270 outdrive oil over full??!!

[Dream Weaver]

I changed the oil in my 270 out drive a few weeks ago and have had it on the lake a couple times since.When I changed it I let it drain for about an hour with the out drive down to be sure I got all of the old stuff out, then filled it with 2.6 quarts of SAE 30wt. I filled the out drive with the dip stick completely out, I filled it through the large hole in top right corner of upper unit underneath the cover where a large allen head bolt goes, I used a funnel to fill it slowly, and I filled it with the out drive about half way up. The other day I decided to check the oil to be sure the level and condition were both good. I lowered the out drive and checked the level with the dip stick....the level appears on the dip stick to be about 2x over full!? The oil looks great and clean and the drive feels nice and smooth and quiet as always. I didn't have any problems with it when I took it out a couple of times either. So I thought it may have an air lock in it so I removed the dip stick, large allen bolt fill hole in top right corner, and the vent bolt in the top cover and I let it sit with the out drive down for the past couple of days. I checked the level again last night and still looks over full, in fact I don't think it has changed at all. Any ideas what is going on?

 

[Don S]

Re: 270 outdrive oil over full??!!

Drain some out. The 2.6 quarts is an approximate amount, not exact. I have serviced drives that have taken more and less than the stated amount.
Overfull can damage the ujoint seal in the drive.

 

[Dream Weaver]

Re: 270 outdrive oil over full??!!

I drained the oil last night and measured just about 3 quarts that came out so I may have just been over full. When I refill it, should the out drive be up, down, or half way?

 

[Don S]

Re: 270 outdrive oil over full??!!

Kind of depends on how you fill it.
The book shows to fill with the drive up, but then you have to put the drive down to check it, then put the drive back up to fill some more, then up and down till you get it right.
I just made a special tool out of a some fittings, hose and a funnel to fill the drive. Fill and check all with the drive down. Saves a lot of up and down.