Accidently topped up power trim reservoir with outdrive gear oil!!!!

[BoatingTimbo]

Ooops! Thought i was topping up the outdrive oil reservoir (for my '97 Bravo II) but it was the power trim motor reservoir!!

So now the power trip motor is a mixture of ATF and Quicksilver high performance leg oil. Is that going to cause a problem with the power trim pump? If so is there a way to drain the reservoir to replace the fluid?

What is the correct fluid for the power trim pump?

 

[cr2k]

Re: Accidently topped up power trim reservoir with outdrive gear oil!!!!

As long as there is not too much in there No Problem.

 

[BoatingTimbo]

Re: Accidently topped up power trim reservoir with outdrive gear oil!!!!

define "too much"?

I put in about 1/4 of the outdrive oil bottle in. Would that be too much?

Is there enough of a difference between the outdrive oil and power trim pump oil?

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Accidently topped up power trim reservoir with outdrive gear oil!!!!

Howdy,


It's really not going to hurt it at all....

You can use power steering fluid, light wt motor oil, ATF, literally ANY petroleum based oil. Thinner oils seem to work best, like ATF or any hydraulic oil.

Gear oil might be a little heavy depending on the grade (like 140)


When did you discover this?

If you haven't operated it much, you could just siphon out the reservoir and refill it with DEXRON.... I like Dexron because it's RED)

(AND NOW I KNOW HOW TO SPELL DEXRON TOO!!!)

Or, siphon it out, refill it with ATF, run it up and down a few more times and siphon out the tank and refill it again. do that a couple of times more and you'll be good to go.

If it REALLY bothers you, crack the "UP" lines on the drive, put a pan under it and let them drain....then crack the down lines and let them drain too...

get a helper and lift the drive up and down to empty the cyls......

Then refill and run it up and down several times to purge air etc. Keep refilling it with fresh ATF.

Lots of choices. They're all good!


Cheers,


Rick

 

[BoatingTimbo]

Re: Accidently topped up power trim reservoir with outdrive gear oil!!!!

I discovered it pretty much right away after the warning alarm persisted after topping up the power trim reservoir... then i hunted around some more and discovered the empty outdrive reservoir on the front of the motor.

if there's not issue i'll just leave it then. Just wanted to make sure wasn't a major issue.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Accidently topped up power trim reservoir with outdrive gear oil!!!!

I discovered it pretty much right away after the warning alarm persisted after topping up the power trim reservoir... then i hunted around some more and discovered the empty outdrive reservoir on the front of the motor.

if there's not issue i'll just leave it then. Just wanted to make sure wasn't a major issue.

If you're winterizing, how long has it been since you changed the drive oil?

 

[BoatingTimbo]

Re: Accidently topped up power trim reservoir with outdrive gear oil!!!!

wasn't winterizing. last leg oil and complete service was 6 months ago.

 

[dsiekman]

Re: Accidently topped up power trim reservoir with outdrive gear oil!!!!

wasn't winterizing. last leg oil and complete service was 6 months ago.

In that case, I'd be concerned about where all of that oil is going...

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Accidently topped up power trim reservoir with outdrive gear oil!!!!

This is why Mercruiser and others suggest changing the gear (and engine) oil when preparing for winter "lay-up"

You catch problems such as that AND if there's water in the drive, it doesn't sit in there all winter (and either freeze or corrode the metal parts) presenting you with a "BIG SURPRISE" in Spring.


Some people will say that they always change their oil(s) in Spring.

Do you feel as lucky as they seem to? (WELL DO YA?)

Now that you have a possible leak......you should change or at least drain some the drive oil to inspect......



Good luck.


Rick