Bravo 3 Gear Lube Vanished - How?

[AJ163]

Hey guys,

a couple of months ago I got a good deal from a local dealer on an unregistered 2008 Monterey 194 FS. Its running the 5.0 Merc MPI engine with Bravo 3 drive. I started running it in, making sure that I religiously check the fluids every day as I'd been told to expect it to use a fair bit of lube whilst running in.

All going well after 7 hours and then due to other commitments I had to put the boat in the shed for a month (stored on trailer with drive down). Today I planned to head out on the water, but when got to the boat and checked the levels - no lube in reservoir, yet I know it was fine when the boat went into the shed. Thought WTF? got some more lube and filled it. The amount required to fill it makes me think that there was still lube in the drive, just the reservoir that was empty.

I'm going to check it tomorrow again and I'm currently researching how to tell there is lube in the drive. However its left me slightly concerned - is there anyone with a logical explanation that explains why this happened?

Thanks

AJ

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: Bravo 3 Gear Lube Vanished - How?

It is common for there to be some air 'trapped' in the system when first serviced, and when the drive is drained and the lube changed. Running the boat will eliminate the air...and the reservoir will need to be topped off.

Be sure to watch the reservoir and run the boat for a little longer...my money is on your situation being resolved!

Happy boating!

 

[AJ163]

Re: Bravo 3 Gear Lube Vanished - How?

Thanks Rocky Road, I've been wondering if that was a possibility, but the lube was added when got the boat from the dealer, I then put 7 hours on the engine over the space of a week, know its almost an unanswerable question, but could trapped air have been in there that long?

AJ

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: Bravo 3 Gear Lube Vanished - How?

Thanks Rocky Road, I've been wondering if that was a possibility, but the lube was added when got the boat from the dealer, I then put 7 hours on the engine over the space of a week, know its almost an unanswerable question, but could trapped air have been in there that long?

AJ

Absolutely possible.

When you park the boat, lower the drive as far as possible and come back the next day and look for any signs of lube on the ground. The drive should be stored lowered anyway...to help save the bellows.

Some mechanics fill the drive from the bottom until the lube shows up at the top vent screw...tighten both screws...then add to the reservoir. This will sometimes leave some air in the lube reservoir hose. Other mechanics fill from the bottom screw until lube shows up in the reservoir, then secure everything and top the bottle off. Either method works just fine. At least this is how we do it on the Alpha Gen. II...but I am pretty sure that the Bravo is just the same.

Happy boating!

 

[Bondo]

Re: Bravo 3 Gear Lube Vanished - How?

got some more lube and filled it.

Ayuh,... How much oil are We talkin' anyways,..??

 

[AJ163]

Re: Bravo 3 Gear Lube Vanished - How?

Bondo, literally the amount that would normally be visible in the reservoir bottle on the engine , around 8 fl oz??? am afraid I don't know what the measurement is. What Rocky road said makes sense, so I'm going to have a look again tomorrow, I've not noticed any oil on the floor. So????

AJ

 

[Bondo]

Re: Bravo 3 Gear Lube Vanished - How?

I've not noticed any oil on the floor. So????

Ayuh,... Whattabout in the Bilge,..??

and I'm currently researching how to tell there is lube in the drive.

In the Adults Only section of this forum are the Factory Manuals,...
There's No Better research material yaknow.....

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Bravo 3 Gear Lube Vanished - How?

Service Bulletin
Bulletin No. 2010-63
CMD Bravo Sterndrive Fill Procedure and Lube Level Drop During
Break‑In Period
Models Affected
All Bravo Sterndrives
Situation
MerCruiser has received reports of a drop in the level of gear lube after the sterndrive is first put into service.
Air trapped in the top of the driveshaft housing during the initial filling of the sterndrive may escape through the gear lube monitor
during the break‑in period (first 20 hours of running time). As the trapped air escapes, the gear lube level in the monitor bottle
drops.
New installations may require as much as 470 mL (16 fl oz) of gear lube added to the monitor bottle during the break‑in period
(20 hours of running time). It is important to monitor and maintain the gear lube level during the break‑in period. If fluid is still
required after the break‑in period, refer to CMD Service Bulletin 2010-04.
Action
Check the gear lube monitor at the beginning of each day when the engine is cold. Fill as needed. If the gear lube alarm sounds
during operation, add the appropriate amount of gear lube to the monitor bottle.
Tube Ref No. Description Where Used Part No.
87 High Performance Gear
Lube Gear lube monitor 92-858064K01
NOTICE
Discharge of oil, coolant, or other engine/drive fluids into the environment is restricted by law. Use caution not to spill oil, coolant,
or other fluids into the environment when using or servicing your boat. Be aware of the local restrictions governing the disposal
or recycling of waste, and contain and dispose of fluids as required.
Checking
IMPORTANT: The gear lube level fluctuates during operation. Check before starting, when the engine is cold.
1. Check the gear lube level in the monitor bottle. Maintain the gear lube level within the recommended operating range. Refer
to Filling.
CMD Bravo Sterndrive Fill Procedure and Lube Level Drop During Break-In Period
2. Inspect the gear lube condition. If any water is visible in the bottom of the gear lube monitor, if water appears at the fill and
drain plug hole, or if the gear lube appears discolored, these conditions can indicate a water leak in the sterndrive.
Gear lube level shown in the correct operating range
a - "ADD" mark
b - "OPERATING RANGE" mark
IMPORTANT: If water is visible in the bottom of the gear lube monitor or appears at the fill and drain plug hole, or if the gear lube
appears discolored, the sterndrive may be leaking.

