Saildrive maintenance question

[k1vsk]

I'm helping my son next week prep his boat for the upcoming season and can't find info on changing the gear oil on his saildrive. I know there is a drain plug at the bottom, similar to any outboard. What I don't know is if there is a vent plug higher up and if the refill procedure is similar to that of an outboard, i.e., simply refill from bottom until oil comes out top plug?

[Sitaram]

k1vsk
On the Yanmar sd 20 saildrive, There IS a plug on top where you fill the oil. You do not fill it like an outboard from the bottom.
I use 100% synthic oil because its called for a change every 100 hours-- if you can beleave that , and I dont want to haul the boat that often to change the oil.
Ram

[firehoser75]

I have a Volvo saildrive (about 2 years old). On mine, you remove the dip stick to let air in and take out the drain plug at the bottom (somewhat like an outboard). To refill, you replace the drain plug and add fluid through the dip stick hole.
If you use the boat alot, so that you exceed the recommended hours prior to the next haulout, you can do a reasonable job by using the same method you would to change the engine oil, that is by using a pump to suck the fluid out of the dipstick hole. However, this method will leave a small amount of the "old" fluid in the leg, so the first method is preferred.

Hope this helps,
Tom

[kennya]

k1vsk, you say it is similar to any outboard, is this a
OMC sail drive?