Losing gear lube...

[sirdave4]

Alpha 1 Sterndrive
Last few times out skiing I noticed the gear lube reservoir was slowly draining and eventually going empty to the point of tripping the alarm. This appeared to have started happening after the winter break and I don't notice where the gear lube is leaking? Could the freezing temperatures have damaged the sterndrive? Is there some common places to check? There is no visible oil leak anywhere. Any help greatly appreciated.

03 Stringray 4.3l alpha I drive

 

[farmerforever]

Re: Losing gear lube...

I am having something similar happening. I found the tube from the reservoir was off the connector down on the lower unit. Replaced the tube on the connector but it still seems to be leaking oil from that fitting...I might try to replace that fitting and see what happens...

Did you follow the tube down the lower unit to see if it was leaking down at the connector?

 

[bigmacfan]

Re: Losing gear lube...

I lose gear lube as well, but very slowly. I have to top it off probably 3 times per summer where it gets down to the "add" line. I don't know where it is going..... there is nothing in the bilge, nothing running down the out drive. I have asked a couple of different repair shops about it and they can't find it either.....

Just wondered how slowly yours is leaking?

 

[farmerforever]

Re: Losing gear lube...

Mine is leaking a bit faster than that. I have to fill my tank after each weekend on the lake.

It doesn't seem to have any impact on the lower unit...it doesn't overheat or have water in the lower unit or anything like that...I can just see it bubble up a drip to the surface of the water while we are sitting there floating in the water...it sort of makes a nasty mess of the water over the course of the day. It is just more irritating and I want it to stop at this point!

 

[danond]

Re: Losing gear lube...

If gear lube is getting out, water is getting in! How do you know it doesn't have water in it? Have you drained the drive empty?

 

[farmerforever]

Re: Losing gear lube...

Yes. It didn't start until 2 weeks ago. As soon as I saw it I pulled off the water and went home to check it out. The hose was off of the connector fitting...I drained the lower unit and there was not any water in the oil..as best as I could tell...the oil was pretty dark so it was probably good to change it anyway...

I looks to me that it is leaking out of the connector where the rubber hose is on the fitting yet. I did notice that there might be a drip coming from the silver shaft just above it...it has a little knob on that shaft and a hole in the shaft. Dried it off to see if it still had a drip on it or not..

 

[farmerforever]

Re: Losing gear lube...

I went and talked to a boat mechanic about my issue yesterday. So I am an idiot...the tube and connector I was messing with was the speed-o! Which that has not worked for some time now....that would explain why that tube was off...

As for the oil all over it...it is coming down from the shifting rod...this mechanic told me that the seal around the drive shaft area is probably out. He said I probably need to pull the lower unit and have it replaced...he said they charge about $200 to do that...

Does that sound about right?

 

[danond]

Re: Losing gear lube...

Sounds cheap.