Water and milky gear oil

[paulspaddle]

I assume this is a common issue, but I can't seem to find the proper answer in my search.

I checked my lower unit gear oil (seemed to be "humming" a bit) and about an 1/2oz of water came out and the gear oil is milky. There was a bit of shavings on the lower screw magnet. (not much, had to wipe it on a paper towel to see them)

Where and what do I start checking?

Thanks.....



1990 Mercrusier 4.3 with Mercruiser Alpha I, Gen I outdrive.

 

[Alpheus]

Re: Water and milky gear oil

Pull the outdrive and perform a pressure test to find out where the leak is...

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: Water and milky gear oil

Pull the outdrive and perform a pressure test to find out where the leak is...

Thanks Alpheus....ummm, how do I do a pressure test? :redface:

 

[Alpheus]

Re: Water and milky gear oil

Here is a link to a couple of pics of a homemade pressure tester, but its not real clear on how to pressure test the drive. You can purchase pressure testing rigs on ebay or you can build one yourself.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?p=1573303#post1573303

Remove your outdrive and drain the gear lube. Install the pressure tester and add air to 15 psi and see if it holds the pressure. If so start turnig the input shaft while in gear so that the prop is turning also. It should still be holding 15 psi. I kept mine pressurized for 18 hours and turned the input shaft every couple of hours through out the day. If the outdrive will not hold pressure. Get yourself a spray bottle with soapy water and start spraying around the outdrive and look for bubbles. This will show you where its leaking...

 

[bigskiohio]

Re: Water and milky gear oil

common place is the water pump base seals

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: Water and milky gear oil

I want to be back on the water asap so I'm going to see if I can rig one up myself rather than the hassle of ebay.

The threaded end that fits onto the fill screw hole could be hard to find...is there a fitting that merc sells that I could 'steal' this end from?

Not sure if I understand how the vacuum is created yet....I'll start by pulling the outdrive (first time for that also) and making up one of these pressure testing tools.

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: Water and milky gear oil

common place is the water pump base seals

CHECK.....thanks.

This is my first time diving into this thing.

Is pulling the outdrive a 'must'?

 

[Alpheus]

Re: Water and milky gear oil

No but you must drain the gear oil. You do not need to create vacuum just a pressure. If you have an external gear oil reservoir it must be pinched off before you add pressure as well. But if its leaking and you cant find the source, chances are you are going to have to pull the drive to find it...

As for the adaptor :

The threads are 3/18 x 16 I just made one for myself and found the attachment I needed at West Marine.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...toreNum=10106&subdeptNum=10434&classNum=10440

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=410015&highlight=pressure+tester

 

[Alumarine]

Re: Water and milky gear oil

I want to be back on the water asap

I might be wrong, and often am, but why not just drain the oil, refill with the good Mercstuff or some other synthetic and run it till the fall.

Just an idea.

 

[Alpheus]

Re: Water and milky gear oil

I might be wrong, and often am, but why not just drain the oil, refill with the good Mercstuff or some other synthetic and run it till the fall.

Just an idea.

Because a 10 dollar fix could turn into a 1300 dollar outdrive replacement...

 

[paulspaddle]

Re: Water and milky gear oil

I might be wrong, and often am, but why not just drain the oil, refill with the good Mercstuff or some other synthetic and run it till the fall.

Just an idea.

I don't know much about these things....I do know that it isn't working as it should.

Your idea has definitely crossed my mind, but my 'ignorant' fear is I'm wearing something out....am I?

What I did immediately was I pushed gear oil up until I pushed all the milky oil out of it. (we were at the cabin which is remote so I was reluctant to drain, not knowing how much it took)

Ran it for a few hours....checked again....no water. Checked it after another 8 or so hours of running...no water.

We keep it in the water at the marina, so I'm thinking the leak is not major.

 

[Alumarine]

Re: Water and milky gear oil

It takes approximately 1.5 liters.

Water doesn't get in them by sitting in the water it gets in when you use them in the water.