oil change?

[bearcat81]

I have a question on a 120 HP Force motor; can oil be added thru the top oil level port. Understand it needs to be added through the bottom port, but this question was asked of me. Please advise.

 

[roadrunnr]

Re: oil change?

Bearcat:
I believe your refering to the lower unit and its vent, fill and drain plugs. Yea, you can fill it with the fill plug and that's what I had always done before I knew better! Filling from the bottom or the drain plug will help eliminate any pockets of air that could be possible by filling from a top hole. There are probably other reasons that someone will chime in here with also.

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: oil change?

Yes and no. If you are changing the leg oil. The oil can be put in the top hole with the risk of getting a air pocket under the oil and not filling it with the correct amount of oil. The idea if you are not familiar with the reason why you fill from the bottom. It is to push the air up through the leg and vent it out of the top hole. Hope this helps

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: oil change?

It depends on if you have a two holes on the top (fill/vent) or one on the bottom and one on the top.It should be filled from the bottom to purge the air out of the system.
With the 2 screws at the top fill from one till it comes out the other.Then wait 5-10 min then try again.I do that then push oil thru the vent till it comes out the fill. I haven't had to do anything to my lowers since I bought in 88.
The drain plugs on my motors are hex head set screws and they need teflon tape or sealer.Even with that they still leak a little. Jerry

 

[bearcat81]

Re: oil change?

I have two holes on the top (fill/vent) and one in the bottom, Thank you for a quick response,you guys are great!

 

[Scaaty]

Re: oil change?

Those 2 upper screw lowers are where ya add oil after dumping it at the small Allen screw in the bottom front nose cone (NEVER TAKE OUT THE PHILLIPS HEAD SCREW AT THE SIDE OF THE GEARCASE!!).
You would never get a bottle nose in that lower drain screw anyway....and the reason its say "Fill" at the top.
Have an 88 125, and thats the way its done...and have had them apart..zero worry of any imaginary air pocket. This only applies to Force 3 screw Legs

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: oil change?

Right-on Scatty! There is a reason the factory went to the trouble of marking one plug "FILL" and the other "VENT". And filling with the engine vertical and letting it set for 1/2 hour then topping-off eliminates any trapped air. Filling from the bottom is a lot more hassle and a lot messier.

Only thing I have to add is: Depending upon year, the drain may be an allen setscrew, a stainless 1/8 NPT pipe plug, or a 3/8 flat head screw just like the fill and drain. I think all are located just in front of the skeg.

 

[bearcat81]

Re: oil change?

Thanks's again I have 1998 force and it has 3/8 flat head screws two on top one on the bottom looks like they are made of aluminum.

 

[ck85abc3]

Re: oil change?

Thanks's again I have 1998 force and it has 3/8 flat head screws two on top one on the bottom looks like they are made of aluminum.

I'm not exactly sure how yours is, but I'm just pointing this out because it happend to me.

I have a 1984 force. It has two screw plugs up top, one labeled fill and one labeled vent. There is also two on the bottom. One on the way way bottom, the drain plug that I didn't know about last year. Then there is also one on the bottom on the side that is magnetic. Last year I thought the magnetic one was the drain plug.

Don't make the same mistake as me.