Filling
IMPORTANT: The addition of more than 470 mL (16 fl oz) of gear lube during the break‑in period may indicate that the sterndrive
is leaking.
1. Remove the gear lube monitor cap.
a - Gear lube level at the "ADD" mark
b - Gear lube level at the "OPERATING RANGE" mark
c - Gear lube monitor cap
2. Fill the monitor with the specified fluid until the gear lube level is in the operating range. Do not overfill.
Tube Ref No. Description Where Used Part No.
87 High Performance Gear
Lube Gear lube monitor 92-858064K01
3. Ensure that the rubber gasket is inside the gear lube monitor cap.
4. Clean and install the cap. Do not overtighten.

Warranty
This service bulletin is informational only.

(FYI) While using the boat try to keep an eye on the oil level of the drive bottle, If it goes down at a very fast rate then there is a good chance you have a bad seal in the prop shaft area of the drive and you will normally lose a lot of oil while under way, And the only way to really find it is to either watch the oil bottle while under way or/And do a pressure/vacuum test to the drive.

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: Bravo 3 Gear Lube Vanished - How?

Boat Tech has descended from the hill with the Written Word:

"MerCruiser has received reports of a drop in the level of gear lube after the sterndrive is first put into service.
Air trapped in the top of the driveshaft housing during the initial filling of the sterndrive may escape through the gear lube monitor
during the break‑in period (first 20 hours of running time). As the trapped air escapes, the gear lube level in the monitor bottle
drops.
New installations may require as much as 470 mL (16 fl oz) of gear lube added to the monitor bottle during the break‑in period
(20 hours of running time)."

You are not alone in experiencing lube 'loss' during your break-in period...and this can also happen when you have the lube changed. Just keep your eye on the level, and enjoy your new ride!

Happy boating!

 

[AJ163]

Re: Bravo 3 Gear Lube Vanished - How?

Bond-o, no sign in the bilge thankfully. Boat-tech, Rocky Road...much appreciated, I knew it required it topping up during run in, I just didn't expect a drop like that.

I usually check it on the water every half hour or so anyway, so hopefully this weekend will be able to confirm that it is indeed down to air or running in.

Thanks

AJ

 

[Don S]

Re: Bravo 3 Gear Lube Vanished - How?

It's amazing really, this has been going on with the Alpha I Gen II and the Bravo drives since the reservoirs came out in the early 90's, and only now do they make mention of it in a service bulletin. The one thing you guys probalby can't see in the bulletin is it's a CMD bulletin.
Wonder why Merc only had to say something about it to the Cummins Marine Diesel (CMD) guys and no one else?

Service Bulletin
Bulletin No. 2010-63
CMD Bravo Sterndrive Fill Procedure and Lube Level Drop During

 

[derekpfeiffer]

Re: Bravo 3 Gear Lube Vanished - How?

Yeah Had the exact same issue with mine when I first bought it and the problem slowly went away...Nothing to worry about!! One recommendation i'd make if your boat very far with your B3 is a drive shower. I boat the river mostly and was getting calcium deposits on my upper gearcase so I installed a drive shower and problem went away!!

Just an idea!!!

 

[AJ163]

Re: Bravo 3 Gear Lube Vanished - How?

Think will have to wait for the shower.....checked levels before putting boat in water today.......gear lube had dropped again! No leaks on the floor, had good look around under the engine and spotted some lube in the bilge. Not happy, the boat has only done 7 hours from brand new so far!

Going to do a bit of research on here.....but am I right in thinking this will likely be covered under warranty?

AJ

 

[AJ163]

Re: Bravo 3 Gear Lube Vanished - How?

Update......

boat went into dealers today. Cause of the lube vanishing is from a leak in the tube that runs from the lube reservoir to the stern-drive. The leak is at a broken joint which is located to the rear of the engine, just before the tube passes through the transom.

The dealer is going to have to pull the drive to get at it. However, the thing that has surprised me most with this is that the tube is just pushed onto the joint connector, i.e. there is no jubillee clip or even a cable tie!!!

To double check this wasn't unique to my boat, the dealer and I went and checked a much larger Monterey cruiser with Bravo 3 that has an access hatch that allows you to easily see the rear of the engine and internal part of the transom. This was exactly the same, you could reach in and easily disconnect the tube feeding the lube by just sliding it off.

I can't help wondering if others (with exception of air in drive and lube settling) who have been mystified at lube slowly vanishing may have suffered from a lesser case of this. The only reason I noticed was the joint actually broke hence started dripping more, plus I had a little water in the bottom of the bilge as hadn't emptied it at dock that day and this allowed me to spot the oil in the bilge. If the tube isn't as tight as perhaps should be, a miniscule amount could escape over time.

Hopefully I'll be back on the water in a few days time and this may thread will prove useful to someone else in the future. Thanks all for advice and help.

AJ

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: Bravo 3 Gear Lube Vanished - How?

Thanks for the follow up!

This should be helpful to the next person that has this question....

Happy boating!

 

[Don S]

Re: Bravo 3 Gear Lube Vanished - How?

The dealer is going to have to pull the drive to get at it. However, the thing that has surprised me most with this is that the tube is just pushed onto the joint connector, i.e. there is no jubillee clip or even a cable tie!!!

Your dealer must be new at this stuff. There is an E clip on the inside that keeps the fitting in place. It's been used for years.
Here is a picture of it being installed. This is from the OEM service manual, maybe you should show it to them. Have them look at manual #39 page 4B-66 for the picture.

 

[AJ163]

Re: Bravo 3 Gear Lube Vanished - How?

Don,

thanks, I'll have a chat with them today and ask about the e-clip. If possible I'll get a photo of the bit thats gone because what I saw yesterday it wasn't where it connects to the engine or where it goes through the transom, it was in between (bear in mind though I' a complete novice when it comes to boat engines so I can only go off what I saw).