I've been running my motor with no oil in the lower unit

[btaylor507]

I hava a 57' Evinrude Fastwin 18hp. I bought the motor about 2 months ago and have ran it for about 3 hours total since. I pulled the boat in the garage today to change the low unit oil and there was none. No oil...no water. This was about 2 hours after I pulled it. It seems like it dosen't have the power it should either. I have a 14' fiberglass boat and on the GPS, top speed is 7 mph. What could I have done to it and how do I know?

Big Thanks to all of you here on the Iboats forums. You guys rock!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: I've been running my motor with no oil in the lower unit

is your transom built for a 15 inch short shaft motor. if it is running, and shifting, it is probably ok. measure from where motor sits to lowest point on the transom.

 

[mikesea]

Re: I've been running my motor with no oil in the lower unit

Are you sure you checked by removing the RIGHT oil plug.Its the large slotted.I find it hard to believe you got 3 hrs.with no oil.Never the less.You need oil.Are you POSITIVE no water.I think for safty,right now,if you have any kind of oil get it in there ,til you can buy the lowerunit oil .I dont like the fact nothing is in there and .if its not too late,any moisture will rust up the berings unless coated with some kind of oil.I can tell you this.A friend resealed a 20 hp back in the 70's.Forgot to put the oil in.The owner didnt get 1/2 mile away and the unit failed.Be sure you got the right plug,stick a piece of wire up in the hole if by chance its plugged.Get some oil in until you get the right stuff.NOW.Ideally,you want to pressure test the unit if there is a chance it has a seal leak.

 

[btaylor507]

Re: I've been running my motor with no oil in the lower unit

I removed both screws and nothing came out. I have never check the lower unit oil since I bought it and only ran it full throtle for about 30 mins. Most of the time was idol or real slow. I put new oil in the bottom(Pennzoil brand lower unit gear oil) and plan on letting it sit for a day then drain and refill again. I filled by removing the screws and filling from the bottom till it came out the top. I really hope I didn't so anything to this great running motor. Also it still shifts like its brand new. Thanks guys.

 

[btaylor507]

Re: I've been running my motor with no oil in the lower unit

It is a short shaft, 18 hp FastWin

 

[F_R]

Re: I've been running my motor with no oil in the lower unit

Agreed, running it with no oil whatsover is bound to cause damage. But you can't undo it so if it works, consider yourself lucky. Well, I'll take that back. If it damaged the forward gear bearing, you may not have caused serious damage to the gear...yet. But is will in time if you continue to run it with the damaged bearing. That bearing is replaceable. The pinion bearing is not replaceable.

7mph is awful. It probably is only running on one cylinder. Check it out. On the positive side, lack of horsepower may have saved your lower unit!!

 

[btaylor507]

Re: I've been running my motor with no oil in the lower unit

7 mph is awful..I know I have to hear it from my wife...lol...I'm pretty sure the motors running on all 2 because when I was adjusting the top and low end fuel adjusters I went through a few sets of plugs and they looked identical each time I pulled them. I'm thinkin maybe its just a really heavy boat. How easy do you think it would be to find a new lower unit just in case? and would the lack of oil in the lower unit reduce my speed?

 

[F_R]

Re: I've been running my motor with no oil in the lower unit

Whatever you say.

Is the boat full of water or something? I get 4.8 GPS mph on my 14' aluminum with a 500 lb load and an antique 3hp Gale motor.

Yes, no oil could reduce your speed. Especially if it is grinding up the bearings. There are plenty of used lower units around. But look to see what's going on in yours before going that far.

 

[R.Johnson]

Re: I've been running my motor with no oil in the lower unit

That gearcase has all bushed bearing surfaces. If run that long with no lube, my guess would be that the gears' are a deep blue color from heat. The engine probably slowed down when the parts tried to friction weld together.

 

[quackaddict1]

Re: I've been running my motor with no oil in the lower unit

That gearcase has all bushed bearing surfaces. If run that long with no lube, my guess would be that the gears' are a deep blue color from heat. The engine probably slowed down when the parts tried to friction weld together.

This is what I would bet money on

 

[eldocraft]

Re: I've been running my motor with no oil in the lower unit

help bad day at lake. took my boat out ran for about 15minutes run great killed it when iwent to put it in gear noting forward nothing reverse can anyone tell me what to start checking out?it sounded like it just wouldn't catch in either gear

 

[F_R]

Re: I've been running my motor with no oil in the lower unit

eldo, I see that you reposted in a new thread, so you are forgiven for hijacking into this one. And welcome to iboats.

 

[eldocraft]

Re: I've been running my motor with no oil in the lower unit

i'm new and don't know what i'm doing other than having boat problems

 

[btaylor507]

Re: I've been running my motor with no oil in the lower unit

Thanks to everyone to has helped me with this problem. I will let you know what happens when I take her out this weekend.

 

[dimock44]

Re: I've been running my motor with no oil in the lower unit

I hava a 57' Evinrude Fastwin 18hp. I bought the motor about 2 months ago and have ran it for about 3 hours total since. I pulled the boat in the garage today to change the low unit oil and there was none. No oil...no water. This was about 2 hours after I pulled it. It seems like it dosen't have the power it should either. I have a 14' fiberglass boat and on the GPS, top speed is 7 mph. What could I have done to it and how do I know?

Big Thanks to all of you here on the Iboats forums. You guys rock!

I once went about a mile wot with both plugs out on a 59 50hp. Fortunately I snagged a fish line in the prop and when I raised the motor I noticed the missing. The wind was blowing straight across the lake toward my house and I drifted back. When I looked where the boat was parked there was an oil stain in the grass. No damage to lower end and I ran 2 years before I replaced the clutch dog. I think the water in the gears must helped some I still cant believe some bozo needed the plugs that bad. That old 50 hp was the most bullet proof I ever owned. But really thirsty. I hope you will be that lucky.

 

[mikesea]

Re: I've been running my motor with no oil in the lower unit

I have to agree with the theory about the loss of speed.You might want to start looking on ebay for a replacement gearcase.The parts will likely be expensive.

 

[rjezuit]

Re: I've been running my motor with no oil in the lower unit

Laingsoutboards.com sells lower units for older motors. They are not cheap, but they have been gone through and I believe have some kind of warranty. Rick

 

[btaylor507]

Re: I've been running my motor with no oil in the lower unit

Thanks for the info guys. I hope I'm as lucky as some people. It ran fine when I pulled back into the dock. I checked last night and she wasn't friction welded so I really hope I didn't hurt her. She's all I have and money's tight. Thanks again.