Leaky Drive oil

[ILOVEBEER]

Hey guys I have a 1998 Sea Ray 4.3L / Alpha 1 Merc. The drive oil resevoir seems to drop a little after a couple days hard use. I pulled the bottom plug to check for water and there was none. The oil wasn't milky either. I looked in the bilge and it is clean. What can I do now? Where could it be leaking? Thanks.

 

[Don S]

Re: Leaky Drive oil

Pull the drive and check for gear lube in the bellows (Common Problem).
If that is dry, time to drain the gear lube and do a pressure and vacuum check of the drive.

 

[bamadave]

Re: Leaky Drive oil

Time to pressure check the lower unit. There are a couple of places it could be leaking, shift shaft seal, or prop shaft. The good news is that you don't see water in the oil so the repair doesn't have to be immediate but soon. Please keep an eye on the level and water infiltration. But meantime, you are putting oil in the water, so......get it repaired so all the tree huggers don't tell us we're destroying the water ways.

 

[ILOVEBEER]

Re: Leaky Drive oil

Thanks guys.

Don, I am mechanically inclined but very boat stupid so please bear with me. What are the bellows and where are they? What is involved in pulling the drive? Sounds like a big job. Where can I go for information about pulling the drive?

Thanks a bunch.

 

[Don S]

Re: Leaky Drive oil

The first thing you need is this.

http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/14/14cover.pdf