Drive lube dropping?

[lrdchaos]

Little back story.

Hit a rock pile last outing last year, had the lower unit replaced on bravo 3 at that time. Drive was pulled and the top gears were checked as well. The boat has been winterized since it was repaired the end of October. Went and checked on it today and the drive oil has dropped roughly 3/4 of an inch in the bottle . Is it possible for air to work its way to the bottle with the boat sitting? No oil on the outside of the drive and no oil in the bilge.

 

[tpenfield]

Yes, 3 places to check . . .,

Outside the outdrive, in the bilge (as you mentioned).

#3 in the drive shaft bellows

 

[alldodge]

If the drive has not been run much since it was replaced, I wouldn't think to much about it. If it was run a few hours and topped off, and dropped again I would look into it

 

[lrdchaos]

If the drive has not been run much since it was replaced, I wouldn't think to much about it. If it was run a few hours and topped off, and dropped again I would look into it

Drive was run during winterization but has sat for 3 months since. It has dropped a little while sitting. But it has been trailered some, so I though it might have helped work air through the lines. Plus I lowered the drive for storage, so that may have caused air to work up to the bottle. I’ll keep an eye on it this spring.

 

[Scott06]

Drive was run during winterization but has sat for 3 months since. It has dropped a little while sitting. But it has been trailered some, so I though it might have helped work air through the lines. Plus I lowered the drive for storage, so that may have caused air to work up to the bottle. I’ll keep an eye on it this spring.

After refill my alpha drive always drops level in lube bottle after first run. I top it off and then don't loose any more the rest of the season. As others have advised keep a bottle in the boat and watch the level, if it keeps dropping would take it back to person who did drive work.

 

[QBhoy]

I’d say it’s normal to have to top up the bottle after a full drain of the gear oil. Always a air gap between the top vent where oil is filled to…and the res tank in engine bay. Naturally oil runs down and fills the void.