Drive Oil question:

Dirtythirty

Changing my drive oil this weekend and the Volvo Penta service manual calls (of course) for Volvo Penta 75W-90 Synthetic drive oil.  This stuff is $92/gallon and I need 8 gallons.  My question is...there are other manufactures that make fully synthetic 75W-90 at a much lower cost (Including Mobil 1). My boat is long out of warranty so that is not an issue, but I have learned the hard way that Volvo Penta parts are RIDICULOUSLY overpriced.   Any thoughts ?

Liberty44140

Hey Dirty! Man I was with my Volvo tech all afternoon Friday and would have asked him. He was fine with the aftermarket belts and oil filters I had bought, he could tell they were the same as Volvo and Volvo probably just relabeled what I’d bought. He also has no issue with shell rotella in my D6s vs the Volvo oil. Are you on boatdiesel.com? I’d think that this has to be a topic on there? 

Dirtythirty

Liberty44140 Yes...I've been using Rotella for years...no issue there. I do believe this stuff all comes out of one big giant vat and is re-labled prior to shipping.  Just trying to save some $$ as the VP prices are are crazy.

Liberty44140

Completely agree. I’ve saved a ton buying aftermarket filters and belts from the UK. only $20 for DHL.

Here is a link to a thread on the ips lube:

https://boatdiesel.com/Forums/index.cfm?CFAPP=0&Forum_ID=622&Thread_ID=62812&Search=2&SR=1

Handymans342

Gear oil is gear oil

Handymans342

John41

I don’t think you will need 8 gallons 

RiverRat232

John41 said:

I don’t think you will need 8 gallons 

Right. Maybe 8 quarts to cover both drives. Including the reservoir, my Bravo 3 holds 3 quarts.

earl1z19

At the cost of fuel and other petroleum products it might be best to get 8 gallons now cause it isn't going to get any cheaper for the foreseeable future

Liberty44140

Guys he is not talking about stern drives, he is talking about Volvo IPS Pod's. 8 gallons is correct. 

Dirtythirty

John41:  3.7 gallons per side...

davidbrooks

Dang.  That's an oil change.

Black_Diamond

FYI: "Gear oil" is not "Gear oil".  You need to look at the API/Mil spec callout for compatibility, not just the viscosity rating...for these drives you need API GL-4/5
MIL-L-2105.

Good example is the Mobilube HD Plus 80W-90..NOT for API GL-4 applications.

Same for engine oils...wrong oil specifications can lead to significant issues.

Dirtythirty

Thanks all for your input...I ended up calling the Mobil Lubricants Consumer Assistance desk in Texas, and they gave me an immediate answer.  The Delvac 1 75W-90 is a direct replacement for the Volvo Penta oil at half the price.

Liberty44140

Awesome dirty! That boatdiesel thread recommended that oil, and an offset from Amsoil.