Lower Unit Lube...does milky = mocha color?

[ozarkzander]

I have been following all of the suggestions in the "how to wake a sleeping outboard" thread. I got to the part about draining the lower unit fluids. It came out dark dark dark brown, but towards the end of the draining the color changed to somewhat lighter brown. I was going to post a picture but it looked too much like a barf bucket so I decided against it. Some of the oil which came out looked like a dark mocha color. Is this what you guys consider to be milky and therefore I would need to put new seals on the lower unit?

 

[petryshyn]

Re: Lower Unit Lube...does milky = mocha color?

put new oil, change the "level" and "fill" plug gaskets and put her in the water. check the oil after a good run. If its different than what you put in, then worry about the seals...

 

[Rick.]

Re: Lower Unit Lube...does milky = mocha color?

From your description I would say your fine. Sounds like it may well be old but not milky. I'm quite certain you would know milky if you saw it and you called it a lighter brown. Definitely change your vent/fill gaskets and fill her up and I think you'll be good to go. Check it again before freezing weather occurs. Best of luck. Rick.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Lower Unit Lube...does milky = mocha color?

It's my understanding that the gear case can tolerate a little water so if you have a little coloration after it settled, or again after refill, you'll want to consider the cost of doing the seals v. changing it more frequently, factoring in the value and age of the motor, etc. Especially with salt-water motors, sometimes breaking into the old ones does more harm, and some are impenetrable. It's my impression from other comments that you risk wearing out the lower unit gears, but not sudden failure, from a little water. As always, a matter of degree.
Maybe I'm jut whisting past the graveyard b/c the gearcase oil in the almost free motor I just got was milk-and-coffee colored. Also has what appear to be home-made seals on the screws, so I'm switching out from the dead motor. One of the screws has a magnet on it, and show some filings-I hadn't seen the magnet screws before. We'll see....

 

[ryendube]

Re: Lower Unit Lube...does milky = mocha color?

It's my understanding that the gear case can tolerate a little water so if you have a little coloration after it settled, or again after refill, you'll want to consider the cost of doing the seals v. changing it more frequently, factoring in the value and age of the motor, etc. Especially with salt-water motors, sometimes breaking into the old ones does more harm, and some are impenetrable. It's my impression from other comments that you risk wearing out the lower unit gears, but not sudden failure, from a little water. As always, a matter of degree.
Maybe I'm jut whisting past the graveyard b/c the gearcase oil in the almost free motor I just got was milk-and-coffee colored. Also has what appear to be home-made seals on the screws, so I'm switching out from the dead motor. One of the screws has a magnet on it, and show some filings-I hadn't seen the magnet screws before. We'll see....

Water in oil will make it froth, looses its lubricating properties. Bearings will rust cause failure, sieze up etc

Unless your talkin draining and filling after every use i would fix it.

that mocha your talkin about is exactly what water in oil looks like. im not a boat mechanic but im sure water in the gear case is the #1 cause of failure. I know in my bussiness water garauntees bearing failure.

 

[ryendube]

Re: Lower Unit Lube...does milky = mocha color?

oh and if it has been sitting for ahwhile with water in the LU i would definetly take a peak.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Lower Unit Lube...does milky = mocha color?

change the oil, use new seals on screws and run it.

check again. Use new seals again.

If the gears are rusted (which I seriously doubt), opening it up won't change anything, it'll be junk no matter what, might as well run it.

 

[ozarkzander]

Re: Lower Unit Lube...does milky = mocha color?

Thanks for the response guys. I have the carb apart and a carb kit on the way, so after I get everything put back together, I will do what you have suggested. Where could I get those Allen head screws with magnets in them? I saw no filings in there but better safe then sorry. It is a FD18E (1964 Johnson Seahorse 18hp)

 

[jonesg]

Re: Lower Unit Lube...does milky = mocha color?

you need to know the thread size of the drain screw, take it to a hardware store and find the nut that matches the thread, then you'll know if a newer drain screw will fit.