Is this gear lube truly a marine specific gear lube?

[Donzi GT250]

Is this Volvo 75W90 synthetic gear lube truly a marine grade lube?
http://www.volvopentastore.com/Synt...*****.597184247--store_id.366--view_id.345232
I know it has a pic of a boat on the label, but no were on the bottle does it say that in is a marine grade lube.
My understanding is that marine grade gear lubes have additives in them to give better protection in the marine environment in case of water intrusion into the drive.
So what can anybody tell me about this lube.
Thanks

 

[craze1cars]

Re: Is this gear lube truly a marine specific gear lube?

What kind of motor/outdrive are you asking about? Here is a direct quote from my Volvo SX/DP-S service manual:

"Change Lubricant Every 100 Hours or Once Each season. Use Volvo Penta Synthetic Gearcase Lubricant or Mobilube 1 SHC Fully Synthetic SAE 75W-90 gear lubricant."

That VP product you linked to is one of the two very specific acceptable lubricants that Volvo says must be used in these particular outdrives. Keep in mind if your boat is older, many of the older Volvo outdrives actually specified engine motor oil (30 weight, etc). So to directly answer your question, NONE of these lubricants are "marine grade lube," to use your terminology. However, more importantly, these are the exact lubes that Volvo recommends.

If you have water intrusion, and you "change your lube every 100 hours or once every season", and you "Occasionally check oil level in sterndrive" (which is Volvo's other directive), you will discover water intrusion long before you ever have a problem with the water damaging your outdrive...whether the lube you run is "marine grade" or not.

Bear in mind that I have never seen evidence that "marine grade" is a certification that ANY independent entity gives to any particular lubricant. Best I can tell, there is absolutely zero oversight of the use of this term from anyone. If a cut-rate oil manufacturer wants to sell their product to boat-owners, they may simply slap those words on the bottle...which would be far easier than going thru the effort of properly researching and adding any special additives.

Go with manufacturer recommendations and lubricant ratings when choosing lubricants, and completely ignore generic terms such as "marine grade"...which may be entirely meaningless.

 

[Donzi GT250]

Re: Is this gear lube truly a marine specific gear lube?

Thanks for the great explanation.
BTW I am using the Volvo 75w90 synthetic in a newly rebuilt OMC Cobra drive.
The company that did the rebuild gives a two year warranty and strongly recommends and uses the Volvo 75w90 synthetic in all Cobra drives they rebuild.
I don't have a problem with the extra expense of the synthetic gear lube and I change it at least once every 50 hours and I check the gear lube several times a season.


.

 

[Lou C]

Re: Is this gear lube truly a marine specific gear lube?

I have used the Merc Hi Performance Gear Lube in my Cobra for the past 7 years at my mechanic's recommendation, it works fine and is easy to find. Is your Cobra the dog clutch model (86-93) or the later cone clutch model (94 and up)?

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Is this gear lube truly a marine specific gear lube?

Is this Volvo 75W90 synthetic gear lube truly a marine grade lube?
http://www.volvopentastore.com/Synt...*****.597184247--store_id.366--view_id.345232
I know it has a pic of a boat on the label, but no were on the bottle does it say that in is a marine grade lube.
My understanding is that marine grade gear lubes have additives in them to give better protection in the marine environment in case of water intrusion into the drive.
So what can anybody tell me about this lube.
Thanks

To my knowledge, I have only seen 2 manufacturers mention that their gear oil maintains acceptable lubrication when contaminated with water.

Amsoil actually posts their results of standard ASTM tests with and without 10% water contamination.
http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/agm.aspx

Mercury claims that their HP gear lube is "Specifically formulated to help prevent failures due to water entering the gear housing"

They also claim that "no industry-wide standards exist concerning marine gear oils,"

And it appears that Volvo doesn't mention anything about their gear oils with respect to water

I also found that In addition to the FC-W (CAT) marine engine oils, Royal Purple will also introduce their new SAE 80W-90 Gear Lube to the marine product market.....but they didn't say that it's going to be "specially formulated" for marine use......

NMMA doesn't appear to have a Marine grade certification (yet) for hypoid gear oil...... nor does ASTM have standard tests for gear oil specific to a marine environment (unless you do it like Amsoil did in their claimed water contamination tests)


So what's the bottom line? ........Donno.

Change the gear lube when the manufacturer says to and use whatever they suggest and/or Make your own determination.

Cheers,


Rick

 

[Donzi GT250]

Re: Is this gear lube truly a marine specific gear lube?

I have used the Merc Hi Performance Gear Lube in my Cobra for the past 7 years at my mechanic's recommendation, it works fine and is easy to find. Is your Cobra the dog clutch model (86-93) or the later cone clutch model (94 and up)?

1989 dog clutch with 5 degree dogs.

 

[Lou C]

Re: Is this gear lube truly a marine specific gear lube?

Same as mine one year newer, well my mechanic, who I really do trust, put the Merc stuff in it 7 years ago when he resealed it for me, and it has shifted and performed flawlessly for me since then, even being moored in salt water, for 6 months out of the year. I do change the gear oil each season with new drain and fill plug gaskets. I don't know for sure if the Volvo stuff is more formulated for a cone clutch drive, or if it really doesn't matter. I used to use the OMC HI VIS stuff but it was hard to find and my mechanic said he sees less wear on the gears and bearing with the Merc Hi Perf stuff and that's good enough for me......

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Is this gear lube truly a marine specific gear lube?

I went to Amsoil, and wont turn back. This on the suggestion of many hi-perf marine drive builders. I have had issues with the Merc Hi-Perf lube plugging the reservoir lines.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Is this gear lube truly a marine specific gear lube?

I went to Amsoil, and wont turn back. This on the suggestion of many hi-perf marine drive builders. I have had issues with the Merc Hi-Perf lube plugging the reservoir lines.

I did the same thing but only because it was more convenient to obtain from a local Napa

Mercury uses a synthetic formulation that seems to separate when it sits for a LONG time.....and plugs the drive lubricant reservoirs (some sort of "crud" at the bottom of the bottle)

The last Amsoil synthetic (regular) gear lubricant I used in a truck axle did the very same thing. I still have a little left in an Amsoil bottle that separated and has some sort of sediment in the bottom of the bottle. (Just like the Merc HP)

I don't think either brand oil does it in a year. Amsoil recommends changing their oil IAW manufacturers recommendations.

The latest Amsoil marine oil (AGM) I indicated above doesn't appear to "separate".

I guess I'll find out. This is my first time trying it in my Bravo.