Yanmar Saildrive - oil change

[Skylark]

My new boat has a Yanmar saildrive. I have a couple of queries and I hope the experience of the panel can help me.

The manual suggests the preferred method to drain the old used is to blow it out with compressed air at 0.5 to 1.0 bar. It shows a couple of M10 fittings to facilitate this. It does also suggest that the (more usual) method of using a suction pump is an acceptable alternative.

Does anyone use the compressed air method? Any worthwhile tips to share?

Any difficulties in using the suction method (I have a Draper electric suction pump)?

Secondly, the manual says that QuickSilver High Performance Gear Oil must be used. E-bay sells this at about £20 a litre. Anyone found a better value source? 5 litres, for example?

Many thanks for any help.

 

[srah1953]

I don't really have any advice to offer. I thought about this when I got my boat a couple of years ago. I decided that, as I was going to lift the boat out once a year for anti-fouling, the easiest thing would be just to drain the saildrive through the bottom plug when the boat is out of the water.
As for Quicksilver, I decided that it would be best to buy the recommended stuff rather than invalidate the warranty. Although, I imagine that if you got a local mechanic to service the engine, it is most unlikely they would use Quicksilver.

 

[savageseadog]

I wouldn't bother unless there's water in it. Gear oil doesn't degrade

 

[Halo]

Hi David
I could not understand the blow out method from my manual (Sd20 2006) so I drained it through the bottom plug when she was on the hard.
It took ages to drain as the oil is thick so I put an old bucket on a block to catch the oil - if not the thin line of oil dropping from the drain may blow about.
I drained the oil several times on successive visits and each time I got more out and refillled before re launch
My manual is Ok with EP80w90 type oil and I have used castrol
Is the drive new? If so definately stick with what they recommend and make a note in your diary to change the A and B seals at 5 years - if you PM me I can send you some info I my own expereinces changing the seals
cheers
Martin

 

[Skylark]

Many thanks for your responses, much appreciated.

The boat is brand new with an SD50 Yanmar sail drive. It's now done 50 hours and the manual says change the oil. It specifically says that QuickSilver liquid gold must be used (£20 a litre!). It needs to be changed (actually already done 60+ hours on the maiden voyage from Hamble to Holyhead) before the end of season haul out. I don't like the thought of blowing it out, too high a risk of finding a leak path, in my view.

I think I'll get her nice and warm and use my 12v suction pump.

(Martin, pm sent)