Out Drive Oil

jlwest63

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Aug 30, 2004
Messages
41
Is there a special 80/90 oil to use in the drive or can you use just regular gear oil?<br />Thanks
 

Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
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Aug 31, 2004
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62,321
Re: Out Drive Oil

What are you putting it in? Volvo, Omc, Mercruiser??<br />Using the lube recommended by the manufacture is cheaper than replacing the drive. But I guess you can try anyting you want to find out if it works "As Good" as what the manufacturer recommends.<br />If it breaks, just put on a new drive and try a different oil. No problem.
 

TheOilDoc

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Sep 26, 2004
Messages
233
Re: Out Drive Oil

Excellent advice.<br /><br />If you are going to use aftermarket gear oil, I suggest you use one that is specified for marine applications. Marine gear lubes will contain the necessary additives and properties for marine use.<br /><br />There is a thread here titled "question for lubedude" that may help you. Member LubeDude claims Amsoil and many other synthetic marine gear oils are just re-labeled synthetic automotive gear oils. But that hasn't been shown to be true. I suggest you use a marine gear oil over an automotive gear oil.
 

jlwest63

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Aug 30, 2004
Messages
41
Re: Out Drive Oil

Thanks for the advise. I will put in the oil for the marine applacation. <br /><br />Don,<br />Thanks for what ever you call that. I am new to boating and simply asked a question. I do not have an owners manual so I am not sure what the recomendations are. Maybe next time I post a question if you don't actually have a answer without the snide comments you don't post one at all, k?<br /><br />Jim
 

Don S

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Re: Out Drive Oil

With all the posts of people trying to use cheaper oil, what do you expect.<br />Besides, you still haven't said what kind of drive you have so it will be impossible for anyone to say what kind of lube you should use.
 

lakelivin

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Aug 19, 2004
Messages
1,172
Re: Out Drive Oil

JL,<br /><br />I'm fairly new to these forums and have noted that Don can get kind of cranky from time to time. But I've also noted that he passes on some very good info and suspect his impatientce has something to do with incomplete or often repeated questions and the large number of posts he replies to.<br /><br />Plus if you scan some of the "oil" posts like the one mentioned by theoildoc you'll see that oil has been a very touchy subject on these boards!<br /><br />Anyways, don't take it personally. I suspect that if you keep using this forum there will come a time when Don will provide advice you find really helpful.
 

cmyers_uk

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
May 4, 2004
Messages
760
Re: Out Drive Oil

If you dont have a owners manual get one they really are invaluable, as is, if you stay on this board Don's advice. <br /><br />If you read his reply again and do what it says i.e use what the manufacturer recommends you may spend more but you wont go wrong. <br /><br />If your drive is a Volvo Penta SX-M thats either Mobilube 1 SHC SAE 75W-90 or Volvo Penta Synthetic Gearcase Lubricant. If you drive is not a VP sorry just took a guess
 

jlwest63

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Aug 30, 2004
Messages
41
Re: Out Drive Oil

The drive is a merc 470. The drive does not really matter as the question was general. Do you use a special 80/90 oil in the drive or regular gear oil. Since it is a "special" oil and not just rear end lube I will go to my boat shop to get it and they can tell me what I need. Not that you all can't but why bother when I have to got there anyway.<br /><br />Yes I should have done a search first. How about this, if you see a question asked a thousand times, don't answer. The poster will then do a search and find alot of info about it. <br /><br />Flame away.
 

tommays

Admiral
Joined
Jul 4, 2004
Messages
6,768
Re: Out Drive Oil

jw<br /><br />if you took the time to read the posting instructions and listed the brand model and year of your drive you might have gotten a better answer<br /><br />or if you did even a simple search you question is answered about 100 times<br /><br />if you cant take the good with the bad it is hard to post in a public fourm<br /><br />tommays
 

tommays

Admiral
Joined
Jul 4, 2004
Messages
6,768
Re: Out Drive Oil

jw<br /><br />again if you took the time to say that you had a merc gen i drive you would have gotten and answer <br /><br />your not being flamed your being shown how to post a question so someone can answer it<br /><br /><br />tommays
 

Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Aug 31, 2004
Messages
62,321
Re: Out Drive Oil

Your Mercruiser 470 Alpha style drive should use Mercruiser Hi-Performance gear lube.<br /><br />Merc Lubes <br /><br />See what you get when you post the type engine and drive you have.
 

Scaaty

Vice Admiral
Joined
May 31, 2004
Messages
5,180
Re: Out Drive Oil

Originally posted by jlwest63:<br /> Flame away.
This is an opinion board, and sometimes ya might not like the opinion you get. But the more information, the better the opinion. And a little humility does wonders. And some of us have bad days. When I had to put my 9 year old Golden Retriever down with cancer in July, I was a little intolerant (to say the least) of anything anyone said that what I thought was stupid, etc. Not a good time to deal with me. But this is the BEST run forum of any I have seen. Some people will give out knowledge that took YEARS to learn, and would charge you hundreds at their place of work behind the counter or under the hood/cowling. But back to the original question, best to get a manual, and keep all receipts for the next owner to show what was done (plus write down ALL parts numbers). Keep a log. And the best advice I can give is to stop here before you shut down the puter and just read one question and the answers per day. Amazing what you will learn. Especially about the dreaded oil "question".
 

jlwest63

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Aug 30, 2004
Messages
41
Re: Out Drive Oil

Don S. Thanks for the info. <br /><br /><br />I am going to drop this at this point so this does not go any farther then it has already.<br />Thanks
 
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