Pennzoil Marine 80W90 Gear Lube

[hvluve]

Can I use Pennzoil Marine 80W90 Gear Lube on Mercruiser Alpha One Drive?

My Engine is 3.0 Mercruiser I/O

 

[Fordiesel69]

Re: Pennzoil Marine 80W90 Gear Lube

Yes. These drives are not picky.

What is more important is you change it when water intrustion occurs, or every season.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Pennzoil Marine 80W90 Gear Lube

I recommend Amsoil marine gear lube myself. the factory Mercruiser stuff would separate and plug up the remote reservoir

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Pennzoil Marine 80W90 Gear Lube

... the factory Mercruiser stuff would separate and plug up the remote reservoir

Another good thing about the above Pennzoil lube, it doesn't do that. Especially if you drain it every year, like you are supposed to,

 

[hvluve]

Re: Pennzoil Marine 80W90 Gear Lube

Reason I asked b/c I watched on Youtube and never see anyone use Pennzoil Marine 80W90 Gear Lube. Most of them use Mercury Precision High Perform Gear Lube.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Pennzoil Marine 80W90 Gear Lube

I used Pennzoil marine gear lube in my Bravo 3 for 8 years and 600 hours. The reason people use the Mercury/Mercruiser stuff is because that
is what their dealer sells.

 

[Volphin]

Re: Pennzoil Marine 80W90 Gear Lube

Or any good 80W90. Pssst. The lube doesn't know it's marine. It is a gearcase. Treat it as such.

V

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Pennzoil Marine 80W90 Gear Lube

Or any good 80W90. Pssst. The lube doesn't know it's marine. It is a gearcase. Treat it as such.

V

Pssst... yes, the friction modifiers do.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Pennzoil Marine 80W90 Gear Lube

Pssst... yes, the friction modifiers do.

Marine gear lubricant is not so much different due to the friction modifiers as much as it's more related to how it handles water contamination.

Mercury indicates that their HP drive lubricant has been tested at up to 10% water intrusion with minimal reduction in lubrication ability etc as does other Marine oil manufacturers like AMSOIL and/or others.

Now, is any of this stuff true? .......hard to say ......... but most gear lubricant manufacturers for axles and transmissions don't mention anything about water intrusion.



So, for the original poster,

Can I use Pennzoil Marine 80W90 Gear Lube on Mercruiser Alpha One Drive?

Yes. (and you can use any other "Marine" gear lube and still sleep at night..........AND you can probably use ANY gear lube and not hurt a thing!!)

 

[Don S]

Re: Pennzoil Marine 80W90 Gear Lube

You have only 2 choices really.

1. What the manufacturer suggests.
2. What some forum poster with unknown qualifications suggests, Which is usually a "I use __fill in the blank__ gear lube and it works for me." type post.

Your talking just over a quart of oil per year. You probably spend more than that per year in beer.

 

[hvluve]

Re: Pennzoil Marine 80W90 Gear Lube

Can I use this for Power Trim?

 

[Don S]

Re: Pennzoil Marine 80W90 Gear Lube

No, way too thick.
10W30 motor oil is what Mercruiser suggests if you don't have their trim&tilt fluid.

Before this goes to far, what year is this Mercruiser? You have been asked in a previous threads, but you don't seem to ever answer questions posed to you.

Forums are like a conversation between friends, two way conversation. Not just a you ask we answer type setup.

 

[hvluve]

Re: Pennzoil Marine 80W90 Gear Lube

Sorry, I didn't see someone post question about the year. My motor year is 1990. 115H.P.

 

[Volphin]

Re: Pennzoil Marine 80W90 Gear Lube

You have only 2 choices really.

1. What the manufacturer suggests.
2. What some forum poster with unknown qualifications suggests, Which is usually a "I use __fill in the blank__ gear lube and it works for me." type post.

Your talking just over a quart of oil per year. You probably spend more than that per year in beer.

Ah, the voice of reason.

As far as the water intrusion/lubricity issue, I have yet to find an ASTM approved methodology and testing method for such a claim.

V

 

[bnicov]

Re: Pennzoil Marine 80W90 Gear Lube

What does the guy that built the outdrive say it needs??? I think Mr. Merc knows better than Pennzoil Amsoil or anyone else what is needed. Use what he says and you should be fine.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Pennzoil Marine 80W90 Gear Lube

Ah, the voice of reason.

As far as the water intrusion/lubricity issue, I have yet to find an ASTM approved methodology and testing method for such a claim.

V

Well, the internet is your friend!

The standard lubricity test for oil is D-4172 (sliding contact)

Other voices of reason would say that the "test" is the same one (since the claim is "no significant change in lubricity")


There are tests for water contamination:

1. Water Separability Characteristics of Petroleum and Synthetic Fluids ASTM D1401

2. Demulsibility Characteristics of Lubricating Oils ASTM D2711


These tests determine how the oil separates FROM water.



Neither Mercury nor Amsoil (or anyone else) indicate that they do these tests. (I'll bet they do though)



Amsoil though, DOES use ASTM D-3233"Measurement of Extreme Pressure Properties of Fluid Lubricants
(Falex Pin and Vee Block Methods)"

And posts results with no water and 10% water contamination.



I think Mercury does the same.....they say:

Specifically formulated to help prevent failures due to water entering the gear housing.

Which probably means they do the same standard test with 10% water in the oil.


Truth be known, I would say that most ALL of the gear lubricants probably exhibit similar performance with 10% water contamination.


If you see contamination in the oil, ALWAYS change it. EVERYBODY agrees on this point!

 

[Volphin]

Re: Pennzoil Marine 80W90 Gear Lube

Well, the internet is your friend!

The standard lubricity test for oil is D-4172 (sliding contact)

Other voices of reason would say that the "test" is the same one (since the claim is "no significant change in lubricity")


There are tests for water contamination:

1. Water Separability Characteristics of Petroleum and Synthetic Fluids ASTM D1401

2. Demulsibility Characteristics of Lubricating Oils ASTM D2711


These tests determine how the oil separates FROM water.



Neither Mercury nor Amsoil (or anyone else) indicate that they do these tests. (I'll bet they do though)



Amsoil though, DOES use ASTM D-3233"Measurement of Extreme Pressure Properties of Fluid Lubricants
(Falex Pin and Vee Block Methods)"

And posts results with no water and 10% water contamination.



I think Mercury does the same.....they say: Which probably means they do the same standard test with 10% water in the oil.


Truth be known, I would say that most ALL of the gear lubricants probably exhibit similar performance with 10% water contamination.


If you see contamination in the oil, ALWAYS change it. EVERYBODY agrees on this point!

Agreed and good find! I found one for greases but not lubes. Didn't post it as it was non applicable.

V

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Pennzoil Marine 80W90 Gear Lube

Sorry, I didn't see someone post question about the year. My motor year is 1990. 115H.P.

Um.....back to the original question, What engine is this? 115 sounds a lot like an outboard motor.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Pennzoil Marine 80W90 Gear Lube

the original post is a mercruiser 3.0/alpha 1.

 

[Don S]

Re: Pennzoil Marine 80W90 Gear Lube

Um.....back to the original question, What engine is this? 115 sounds a lot like an outboard motor.