Milk in reservoir, not in outdrive

[frenz143]

I have a 1995 Alpha 1, Gen 2 on a 5.7L V8. There is no water in my outdrive oil when drained but there is some milky gear lube in the bottom of the reservoir and the level has been dropping. I need to add gear lube every 4 hours or so of running. I also maxed out my boat weight once this summer and ran full rpms. When I opened up the engine compartment, there was a good amount of gear oil that had escaped from somewhere in the system. I had a mechanic take the outdrive off and pressure test and it was fine. Any suggestions on where it would be leaking from?

 

[alldodge]

The line going to the transom assembly or the fitting has a crack

 

[frenz143]

The line going to the transom assembly or the fitting has a crack

When you say fitting, do you mean the fitting to the transom? If that were the case, where do you think the water would be coming from?

 

[alldodge]

Actually I don't see water in the lube bottle I see sludge, which builds up over time

 

[Stinnett21]

Unplug the two wires (on mine they're bullet connectors and it doesn't seem to matter which way they are connected), leading from the bottle and dump the bottle out. Remove the sludge by whatever means you can without damaging the float.

 

[frenz143]

Actually I don't see water in the lube bottle I see sludge, which builds up over time

Thats possible but I have had this boat for 16 years and it just started happening last year. I have personally replaced the reservoir twice in the last year and this stuff, whatever it is, keeps coming back.

 

[alldodge]

Thats possible but I have had this boat for 16 years and it just started happening last year. I have personally replaced the reservoir twice in the last year and this stuff, whatever it is, keeps coming back.

Now that is a new one I've never heard before.

Been replaced twice and still get water in it. Only place to get water in the bottle is the drive, tube and transom fitting. The only item under any kind of pressure is the drive. The drive creates a small amount of pressure as it heats up from use.

The tube connects between transom and drive and is under or around water most of the time during use. The tube from inside the transom to bottle is not in contact with any water.

I actually don't see how water can get into the bottle but having none in the drive. Hope someone smarter has some ideas

 

[Grub54891]

Following along as I’m on the same page as alldodge.

 

[Stinnett21]

Thats possible but I have had this boat for 16 years and it just started happening last year. I have personally replaced the reservoir twice in the last year and this stuff, whatever it is, keeps coming back.

When you replaced the reservoir, assuming you dumped it out, what did you observe? You say, "whatever it is". Can you describe more in depth.

 

[Scott06]

Thats possible but I have had this boat for 16 years and it just started happening last year. I have personally replaced the reservoir twice in the last year and this stuff, whatever it is, keeps coming back.

Are you still using the same cap? is water getting in from above sunpad etc?

What lube are you using

Did yo check the from the bellhousing to the transom there is a 1/4" or so rubber hose. drive could be passing pressure test but getting mositure in that way. Is this contamination in the line from lube bottle to transom as well?

 

[frenz143]

When you replaced the reservoir, assuming you dumped it out, what did you observe? You say, "whatever it is". Can you describe more in depth.

I am taking the boat out for the season soon (Upstate, NY) and will take the reservoir off and drain it. Then I will take a picture and post it.

 

[frenz143]

Are you still using the same cap? is water getting in from above sunpad etc?

What lube are you using

Did yo check the from the bellhousing to the transom there is a 1/4" or so rubber hose. drive could be passing pressure test but getting mositure in that way. Is this contamination in the line from lube bottle to transom as well?

I am not using the same cap. I am using the new cap that comes with the new reservoir. Water is not getting in from up above. I will see if I can drain some ger oil out of the tube once I take the reservoir off. I will be doing that this week.