bilge oil

[tystick]

i recently changed stern drive oil on a 1990 mercruiser 4.3L alpha 1. I notice oil in the bilge after 1st time out. never had this before. is there a relationship?

 

[tystick]

Re: bilge oil

can anyone advise on this?

 

[Fishermark]

Re: bilge oil

Just to be clear -- when you say you changed the stern drive oil, you are talking about the outdrive right? It took about 32 - 34 ozs, correct? If that's what you are talking about, then I don't see how that could have anything to do with oil in the bilge.<br /><br />So far as the oil in the bilge... how much? A lite sheen on any water that may be there? Or a bunch of oil? Did you check the oil level in your engine? That would be the first place to look. Another likely candidate would be the trim/tilt motor or hoses. Look for leaks there.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: bilge oil

Unless you are the 1 in a million that can change the oil without spilling a drop from the oil filter it may be normal.How much oil are we talking about and how did you change the oil????Check the dipstick and see if you lost any.Charlie

 

[tystick]

Re: bilge oil

i cnanged the stern drive oil. it takes something like 95 ml. 80-90w gear oil. The oil in the engine was not touched-it has not changed its level. It just seems like bilge water is slightly white cloudy.

 

[lenny2113]

Re: bilge oil

tystick,<br /><br />I would follow Fishermark's suggestion and check tilt/trim hoses for leak. Check if there will be more oil in your bilge as you operate tilt/trim pump. <br /><br />Good luck

 

[Fishermark]

Re: bilge oil

It just seems like bilge water is slightly white cloudy.

That doesn't sound like oil to me. If you get water in your engine the oil will turn kinda white I suppose, but typically if a little oil is leaked into or spilled into the bilge you will just get a "sheen" of oil on the surface. Sounds like some more investigation is needed!

 

[outboardguy]

Re: bilge oil

Recheck the oil level in your drive. If it is low it is possible that the yoke seal is wasted and allowing gear oil to exit the drive into the u-joint bellows and through the gimbal bearing into the bilge.When you remove the drive you will see a torrent of oil fall from the bellows if this is the case. P.S. that is another reason to use the quicksilver H.P. gear lube, It's blue and very easy to differentiate from engine oil. Good Luck

 

[achris]

Re: bilge oil

95 ml is not right. Those legs take about a litre. (about a quart for my friends in the US of A). And also you should be using the Merc HP, as mentioned by outboardguy. Definitely not automotive gear oil.<br /><br />Chris.........

 

[record hunter]

Re: bilge oil

you should be using a synthetic oil.

 

[tystick]

Re: bilge oil

correct amount should have been 950 ml...(typo)<br /> Why is automotive gear oil incorrect? Also , how do i check oil level in stern drive?<br /> Is yoke seal a diy job?

 

[achris]

Re: bilge oil

OK, 950 ml sounds better. Check the level by removing the plug from the side of the top gear housing. If none flows out, then get a small cable tie, put a 90 degree bend in it about a inch up and poke it in the hole. This will tell you the exact level of the oil. It's full when it's level with the bottom of the plug hole. I would not consider the yoke seal a DIY. It involves removing the leg (DYI, yes), removing the drive shaft from the housing with the special tool. Then stripping the drive gear and bearings off the yoke and replacing the seal. Reassemble the gear and bearing pack and set the pre-load. If you don't have the manual and the tools don't try it. I have seen a few bearing packs destroyed by people trying to set them up without the right tools. As for the oil, one to ask LubeDude.<br /><br />Chris........

 

[tystick]

Re: bilge oil

thanks...who is lube dude and how do i ask him?

 

[tystick]

Re: bilge oil

is it that bad to use the 80-90 wt. gear oil found in auto store? Can i get by for this season and then change to the quicksilver brand? I thought gear oil is all basically the same.

 

[achris]

Re: bilge oil

I have just changed a bearing and the oil in a friends stern drive because the shop he took it to put normal gear oil in. It had destroyed the bearing and was very noisy. This was after just 6 months with the wrong oil in. <br /><br />To get LubeDude to reply, just post a message/question for him.<br /><br />Chris...........

 

[Rhadley]

Re: bilge oil

Just curious--how did you add the outdrive oil if you weren't aware of how to check the level? Did you fill it from the bottom until it flowed out the to hole?

 

[tystick]

Re: bilge oil

yes...filled from bottom until flowed out top

 

[Fishermark]

Re: bilge oil

I'm curious why you used the auto gear oil. The right stuff isn't that much more expensive and it only takes a little more than a quart. If I were you I wouldn't try and guess if the 80/90 weight gear lube would work and drain it out and put in the lower unit oil. You don't necessarily have to go the synthetic route, you can go to any big discount store and buy a couple of quarts of lower unit oil and a cheap pump and go at it!

 

[tystick]

Re: bilge oil

I ran short on the merc. oil and had to go to auto shop for other stuff anyway so picked up the<br />gear oil there.<br /> Is the merc. or quicksilver marine gear oil as good as synthetic? I guess that synthetic is less wear than the regular lower unit oil?

 

[nms1991]

Re: bilge oil

marine type gear lube suspends water instead of allowing it to break down with water causing damage to the drive like bearing failures. I would recommend draining the drive and removing to pressure test the drive to find the leak, it is probably the yoke seal leaking. but does this motor have a remote canister on the engine, possibly over filled the drive causing it to over flow.