SX Outdrive gear oil

[theprofessordan]

Help, What do you use. Volvo make a 75w-90 gear oil at $15 quart. Some shops tell me only to use the Volvo. Has a rating of API-GL5 and is synthetic.

Royal purple is rated for GL-5 as well as other brands. One shop recommended a Sierra brand gear oil, another Johnson/Evinrude and still another Quicksilver.

What's the real deal?

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: SX Outdrive gear oil

With out getting into a big debate (im sure this will tho) use what ever you like as long as it is marine rated.

 

[Don S]

Re: SX Outdrive gear oil

A GL-5 Synthetic gear lube is what is recommended. The GL-5 spec is not Volvos, It's a standard Gear Lube grade 5 (note the G and L in gear lube) and Volvo recommends synthetic GL-5.
Mercruiser Hi Performance gear lube is a GL-5 rated gear lube, however, I have never seen a synthetic name put on it.
I have used Merc gear lube in my outdrive (Volvo 290DP) and customers drives for years. No problems. The reason I am not real happy about using the Volvo lube, is that when it sets and there is water in the oil, the water seperates and sets in the bottom of the drive on the gears and bearings, if there is enough. With the Merc Hi Perf gear lube, the water mixes and stays mixed (aka milky) so you don't have straight water on the gears. Especially when in salt water, which I was.

 

[theprofessordan]

Re: SX Outdrive gear oil

Sounds good, thanks!!!;

 

[havasuboatman]

Re: SX Outdrive gear oil

Just so ya' know...
Merc hi performance is NOT synthetic. It is the best in my opinion for all of the reasons Don stated.
He neglected to say that it also retails for about $14 a quart. The question you need to ask yourself is this: Are you willing to risk your drive in order to save yourself $ 20 a year? How many years will it take to save enough to replace your drive? 200?