outdrive oil question (I have a 290 or SP-?)

bill91817

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Jan 23, 2017
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25
Hi guys
looking to change the oil on my outdrive, the drive has been antifouled and I cannot see any id on it - there is a riveted tag on the transom shield (inside hull) which has the number 868130 on it. I thought it was a 290 but am now thinking it is a SP possibly C (SP-C)
It seems the 290''s take engine oil whereas the SP-C takes a Synthetic gear oil (API GL-5, SAE75W-90) - does anyone know a way to ID the drive? and or can I used synthetic gear oil regardless?
cheers
Bill
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
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1988 was last year of 290. After that was DP-A and SP-A....then B, etc

Post a pic of you drive.

I run Amsoil synthetic marine gear lube
 

bill91817

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Jan 23, 2017
Messages
25
1988 was last year of 290. After that was DP-A and SP-A....then B, etc

Post a pic of you drive.

I run Amsoil synthetic marine gear lube

great thanks - I will need to take one with a flash (its antifouled black and under a marlin board so hard to capture!) the boat is a 1997 so from that would guess its not a 290 - would be good to know what it is though - will post a pic after the weekend to confirm- cheers
 

QBhoy

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Mar 10, 2016
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I'm confused...
I had a 290DP (not dpa) on a 1989, my friend has one on a 1991.
It was not engine oil in these drives. It was Gl-5 straight 90 or 80/90.
 

bruceb58

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Mar 5, 2006
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I'm confused...
I had a 290DP (not dpa) on a 1989, my friend has one on a 1991.
It was not engine oil in these drives. It was Gl-5 straight 90 or 80/90.
You are correct...The 290DP uses GL-5 75w-90. The 290 that is not a DP uses engine oil.
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
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I'm confused...
I had a 290DP (not dpa) on a 1989, my friend has one on a 1991.
It was not engine oil in these drives. It was Gl-5 straight 90 or 80/90.

Then your boat had a drive on it made in 1988 or earlier. 1989 was first year of DP-A. Other than a few pcs of hardware, not much different than the 290
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
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Looks like spc. Where is your shift cover?
 
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