Lower units on outboard

[Sambo1959]

I have twin outboard Hondas motors they are 225 twin outboard Hondas motors when I drain the lower unit lube oil on the starboard side oil it's a lot more dirtier then the port side look like the port side looks almost brand new the motors are 2015 what do you you think not to good

 

[Grub54891]

Not sure on Hondas, But I have seen the same thing on Mercruiser drives, where one is counter-rotating. Seems one is always dirtier than the other. Still hold up well, Do they counter-rotate?

 

[Sambo1959]

Yes they counter rotate

 

[tks05]

Were the lower unit's oil changed at the same time? How does the oil look, is it milky or opaque? Does it smell burnt?

 

[Sambo1959]

Yes I changed both of them at the same time and no Molly look to or burn smell just black

 

[Grub54891]

I don't think you have a problem, If you want, change it mid season, see how it looks then. I think it'll be darker than the other. Have you checked with the dealer to see of it's a common issue?

 

[Texasmark]

Your main problem (other than careless shifting) to watch for would be due to water intrusion. Water makes the oil milky when homogenized by the spinning gears. The more water in the oil the yellower it gets. Black is great. Mercury uses a Blue Black oil so it's almost black out of the bottle. Pennzoil is honey colored.....2 extremes of the spectrum.

On Pennzoil and water, Honey is clear....water intrusion is like milk.

Always a good idea to change fluid annually if used a lot or LU sits in the water, and always use new seals on the drain and vent screws in the LU.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

My Merc-Mariner lower gear lube is a very dark blue/ gray, dark doesn't mean it's dirtier. I run the old oil through a coffee filter looking for metal on the filter even if the magnetic plug is clean I would question if both were done at the same time as someone mentioned or a different lube was used.