3.0 Cobra water in drive

[sea wolf]

Boat is an '87 powered by a 3.0 Cobra. I started the boat this spring & with the rainy weather we had this summer & other responsiblilities I didn't get a chance to get the boat in at all this year. I went thru all the steps to winterize & wasen't going to change the gear lube as it was fine in the spring. Well, I removed the dipstick to check the level & the oil looked milky. I decided to drain the oil & what came out surprised me. The oil looked like a vanilla milk shake. It was white. What I'm wondering is how the gear oil got contaminated with water as I never launched it this summer. All the plugs have seals on them & they're in good shape. I suspected the water pump shaft seal, but after inspecting it I saw no gear oil leaking past it. The boat has only been started twice this season. Ideas anyone?

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: 3.0 Cobra water in drive

Boat is an '87 powered by a 3.0 Cobra. I started the boat this spring & with the rainy weather we had this summer & other responsiblilities I didn't get a chance to get the boat in at all this year. I went thru all the steps to winterize & wasen't going to change the gear lube as it was fine in the spring. Well, I removed the dipstick to check the level & the oil looked milky. I decided to drain the oil & what came out surprised me. The oil looked like a vanilla milk shake. It was white. What I'm wondering is how the gear oil got contaminated with water as I never launched it this summer. All the plugs have seals on them & they're in good shape. I suspected the water pump shaft seal, but after inspecting it I saw no gear oil leaking past it. The boat has only been started twice this season. Ideas anyone?

Howdy,


You're talking about the drive oil. When did you change it last?

Was the boat operated in the water at any time after you changed the drive oil?

In any case, if you have water in the drive, the first place to start (after checking drain/vent plugs) is a pressure/vacuum test.

The only way any oil will look "Milky" is if it's stirred up with water in it............so if it's indeed milky, the drive was operated with water in it.

 

[sea wolf]

Re: 3.0 Cobra water in drive

Howdy,


You're talking about the drive oil. When did you change it last?

Was the boat operated in the water at any time after you changed the drive oil?

In any case, if you have water in the drive, the first place to start (after checking drain/vent plugs) is a pressure/vacuum test.

The only way any oil will look "Milky" is if it's stirred up with water in it............so if it's indeed milky, the drive was operated with water in it.

Well, I changed the gear oil in the fall of '12 when I winterized. The boat hasen't been in the water since. I ran the engine off muffs in the spring & as far as I remember the oil was fine. I ran it again the other day off muffs to fog the engine for winter. That's when I checked the gear oil & found it milky.

Beats me.

 

[sea wolf]

Re: 3.0 Cobra water in drive

Howdy,


You're talking about the drive oil. When did you change it last?

Was the boat operated in the water at any time after you changed the drive oil?

In any case, if you have water in the drive, the first place to start (after checking drain/vent plugs) is a pressure/vacuum test.

The only way any oil will look "Milky" is if it's stirred up with water in it............so if it's indeed milky, the drive was operated with water in it.

Well, I changed the gear oil in the fall of '12 when I winterized. The boat hasen't been in the water since. I ran the engine off muffs in the spring & as far as I remember the oil was fine. I ran it again the other day off muffs to fog the engine for winter. That's when I checked the gear oil & found it milky.

Beats me.

 

[Lou C]

Re: 3.0 Cobra water in drive

If you only ran it on the muffs and it got water in it, there is a seal on the shaft for the water pump that keeps water out of the drive, that might be leaking, it is under the mount for the impeller. Part number 47....

OMC, Johnson & Evinrude - UPPER GEAR HOUSING - 1987 OMC Stern Drive 3

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: 3.0 Cobra water in drive

Well, I changed the gear oil in the fall of '12 when I winterized. The boat hasen't been in the water since. I ran the engine off muffs in the spring & as far as I remember the oil was fine. I ran it again the other day off muffs to fog the engine for winter. That's when I checked the gear oil & found it milky.

Beats me.

If you ran it on "muffs" you put pressurized water against that seal. If it's leaking, the hose pressure could have been enough to put water into the oil. It doesn't take much to make it look milky....

 

[bruceb58]

Re: 3.0 Cobra water in drive

I would drain the oil and pressure test the drive. Have you removed the drive to check the u-joint bellows? If there is water in there, water could have entered the drive from there after you changed your oil.

 

[sea wolf]

Re: 3.0 Cobra water in drive

Thanx for all the responses.

I checked the water pump shaft seal & it doesn't appear to be leaking.

I haven't pulled the drive yet to check the bellows. I'll probably do that & store the drive in my basement for the winter.

Anyone have a link on how to build your own pressure tester?

 

[bajaunderground]

Re: 3.0 Cobra water in drive

http://forums.iboats.com/johnson-ev...ure-tester-fot-lower-units-photos-628588.html