What oil is this?

[wiggy]

A Christmas quiz-
Clues
1. t's in my volvo saildrive
2. Its thick
3. It's red

I think the wrong oil was put in by the last owner. It should be the same as the engine oil but obviously isn't, can I top it up and mix engine oil with what's in at the moment?

 

[FlyingDutchman]

If it is red, I would think it is ATF, but ATF is not very thick?
I would drain it, flush it an put in the correct oil. ATF and engine oil is quite different stuff.

 

[nathanglasgow]

ATF maybe

 

[Quandary]

Does anyone know why Volvo decided to change the recommended oil for recent saildrives from ATF to engine oil.
Is there an important issue or is it just convenience, they have not gone out of their way to publicize the change to owners or dealers which implies it may not be that vital. I have enough ATF in the garage for at least two more changes and it not much use for anything else except starting bonfires so as a cheapskate I am tempted to use it up before switching.

 

[Tranona]

As you may recall I had a new 130 leg installed last August (2010) filled with ATF. The change in recommendation came around October. I asked the Volvo dealer that installed it to change the oil this year when they serviced the engine. Replaced it with ATF! Needs draining from the bottom to refill with engine oil. Suggests it is more convenience - dealer had no more information than the service bulletin.

 

[Skylark]

If it is red, I would think it is ATF, but ATF is not very thick?
I would drain it, flush it an put in the correct oil. ATF and engine oil is quite different stuff.

+1

 

[emsworthy]

FWIW my Lombardini saildrive leg is identical to the Volvo in almost every respect and the service manual has always recommended the same oil as the engine and I've never had a problem.

 

[FlyingDutchman]

And be careful, ATF on your hands make them red an itching for weeks (at least on my hands)!

 

[vyv_cox]

3. It's red

Don't go to Belgium with it just in case

Most ATFs nowadays are synthetic hydrocarbon oils with a very heavy additive loading, especially high-sulphur boundary lubricants to cope with the demands of brake bands in automatic gearboxes. ATF will mix quite happily with engine oil, or gearbox oils. Is it possible that your previous owner has topped up with gear oil, which would account for the high viscosity and, assuming an imperfect drain of the ATF, the colour?

I cannot suggest a reason why Volvo have chosen to change from ATF except perhaps cost (although that doesn't seem to be something that concerns Volvo) or perhaps that it is more susceptible to degradation when contaminated with water? I believe that seal composition is more critical for ATF, which might be another consideration.

 

[VicS]

A Christmas quiz-
Clues
1. t's in my volvo saildrive
2. Its thick
3. It's red

I think the wrong oil was put in by the last owner. It should be the same as the engine oil but obviously isn't, can I top it up and mix engine oil with what's in at the moment?

All the spec for Volvo saildrives from 100S onwards now calls for the same oil as the engine except 120S-E which uses a synthetic GL5 75W-90 gear oil.

Not knowing what is in there is a good reason to drain and refill with the correct oil IMO.

 

[Kilter]

If it is red, I would think it is ATF, but ATF is not very thick?
I would drain it, flush it an put in the correct oil. ATF and engine oil is quite different stuff.

+1

 

[Plevier]

I believe that VP used to specify Dexron II or III.
Those are now obsolete specs not supported or controlled by GM therefore not officially available.
GM's new fluid Dexron VI is apparently not recommended for (some) manual gearboxes. I have no idea why, I just happened on this bulletin from Cadillac:

http://www.cadillacfaq.com/faq/tsb/data/pip3836.pdf

"If fluid part number 88861800 U.S. (88861801 Canada) is unavailable when servicing a manual
transmission or transfer case, Dexron III can be used in it's place. DO NOT use Dexron VI in place of
the manual transmission fluid in any manual transmissions or transfer cases as a failure may result."

This might explain the change do you think?

 

[vyv_cox]

"If fluid part number 88861800 U.S. (88861801 Canada) is unavailable when servicing a manual
transmission or transfer case, Dexron III can be used in it's place. DO NOT use Dexron VI in place of
the manual transmission fluid in any manual transmissions or transfer cases as a failure may result."

This might explain the change do you think?

That's an interesting one. The Dexron VI data sheet says:
Warranty and Protection Requirements
Exceeds all passenger car and light truck manufacturer's warranty requirements for vehicles, transmissions or power steering service where a DEXRONR-VI, DEXRONR, DEXRONR-III H, III, IIE and II type ATF is specified.

Another example in which a new oil that supposedly exceeds the requirements of all the previous 'old' specifications is found by experience to be not so superior after all. Parallels the API CD engine oil replacements, which say virtually the same thing.