[Anonymous]

Dear All

I’m in a bit of a quandary! I’ve always used ATF (auto transmission fluid, coloured red) in the saildrive of my 2002 B32 (Volvo 2020D engine) with no apparent ill effects. Recently I’ve become aware of another viewpoint which says engine oil, not ATF, is the correct lubricant to use. I’ve checked the Penta website which appears to confirm that engine oil is correct. After some 1000hrs of running on ATF with no apparent ill effects, should I change?

Answers on a postcard….

Ian Culley B32 ‘Another Fantasy’

[Anonymous]

Hi Ian,

Why not simply do what Volvo advises?

Not that I suspect there is anything wrong with what you’re doing now, but the official approach has the added bonus of being cheaper and easier, since I now use and carry spares of the same oil for both the engine and SD.

Volvo’s change to this recommendation happened, as I recall, about 4 years ago…

Riyad
s/v Battuta
Vancouver, Canada

[Anonymous]

Ian. There was a technical bulletin some time ago. Do a Google search………….. All sail drives after a certain date should be using the same oil as the engine. If in any doubt ring RK marine.

Best regards.

Ant.

[Author]

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