V-DRIVE

[Dkaseler]

I am installing a rebuilt A4 from Moyer Marine things are going slow but OK. I'm at the point of added oil to the engine but at the same time I need to add lubricant to the V-Drive. What lubricant should I put in the V-Drive? I've looked through a number of old references and found recommendations for; 80-90-140 gear lube, 90 hypoid lube, SAE 10W30 and, "good grade EP-90 universal gear lubricant."
Any of you V-Drive owners have a suggestion?
Thanks,
Dave.

[JDK]

AMSOIL Synthetic Marine Gear Lube would be an excellent choice for the drive, as would their Synthetic Marine Oil as protection for your shiny new investment.....

[Dkaseler]

I'll check into your suggestions. I've not used synthetic lubricants before in my boat or my car. Maybe it's time to start.
Thanks Dave.

[tenders]

I use what I think is 90-weight gear oil.

It is yellow, it smells weird, and the transmission does not hold very much of it, nor does it often need topping off. Came in a cylindrical bottle a bit like an oversized ketchup bottle, not the usual rectangular oil bottle.

[sastanley]

Paging edwardc, paging edwardc..Ed has a V-drive he's run for several years with success.

I am presently running Amsoil in all of my manual car trannies but not anywhere in my A-4 yet.

I do not have a V-drive, but I am running synthetic Shell Rotella 5w-40 as the engine oil.

[edwardc]

Still here, waiting for Matthew to dissipate so we can get underway South on the ICW.
(http://sv-dolce-vita.blogspot.com/)

The Walter V-drive documentation recommends 1 pint of any of the following:

• SAE 30 Heavy Duty Motor Oil
• Exxon Spartan EP-68 Gear Oil
• APG-80 Gear Oil.

DO NOT USE SAE 80 Motor oil or any multi-grade oil!

I use the SAE 30 Oil.

[Dkaseler]

V-DRIVE

Thanks Edward. Good manufactures recommendations. I already use SAE 30 Heavy Duty motor oil in the engine so I will stick with that for the V-Drive. Good luck with the weather.
Dave.

[edwardc]

... I already use SAE 30 Heavy Duty motor oil in the engine so I will stick with that for the V-Drive. ...

That was my original reasoning too, although I have since switched the engine over to 15W40. Engine runs a little quieter, and its much easier to find while "on the road" than the straight 30 weight.

[ernst]

Still here, waiting for Matthew to dissipate so we can get underway South on the ICW.
(http://sv-dolce-vita.blogspot.com/)

The Walter V-drive documentation recommends 1 pint of any of the following:

• SAE 30 Heavy Duty Motor Oil
• Exxon Spartan EP-68 Gear Oil
• APG-80 Gear Oil.

DO NOT USE SAE 80 Motor oil or any multi-grade oil!

I use the SAE 30 Oil.

Found this when trying to confirm that the oil I am using in my Walter V-drive is the correct one. I use SAE-30 non-detergent motor oil. Don't know if it is heavy duty, don't they all say that?

What I am puzzled about is the quantity: 1 pint! I change the oil every year and never measured it but I estimate it is about 2oz max that comes out, and that I replace, up to the 'Full' level of the dipstick.

What am I missing here?

[edwardc]

...What I am puzzled about is the quantity: 1 pint! I change the oil every year and never measured it but I estimate it is about 2oz max that comes out, and that I replace, up to the 'Full' level of the dipstick.

What am I missing here?

Unless you do a lot of motoring, changing every year is unnecessary. This is because the V-Drive is not dealing with the temperatures and pressures of engine oil. Walter recommends changing about every 500 hrs. For me, this is about 5 years of normal operation (or once down the ICW and back).

As for the amount of oil you get out, are you sure you're pulling the oil drain plug (located on the bottom-center of the cooling manifold) and not the magnetic plug (located higher up and to one side)? See the attached diagrams from the Walter manual.

[ernst]

Unless you do a lot of motoring, changing every year is unnecessary. This is because the V-Drive is not dealing with the temperatures and pressures of engine oil. Walter recommends changing about every 500 hrs. For me, this is about 5 years of normal operation (or once down the ICW and back).

As for the amount of oil you get out, are you sure you're pulling the oil drain plug (located on the bottom-center of the cooling manifold) and not the magnetic plug (located higher up and to one side)? See the attached diagrams from the Walter manual.

Whoa!!

The bad news is that apparently I have been doing exactly what you are saying, 'changing' the oil through the magnetic plug! I had no idea there is another plug at the bottom!!

The good (OK, not so bad) is that I may not have done too much damage to it. I would guesstimate that the number of hours I put on the motor is on the order of 500. Probably somewhat more but not tons. And of course I faithfully replaced an ounce or two every year

Amazingly useful reply. THANK YOU!