VP gearbox oil

[homer]

I have a VP MD22l with a VP reverse gearbox. On the gearbox is a sticker which says USE ONLY VOLVO PENTA SYNTHETIC TRANSMISSION OIL. But in the manual, is says use "same as engine" oil. And for the engine, it specifies CC or CD (or equivalent) which is non-synthetic. Cannot both be right so can anyone advise me which it should be?

 

[fastjedi]

Not sure about your gearbox .... but Volvo have just issued a bulletin for my S130 advising 15/40 motor oil (rather than the Volvo Automatic Transmission Fluid previously recommended) I wonder if this may be true for your gearbox too?

 

[Heckler]

I have a VP MD22l with a VP reverse gearbox. On the gearbox is a sticker which says USE ONLY VOLVO PENTA SYNTHETIC TRANSMISSION OIL. But in the manual, is says use "same as engine" oil. And for the engine, it specifies CC or CD (or equivalent) which is non-synthetic. Cannot both be right so can anyone advise me which it should be?

Ok
you have an MS2 gear box, they used to say engine oil, then they changed to synthetic 75 - 90. Go with what it says on the box. I said bollo x to the expensive VP synthetic and put ord car 75 - 90 semi synthetic in two years ago. It had stinky hypoid in when I bought her. It is an MD22 same as yours.
Stu

 

[haydude]

Not sure about your gearbox .... but Volvo have just issued a bulletin for my S130 advising 15/40 motor oil (rather than the Volvo Automatic Transmission Fluid previously recommended) I wonder if this may be true for your gearbox too?

Oh cra....p! Please could you point me to the bulletin? I have an S130 and I just filled it with ATF oil (as recommended by the manual).

 

[Quandary]

Not sure about your gearbox .... but Volvo have just issued a bulletin for my S130 advising 15/40 motor oil (rather than the Volvo Automatic Transmission Fluid previously recommended) I wonder if this may be true for your gearbox too?

Another shocked owner, have searched VP sites for the bulletin you refer to but can only find PDFs referring to the original ATF spec. Can you give the date or reference for the bulletin, PLEASE? I presume the leg will need to be flushed with something when changing over?
Found an interesting explanation of the confusion between engine oil and synthetic gear oil for the 120, apparently it does not matter unless the engine exceeds 50hp.

 

[haydude]

Found an interesting explanation of the confusion between engine oil and synthetic gear oil for the 120, apparently it does not matter unless the engine exceeds 50hp.

Please could you report that explanation? My engine exceeds 50hp, which oil then for an S130?

 

[Playtime]

I've got an MD22L with 120SE saildrive. The sticker says GL5 75W/90 synthetic, but this is £19.95 per litre from the local Volvo agent (and it needs almost 3L).

I've just drained/refilled with Halfords GL5 75W/90 part synthetic at £9.95 per litre.

Time will tell if saving £30 on cheap(er) oil is sensible long term (but I wouldn't have done it if I was worried).

 

[Cantata]

For those not seen it before, there's a listing here of oils for Volvo outdrives and saildrives, but it doesn't help the OP's request. And as it's dated 2006 it doesn't show this recommended change on oil for the S130 either.
Apart from that, it's really useful...
http://www.volvopenta.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/Penta/Misc/drive_1_oil_rec_7745608.pdf

 

[Monique]

Ok
you have an MS2 gear box, they used to say engine oil, then they changed to synthetic 75 - 90. Go with what it says on the box. I said bollo x to the expensive VP synthetic and put ord car 75 - 90 semi synthetic in two years ago. It had stinky hypoid in when I bought her. It is an MD22 same as yours.
Stu

Same for me... TMD 22.... (turboed). Doing the 75/90 semi synthetic.

As an aside, I use mineral oil in the engine ISO synthetic. Because it had not bedded in in 900 hours of use by the PO. Was burning 1 liter/5 hours. Now down to 1 liter every 100 hours. Then I change the oil.

I intend to go back to synthetic perhaps next year.

 

[Quandary]

Fastjedi's warning about the 130S saildrive

Please could you report that explanation? My engine exceeds 50hp, which oil then for an S130?

Sorry Haydude, I am just adding to the confusion while trying to be brief.
Like you, I have the S130 drive and have been happily using ATF as advised in the manual, that is until I read Fastjedi's post above. I was searching for the bulletin he refers to using google without success so I am hoping he will come back to tell us where to find the info. soon.
What I found while searching, was an explanation of why some S120 saildrives have one oil spec. on the label and a different one in the handbook, it was a scandanavian owners forum (Scanmarin or similar) and seemed authoritative but unfortunately I did not bookmark it.

 

[Stork_III]

Sorry Haydude, I am just adding to the confusion while trying to be brief.
Like you, I have the S130 drive and have been happily using ATF as advised in the manual, that is until I read Fastjedi's post above. I was searching for the bulletin he refers to using google without success so I am hoping he will come back to tell us where to find the info. soon.
What I found while searching, was an explanation of why some S120 saildrives have one oil spec. on the label and a different one in the handbook, it was a scandanavian owners forum (Scanmarin or similar) and seemed authoritative but unfortunately I did not bookmark it.

Is this the one you found? http://www.scanner391.net/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?17 Perhaps not as it references YBW?

 

[Cantata]

........What I found while searching, was an explanation of why some S120 saildrives have one oil spec. on the label and a different one in the handbook, it was a scandanavian owners forum (Scanmarin or similar) and seemed authoritative but unfortunately I did not bookmark it.

It's because there are different types of 120S and, as shown in the V-P document referred to in my earlier post, the 120SE takes the ATF oil, the others take engine oil.

 

[fastjedi]

Group
44-1

Number
85

Version
2

Changed oil quality recomendation for S-drives
130S-A, 130S-B, 130SR-A, 130SR-B, 150S-A, 150S-B, 150SR-A, 150SR-B

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, please refer to the Operator’s Manual. However, with this method some ATF oil will remain in the stern drive.

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.

 

[homer]

Thanks for the feedback - I hope that raising this didn't cause anyone too much grief!

 

[Quandary]

Thank you, Fastjedi, all is now clear,
their advice seems to suggest that there is no need to flush when changing. Typical of VP, if engine oil is suitable why could they not say that from the start?
Anyone want a gallon of ATF?

 

[fastjedi]

..... anyone want a second gallon of ATF

 

[lessherry]

Volvo Saildrive 130S Oil Specification Change

Hello All
The only thing I can add to this thread is that I have just been to my Volvo dealer to buy ATF Dextron II, III oil for my D1-30/130S Saildrive also to be told to use Volvo VDS-2 15W40 engine oil instead. They also advised draining the ATF and flushing with 1 litre of engine oil before filling. I asked if there was a reference bulletin only to be told they could not find it. From past experience you will get nothing out of Volvo either. I intend to play safe and continue to use ATF until Volvo or their dealer can give me something in writing.
Regards Les Sherry