mercruiser lower unit

Jamz3333

Seaman
Joined
Oct 12, 2010
Messages
72
When I winterized my boat last fall, I checked the lower unit grease and I don't remember it having any discoloration to it. Now I am getting it ready for summer and I checked the grease again and it is a little milky looking. What could the deal be? We had a pretty mild winterand was wonderong if that could have something to do with it?
 

ziggy

Admiral
Joined
Jun 30, 2004
Messages
7,473
Re: mercruiser lower unit

I checked the lower unit grease and I don't remember it having any discoloration to it.
how did ya do this? when i do mine, i drain it all out. the upper and lower share gear lub.
Now I am getting it ready for summer and I checked the grease again and it is a little milky looking. What could the deal be?
hard to say. did ya replace the gear lub last fall? imho, i'd drain all the gear lub out and reinspect it. check for metal fragments or dust on the very first part of the draining lub. then check for water intrusion (milky oil) for the rest of it. then pressure test the drive. if it leaks, find the leak and fix it. if it don't leak. fill'er up with some new gear lub and off ya go. did ya R&R the impeller, grease the ujoints and coupler? imho, this is every year maint. also..

oh, i suppose the first question should have been, what mercruiser lower unit? like a mc-1, 1r,1mr, alpha1, alpha1 genII, bravo. etc.... ;)
 

Jamz3333

Seaman
Joined
Oct 12, 2010
Messages
72
Re: mercruiser lower unit

It has the alpha 1 gen 1. Last year when i parked it, i cracked open the drain screw to check the grease ( to make sure there was no water in it ). I didnt replace the grease last year. i showed my dad and he said he didnt think it looked like there was water in it, he said he thought it looked like it was just grease that needed to be changed. he said it looked like the grease was just starting to break down. ill drain it and refill it and take it out and then recheck. hopefully im just over reacting on this whole thing.
 

airshot

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jul 22, 2008
Messages
5,398
Re: mercruiser lower unit

It should be changed at the end of the year to get any moisture out before winter. Read your service manual....Why would you gamble on a 1500.00 outdrive for a couple dollar oil change?

Airshot
 

Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Aug 31, 2004
Messages
62,321
Re: mercruiser lower unit

It has the alpha 1 gen 1. Last year when i parked it, i cracked open the drain screw to check the grease ( to make sure there was no water in it ).

It's gear lube, 75W90 not grease.
 
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