Gear Lube ... turning milky in resoviour

[zul]

I installed a new lower unit mid-summer. When I replaced the lower unit, the gear lube level dropped a few ounces and that is apparently normal. Topped it up and ran through the lower unit break in instructions. Changed the gear lube again as instructed. This time, the gear lube resoviour level didn't drop .... Last week, in the reseviour, I noticed the lower portion turning milky .... hmmmm. Must be water getting in?!!

I guess the next step is to drain all of the gear lube again. But where is the water coming in?! I'll check the little rubber washer on the drain plug and check for metal bits ... and inspect the color of the gear lube.

I would hate to take the lower off again but willing to do that if necessary. The new lower had a rubber washer 'in it'. Does there need to be another rubber washer attached to the drain plug?

I also just noticed that the drain plug was just A BIT loose. Maybe a 1mm turn, snugged it up.

Ideas and suggestions appreciated. I've got to order new gear lube online today (not avail locally) but I can drain this afternoon and post up my findings. Last big trip of the year is one week out but only if I can be sure I'm keeping the water out of the gear lube ... Thx all !!

 

[JustJason]

But where is the water coming in?!

Pull and pressure test the drive and you'll find out.

 

[harleyman1975]

You are right water getting in. fishing line can get wrapped around prop shaft and take out the seal, loose plugs, missing washers, try easy stuff first and see if that fixes it. if it does not then time to dig deeper.

 

[zul]

Noticed plenty of metal shavings on the plug while draining plus the milky gear lube. Normal after installing a new lower unit or concern for alarm??

Next step is to load the new lube and make certain I've got the all the rubber washers in there and make sure the drain plug is tight.

 

[JASinIL2006]

I'd pressure test it - if you haven't already - before throwing new lube in there. It's pretty easy to whip up a pressure-testing rig.

 

[scoflaw]

Plenty of metal shavings ???? Yah, cause for alarm.

 

[Bt Doctur]

I installed a new lower unit mid-summer. When I replaced the lower unit, the gear lube level dropped a few ounces and that is apparently normal

Not quite. if you refilled it from the bottom untill it came out the vent , and then closed the vent the oil would have been pumped into the bottle.

Changed the gear lube again as instructed. This time, the gear lube resoviour level didn't drop .... Last week, in the reseviour, I noticed the lower portion turning milky .... hmmmm. Must be water getting in?!!

It takes some time for the oil to get thru that small hose to the drive.Make sure your using the grey gaskets, not the yellow ones. and no O rings
If you still get water in the upper, suspect the shaft seals

The new lower had a rubber washer 'in it'. Does there need to be another rubber washer attached to the drain plug?

The only rubber washer is called a quad seal and goes between the two units oil passage, never a rubber seal on the drain plugs.

 

[tlewis1]

If it is a new lower unit and has lots of metal shavings and water in the oil I would be looking at your warranty on the unit.......Will still need to pressure and vac test the unit and if it fails I'd be calling the manufacturer or the shop that installed it.

 

[zul]

I installed the lower. Hopefully this picture of the plug with shavings will load .... Maybe someone can post a video link or information on how to run the pressure test??

https://goo.gl/photos/oemUqLKaKGvrcAH69

 

[zul]

Alright, so I've found lots of vids and how to's on iboats and Youtube on how to pressure test. My outdrive is an Alpha 1 Gen 2. Some are saying to remove the outdrive to run the test and others say you can leave it on ... ???

I will run the test tomorrow after putting together a pressure tester ... off to the auto part store.

 

[zul]

As for the upper 'Oil Vent Plug' and lower 'Drain Plug' ... I don't have any sort of O ring or gaskets. This could be the solution to half my problem here:

I found some 'Plug Gaskets' for Merc on iboats:
Sorry for the long link, but are these the correct Gaskets I should purchase and use???

http://www.iboats.com/Plug-Gasket-M...H2cSaAVfzk8tpybRrQC8tcAYdz-TH6tquQaAjCK8P8HAQ

 

[zul]

The other half of my problem is the metal shavings on the plug ... BIG problem??? Or part of the mating process with the new lower and old upper???

 

[crazy charlie]

Shouldn't be that many shavings but I have had that many before with no issues.Can be a result of the way you shift if shifting" too carefully(slow)" Charlie