shaft seals. No way would I be making a vent or leaving the cap loose.
Before I changed the shaft seal (and all the others) on my SD20 there was a slight hiss every time I unscrewed the dip stick cap which helped me realise the nature of the problem.
all the best
Halo

 

[RichardS]

I 'm not surprised you didn't answer the question

See post #13 as proof of what good manners can achieve.

Richard

 

[RichardS]

Richard
I think that if the seals are gone on the shaft and water is getting in then a hole in the dipstick could allow oil and then water to leak into the boat. Put the other way round the seal of the dipstick cap limits the water that will get into a sail drive with leaky shaft seals. No way would I be making a vent or leaving the cap loose.
Before I changed the shaft seal (and all the others) on my SD20 there was a slight hiss every time I unscrewed the dip stick cap which helped me realise the nature of the problem.
all the best
Halo

I totally agree with everything you say, including the hiss and what that indicates. My understanding is that Volvo and Yanmar are identical in this respect.

Richard

 

[MagicalArmchair]

Thanks all. To be on the safe side, I'll suck some more oil out next time I'm down and edge it away from the full mark.

Volvo were as much use as a chocolate teapot - They told me to talk to a Volvo dealer to get advice on "price quotes, technical support, service, parts or accessories", you would have thought they would have specialists who would be able to advise about their own products directly? Shell, for instance, have answered very detailed questions about their oils as the manufacturer, without deferring to their distribution chain. Ho hum.

 

[MagicalArmchair]

I had a response from Volvo, so I retract the above. Once through the gate keeper, they have given me a sensible response.

Dear Mr Ryan

We are not aware of any issues with filling to full mark on Saildrive 120.

Technically one could argue with any sealed drive unit that has more oil and less air, means more pressure as it gets warm. Conversely, less oil means it has more work to do and slightly higher temp and breaks down faster.

Our advice is to fill to the level as stated in the Operator’s Manual. Attached, as an example, the page from the Manual 7738914 (engine series MD2010, 2020, 2030, 2040)

I will respond and ask if there is a chance of over pressurising the system if the oil is on MAX.

 

[RichardS]

I had a response from Volvo, so I retract the above. Once through the gate keeper, they have given me a sensible response.

Dear Mr Ryan

We are not aware of any issues with filling to full mark on Saildrive 120.

Technically one could argue with any sealed drive unit that has more oil and less air, means more pressure as it gets warm. Conversely, less oil means it has more work to do and slightly higher temp and breaks down faster.

Our advice is to fill to the level as stated in the Operator’s Manual. Attached, as an example, the page from the Manual 7738914 (engine series MD2010, 2020, 2030, 2040)

I will respond and ask if there is a chance of over pressurising the system if the oil is on MAX.

I'm rather surprised that you ever managed to get that response Mark. Well done.

However, Volvo have actually given you the answer. Less oil = less pressure.

Although they suggest less oil also equals more wear this is a red herring as the oil in sail-drives is very low stressed and a modern oil can take such use in its stride. What actually cripples sail-drives and means that an oil change becomes necessary long before the oil is mechanically degraded is sea water ingress. Anything which help prevent such ingress is to be embraced .... and Volvo have addressed that.

Richard