WHat Gear oils should i use for VOlvo Penta SX drive 1:51

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richtayrich

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Hi Everyone, looking for advice as looking to do my first Gear oil change myself rather than pay someone else to do it.

What would you recommend as the gear oil ot pu tin this drive as have read / heard conflicting advice

I was going to purchase the Volvo Penta spec @ approx £19 per litre, but was told rock oil gear oil is just as good and half th eprice..
Any views?
Thanks
 
But they do specify the additives that go in their oil to protect the drive, whether that is any better than other cheaper same spec oil is another question, for me I stick with the manufacturer's oil which is not a huge cost anyway.
 
Scubadoo said:
But they do specify the additives that go in their oil to protect the drive, whether that is any better than other cheaper same spec oil is another question, for me I stick with the manufacturer's oil which is not a huge cost anyway.
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+1. Just had the bill for my recent drive service undertaken by an official VP service centre and the cost of the drive oil was €21 + VAT. You might be able to get an off the shelf oil cheaper but you can't guarantee that it has the same additives that VP specify and the cost saving is likely to be less than the cost of a pint. And one day when you change the oil and see water in there (it will happen) you'll be kicking yourself if you scrimped and bought the cheaper stuff.
 
6.5yrs on my old SX drive running std off the shelf 75/90 syn trans oil no issues at all.
Cant remember if it was Castrol/Taxaco?
 
CLB said:
I was wondering the same. That can't be genuine oil per drive at that price. Either per litre or they used non-genuine.

Or it could be that he is only seeing his share of the bill :D
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Sorry chaps, just checked and you are indeed correct. That price was for a litre and it would appear that you need 3 litres a side so still not a kings ransom (particularly when one only pays a third :)).
 
Very simple solution here, look up the specifications, VP do not produce oil or add their additives to it, they have several suppliers who do it for them.

Checking the specifications will confirm which oils meet the specifications and you have your answer, and minus the VP margins.
 
Assassin said:
Very simple solution here, look up the specifications, VP do not produce oil or add their additives to it, they have several suppliers who do it for them.

Checking the specifications will confirm which oils meet the specifications and you have your answer, and minus the VP margins.
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And minus the additives, bit of a false economy in my opinion.
 
MartynG said:
What are the additives that VP allegedly include?
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Water repelant is mentioned in the product data unless you know otherwise ? if the cheaper non branded oils claim to be same spec then fine but the data sheet should confirm if they have the same additives.
 
Provided the oil meets the SAE oil viscosity and API service classification specified by the engine/gearbox manufacturer, that's all that matters.
 
Boat2016 said:
Water repelant is mentioned in the product data unless you know otherwise ? if the cheaper non branded oils claim to be same spec then fine but the data sheet should confirm if they have the same additives.
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I don't know otherwise
But looking for a reference to the additives - I have not found a data sheet for the VP oil
 
AllanG said:
Provided the oil meets the SAE oil viscosity and API service classification specified by the engine/gearbox manufacturer, that's all that matters.
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So if the addittive is there or not it doesn’t matter then ? Makes me wonder why its used then.
 
My take on it is this; if VP put something special in their gear oil I feel that they would then give it their own spec, like they do with engine oil and their VDS spec. As it stands, the only spec they list is something like GL5 75w/90. There are plenty of oils out there that meet these specs and I am happy to use them. The talk of water repellant is vague at best. I have used both, and had water in both, and there doesn't appear to be much difference in the way they emulsify.
 
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