How much lower unit oil?

[Hondo65]

Ok I just changed out my water pump in my lower unit. (Mercruiser Alpha 1 1st Gen 260)

Approximately how much gear oil does it take to fill? I put in (4) 8oz. tubes and am still not up to the vent hole. Just curious how many more tubes I should buy.


Thanks

Hondo

 

[Pierutrus]

Re: How much lower unit oil?

My guess is 3 more.
I know my drive takes 56 oz's I believe so I buy 2 quarts and have a little less than half a bottle left when I'm done.

 

[gregstukey]

Re: How much lower unit oil?

64oz in my 92 omc cobra 5.0.

 

[Don S]

Re: How much lower unit oil?

Approximately how much gear oil does it take to fill? I put in (4) 8oz.

Assuming you never lost a drop, you should be almost there.
Get extra, and make sure it comes out the vent. Almost enough gear lube doesn't work.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: How much lower unit oil?

64oz in my 92 omc cobra 5.0.

Original poster has a Mercruiser.

 

[manofprawnz]

Re: How much lower unit oil?

Just did my Gen 1 the other day and think it is was just over 32oz. Being in Canada the darn stuff comes in Metric, so it was 1 Liter plus a bit more. We did a rough conversion in our heads because I believe we read it should be around 32.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: How much lower unit oil?

I thought it is supposed to take 33 oz. or so & would have thought a liter would do it......
In their infinite wisdom, they do not sell the proper size to fill it in one container, (gallons excepted).......
It always takes a quart & small part of the second quart, get two more tubes (not sure how much ya lost switching tubes)....
Keep pumping till it comes out of the vent......
Do yourself a favor & buy the quart pump for like 10 bux & two quarts next time, way easier!.....​

 

[Hondo65]

Re: How much lower unit oil?

Do yourself a favor & buy the quart pump for like 10 bux & two quarts next time, way easier!.....


No doubt! I wanted to do that but being impatient like I can be, I was at Wally World and tubes is all they had. I didn't feel like driving the distance to Gander Mountain for the quarts and the pump. I thought my new water pump was going to be in the mail that day and was expecting to get it done. As it was the pump didn't show up until 2 days later (USPS put it on the wrong truck). SO I should have made the drive for the pump.

Thanks guys,

Hondo

 

[Don S]

Re: How much lower unit oil?

Changing the gear lube SHOULD have been done during winterization. Think about the mess you would have now if your drive had had water in it, and it sat like that all winter. Same with your engine. Did you change oil & filter before storing all winter?

 

[Hondo65]

Re: How much lower unit oil?

Don S.,

I just recieved this boat this winter in a trade for my snowmobile. I took a chance that it was winterized properly like the PO told me. To what extent it was done I don't know for sure but it seemed to be ok except for the fact that they kept it parked bow down and the hull filled with water and froze.

I was able to get it into a heated shop and thawed and dried out. I was able to start the motor and check the stern drive. After just a little bit the water pump stopped moving water. I then drained everything again and covered it properly. Now I have done the pump. the old oil didn't look to bad. One thing that I hate doing is a new repair for the first time. I got everything back together and realized that the trim tab bolt has to go in first before assembly. So back apart it comes and I do that. Back together it goes only to realize that now the shift shaft foot has moved on me and the drive won't shift. Back apart again!! Well it is together now but the weather has turned for the worse and my weekend is over. So another week before I get it into the water to do a sea trail'
]

Hondo