outdrive oil question?

[stevea661]

After the outdrive was sitting in the garage all winter, I drained the oil today. The first 4 oz were a little dark, the rest was lighter in color. The question that I would like answered is, if I had water in the oil, would the water have come out when I first cracked the drain plug, or is the some kind of additive that would keep it mixed in the oil and not allow it to seperate out? Visually there did not appear to be water in the oil. The oil was changed at the beggining of last season and has about 30 hrs on it. It is seirra brand. Thanks for your responses in advance.

 

[83Evinrude]

Re: outdrive oil question?

if I had water in the oil, would the water have come out when I first cracked the drain plug

Unless the oil was whipped into suspension (milky) then the water should have been at the bottom.

 

[stevea661]

Re: outdrive oil question?

So it should have seperated over the winter? Correct?

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: outdrive oil question?

So it should have seperated over the winter? Correct?

Howdy,

Maybe.........you *may* see some water that could separate. I don't know about Sierra's brand of oil. Mercury claims that their oil will keep small amounts of water suspended in the oil.

I am assuming that you do not keep your boat moored in the water?
(I'm from Taft!....where would you moor your boat in Tehachapi?)

Just change the oil.

AND by the way, ou should be changing your oil at the END of the season, not the beginning!

This way, if you have a leak in the drive (or engine), you see it and drain any water before it sits all winter.


Cheers,


Rick

 

[jrampey]

Re: outdrive oil question?

If the water has whipped into the oil sufficiently it makes a stable emulsion... it would not separate while sitting all winter - but the oil will look milky. If the water is mixed less it will separate - and you would have seen it drain out first.

The darker oil that you saw first - was it cloudy? The darker color may have been metal shavings. How did the magnet on the plug look?

 

[stevea661]

Re: outdrive oil question?

Howdy,

Maybe.........you *may* see some water that could separate. I don't know about Sierra's brand of oil. Mercury claims that their oil will keep small amounts of water suspended in the oil.

I am assuming that you do not keep your boat moored in the water?
(I'm from Taft!....where would you moor your boat in Tehachapi?)

Just change the oil.

AND by the way, ou should be changing your oil at the END of the season, not the beginning!

This way, if you have a leak in the drive (or engine), you see it and drain any water before it sits all winter.


Cheers,


Rick

Rick the boat is moored in my driveway, on a trailer. I cracked the drain plug at the end of the season and didn't see any water. I figured I would let it sit and see if anything would seperate out. I know when my engine went south, the water seperated out. I have an 86 sundancer with an omc cobra 260 with a full fwc system. We launch out, up and down the coast. From sandiego to morrow bay. Where ever the fish are biting. Thanks for the reply.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: outdrive oil question?

Rick the boat is moored in my driveway, on a trailer. I cracked the drain plug at the end of the season and didn't see any water. I figured I would let it sit and see if anything would seperate out. I know when my engine went south, the water seperated out. I have an 86 sundancer with an omc cobra 260 with a full fwc system. We launch out, up and down the coast. From sandiego to morrow bay. Where ever the fish are biting. Thanks for the reply.

Best place to moor a boat IMHO!! It can't corrode or leak there!!!

Same suggestion applies, when you winterize (and absolutely drain the raw-side of the heat exchanger, power steering & oil coolers!!) I know you get freezing WX there!!......... and do your oil changes in SEPT/OCT etc....

I cracked the drain plug at the end of the season and didn't see any water. I figured I would let it sit and see if anything would seperate out.

Water rarely separates in marine gear oil. It's too thick and has additives to keep small amounts of water in suspension......
btw, When you change your drive oil BE SURE to follow the OMC recommended fill procedure pumping oil in through the FILL-port! (not the bottom drain!!)