Change Lower Unit Gasket after Break-In?

[catfighter]

Hello - I'm pretty close to the end of my 10-hour break-in period and I wanted to change the lower unit oil as suggested in the owner's manual.

So I go to my local boat store and ask for a gasket for my Tohatsu MFS20 and he says "nah, you don't need to change that; they hardly ever go bad, especially not after 10 hours.

So this seemed odd to me, because I assume a new gasket probably costs less than $5 and could prevent hundreds of dollars of damage if the old one happens to leak.


So what do you guys think? Is changing the gasket now (and at the beginning of every subsequent year) paranoia because they "hardly ever go bad," or is it smart?


If it's smart, then please let me know where I could get a bunch of these things b/c my local guy is too lazy/dumb to sell one to me.

 

[pvanv]

Re: Change Lower Unit Gasket after Break-In?

You're both right. The gaskets are sold 10 at a time. 332600060M GASKET (10 MULTIPLE) $0.61 each. But we don't typically need new ones after the break-in. You can also get the drain plug bolts, 332600052M OIL PLUG $4.67 each. The slots in these can get mangled if you don't use a (surprisingly) very large, proper-fitting screwdriver to tighten and loosen them. These are available from any dealer, including me.

If the used gasket looks the least bit damaged, it's prudent to replace it.

 

[catfighter]

Re: Change Lower Unit Gasket after Break-In?

Thank you for the insight; I'll just grab a bag of them just in case.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Change Lower Unit Gasket after Break-In?

Will wore them out faster depending how exaggerate you screw tight those oil bolts back. Factory adjusted oil bolts do come tight, get yourself a long screwdriver with thick extreme that matches same bolt cut width to remove properly. If using smaller screwdrivers could damage the bolt cut easily. If gaskets are thin, compressed, hardener, cracked, replace them.

Happy Boating

 

[robert graham]

Re: Change Lower Unit Gasket after Break-In?

I spray gaskets with silicone on both sides so they don't stick and tear up upon removal....works good!