Volvo Saildrive leaks oil (somewhere)

[Jim Cook]

The first contractor I hired to do my bottom 2 years ago painted bottom paint on my VolvoPenta S110 saildrive (I have a 1974 Volvo MD7A 13hp deisel). The result was that the saildrive disintregated (after about 1.5 years)and the lower half "fell off". I hauled it out last November, did a bottom job and replaced the saildrive (not the transmission on top) with one I got from a salvage yard. When I took the old unit off, the transmission was full of white-ish glop which I was told was oil/saltwater mixture. I cleaned out every bit that I could, before putting it back together and back in the boat.After sailing home (in November), I found oil had leaked from somewhere. I have to assume it is from the tranny because the engine never leaked. A local marine mechanic said it may be the seals in the tranny, but I couldn't find the source location of the leak, just oil around the bottom.Do you have any advice about locating the leak, probable causes and possible fixes?Thank you for your time.Jim Cook"Dream Chaser", 1974 O'Day 27

 

[Kevin]

leak

Hello Jim,Short of visual I would guess it has to be from the aft seal of the transmission. If I’m not mistaken the transmission is a pressurized system, when the engine is running so is the lubricating pump of the trans, which at some point produces pressure that can then cause a leak when a weak seal is present. Not an uncommon occurrence of time and use. Sorry I cannot be more specific. Kevin

 

[D. Rose]

sail drive leak

Jim, The sail drive unit ( upper and lower) share a common oil supply. If you found clean oil( as opposed to engine oil) around the base of the saildrive, it probably came from the saildrive, unless you spilled something. 1. It could be coming from the shift shaft seal or the O ring behind the shifter plate.2. It could be that the prop shaft seals are still leaking, especially if you didnt replace them when you cleaned out the drive. Water is forcing into the drive, raising the oil level in the drive and perhaps forcing clean oil out the top of the dipstick. Check the oil level and look for milkshake.3. If the input shaft was leaking , it would go into the engine and you would not see it.4. It may be leaking between the top and bottom housings, but I dont think you would see the oil.Monitor the oil level in the drive over a few hours of operating time.Only paint the saildrive with bottom paint that does not have copper content. Use paints designed for outboards and outdrives. Do not ground anything to the engine or saildrive other than the starter ground cable.

 

[Richard]

110 sail drive

Jim, Could be coming from seal strip, but not if you installed upper & lower correctly. Check shift seal on side where cable is attached. sometimes it will only leak when in gear as shift piston moves in & out a slight bit. You could also make an adapter to pressure test drive to find loss. Richard