Frosty oi

Stingray1961

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
May 18, 2010
Messages
38
I was just changing my oil in the lower unit mercriuser 1993
4.3 had done a pressure test this spring was good. When I was pumping the oil from the bottom vent hole at first it was clean watching it get pushed out the top vent hole. but as the oil that was lower down came out it was frosty.is that normal
 

Stingray1961

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
May 18, 2010
Messages
38
Re: Frosty oi

I was pumping from bottom hole watching oil come out of top vent hole. Like I said at first it was clean till it got to the bottom batch which eventually gets pushed out that bottom oil was frosty
 

paultjohnson

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jul 29, 2010
Messages
1,560
Re: Frosty oi

UMMMMMM...... I am somewhat confused. The way I am reading it -it sounds like you are filling the drive from the bottom until it comes out the top vent. And then you keep filling as thou to flush out the old oil thru the top? As opposed to the correct way, Take out the top and bottom plugs. let all the oil drain so the gearcase is empty. Now hook op your little gear oil pump to the bottom hole put a qt plus a little more in until it starts to ooze out the top hole. replace plug in top hole. now quickly remove gear oil pump from the bottom hole and quick like a bunny, replace bottom plug.??? plz clarify how you are changing your gear oil Thx :confused:
 

paultjohnson

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jul 29, 2010
Messages
1,560
Re: Frosty oi

You did drain the old oil out first didnt you - before adding new oil ?
 

paultjohnson

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jul 29, 2010
Messages
1,560
Re: Frosty oi

Im back And by... frosty... Do you mean the gear oil looks perhaps like a... milkshake ? as in maybe u have water mixed with your gear oil ???
 

Stingray1961

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
May 18, 2010
Messages
38
Re: Frosty oi

I no your suppose to drain the oil. In the winter I usually just try to push the moisture out re do in spring. The point I am trying to make is should it be frosty after all season at all.
 

ziggy

Admiral
Joined
Jun 30, 2004
Messages
7,473
Re: Frosty oi

define frosty?

push the moister out? there shouldn't be any moister. if there is. it'll drain out the drain hole when ya drain it. depending on the gear lub used. the water/moister will be at the bottom. oil floats on water. or if a gear lub like mercruiser hp, the moister will be mixed with the lub. when ya drain it, the moister goes out with it.

In the winter I usually just try to push the moisture out re do in spring.
that sounds messy... + that's not the proper way to do it. drain the fluid out and replace it with new and yer good to go for next season.

if ya got moister in your gear lub. ya need to pressure test it and find out why. no moister of any kind should be in the gear case. just do it by the book and you'll be fine..
 

Stingray1961

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
May 18, 2010
Messages
38
Re: Frosty oi

ThAnk you but how clean should the oil be. If it's run all season is it suppose to be nice and gold or will it start to get frosty lighter color
 

Vanover

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Sep 7, 2010
Messages
108
Re: Frosty oi

I can not speak for all motors, but both my merc and my mariner are run all year all conditions, about 100 hrs a piece and the oil in the lower unit is just a slight bit darker than when i put it in. No moisture at all and not lighter at all. A very small amount of metal is normal. Especialy if you are breaking in a unit. Frosty=water. As stated above get it tested. They will find the leak and correct this. Lower units are not cheap.
 
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