v-drive fluid detergent or non detergent

[98outback]

I was thinking about this today as I was buying my fluids. Should we use detergent or non detergent sae 30 in our v-drives or does it matter? I dont really know the difference.

[kaneboats]

What did you buy?

[98outback]

I didnt buy it yet since the place is on my way home from work. I just thought about it.

[brain_rinse]

Non-detergent per the manual

[98outback]

Thanks Brain.


After doing some research I did find that it says to use only non detergent sae30. Why is this? I am going to pick up my non detergent sae30 on the way home today.

My boat is a 203 and is out of warranty but if you had a newer boat and the fluid you used was not non detergent would it void your warranty? Watch out for this people with new boats.

[brain_rinse]

Detergent oil is intended to clean the soot off of internal combustion engine parts and suspend them in the oil until you change it. That's why the oil turns brown. In a v-drive there is no combustion and no need for detergent. The oil's job is just to lubricate and cool, and it does that just fine without the additional additives. V-drives are pretty stout... I wouldn't worry about a boat that has had detergent oil in it. I'd change it and follow mfg recommendations, but it wouldn't worry me.