out drive gear lube

[roffey]

Question for you. I have been getting my boat ready for the summer and decided to change the outdrive gear lube. Some back ground on the boat, I bought it brand new in August of 2014. The boat has been well cared for and maintained with 225 hours on the motor. The motor is a 4.3 merc. The outdrive is a alpha 2. I changed the gear lube and pumped it in from the bottom until it came of the vent hole. I replaced the bottom and top screw and started the motor. I could hear the alarm sound so I checked the oil level in the oil well in the dog house, It was to the full mark... but the alarm still sounded every time I started the motor so I put extra lube into the bottom of the out drive.

so here my question, is it possible to over fill the drive with gear lube?

 

[mike_i]

I'm an outboard guy so I'm not sure if changing the oil in an outdrive is the same as an outboard. When you say you pumped the oil until it came out of the vent hole are you referring to the top hole? Did you install the top screw first then the bottom screw so minimal oil will drain out after removing the tube from the bottom hole?

 

[roffey]

yes, exactly. After putting the screws back in I started the motor and the alarm sounded. I let it sit for a bit, topped up the gear oil reservoir even though it did not need it. I started up the motor once more and the alarm still sounded. I put it in gear thinking there might be air trapped in the out drive but no, it still sounded. I unscrewed the fill screw (bottom screw) and pumped another liter in and started the motor.. no alarm this time but I'm thinking I over filled it?

BTW, its just been in the driveway so no damage even if I over filled it

 

[Stinnett21]

Not following you. Did you drain the entire system, lube monitor bottle all the way out the bottom hole first?

 

[ThomW]

yes, exactly. After putting the screws back in I started the motor and the alarm sounded. I let it sit for a bit, topped up the gear oil reservoir even though it did not need it. I started up the motor once more and the alarm still sounded. I put it in gear thinking there might be air trapped in the out drive but no, it still sounded. I unscrewed the fill screw (bottom screw) and pumped another liter in and started the motor.. no alarm this time but I'm thinking I over filled it?

BTW, its just been in the driveway so no damage even if I over filled it

If it was already full, and you said the reservoir was topped off, how did you pump another liter into the lower? Something isn't adding up. When you drained the lower the first time, did you drain it all? Like the reservoir was empty?

 

[roffey]

no, what I did was drain the oil or lube out of the out drive via the bottom screw. The reservoir did not seem to go down. I filled up the outdrive until the oil started coming out the top vent hole. When I started the motor the alarm sounded. I let it sit for a bit but every time I started the motor the alarm would sound so I topped up the reservoir even though it did not show low and started up the motor and the alarm so me being the still sounded. So me being the dummy I am put more lube in the out drive and basically forced more oil in. I started the motor and no alarm. My question is is it possible to put to much oil in the drive.

I'm thinking I should take some out. Sorry if I'm not be clear, lol. I see that in all sorts of posting.

 

[JimS123]

Suck out the oil from the tank located on the engine. Fill up the lower unit until it comes out the top hole. Replace the plug and keep pumping. When the air is evacuated the oil will start to fill the reservoir tank. Continue to fill to the proper level. You probably have air in the system and it thinks the lower unit is not full.

Those reservoir tanks were a dumb thing......LOL.

 

[Grub54891]

Since you have the oil reservoir , no you can't overfill it. The lube would spill out the reservoir. Sometimes when the reservoir goes empty the float gets stuck on the bottom causing the alarm. It's good practice to remove the reservoir and clean it out every few years.. I think the tank is a good thing for monitoring the lube level myself.

 

[JimS123]

It's good practice to remove the reservoir and clean it out every few years.. I think the tank is a good thing for monitoring the lube level myself.

Get a seal leak and fill the lower unit with water. Then, coincidentally, have a bubble in the line so you "think" the outdrive is OK.

So who do you know that cleans the tank every few years.....LOL.

Pop the top screw out once a month and see what happens. Then you'll be sure and not be surprized later.

 

[Grub54891]

Get a seal leak and fill the lower unit with water. Then, coincidentally, have a bubble in the line so you "think" the outdrive is OK.

So who do you know that cleans the tank every few years.....LOL.

Pop the top screw out once a month and see what happens. Then you'll be sure and not be surprized later.

Do whatever you like. I service outdrives all the time. Cleaning the tank is part of the service, they do get gunked up, and yes you can see the milky oil in the tank when you do get a leak.

 

[JimS123]

Do whatever you like. I service outdrives all the time. Cleaning the tank is part of the service, they do get gunked up, and yes you can see the milky oil in the tank when you do get a leak.

I talk to to boaters all the time. Many do their own "service". I can't tell you how many times people tell me that they don't know enough to lube u-joints or replace water pump impellers. And bellows! - what is that?

My comment was not intended to downplay requirements, but merely to point out that many (most) saturday afternoon boat owners are clueless.

 

[Scott06]

no, what I did was drain the oil or lube out of the out drive via the bottom screw. The reservoir did not seem to go down. I filled up the outdrive until the oil started coming out the top vent hole. When I started the motor the alarm sounded. I let it sit for a bit but every time I started the motor the alarm would sound so I topped up the reservoir even though it did not show low and started up the motor and the alarm so me being the still sounded. So me being the dummy I am put more lube in the out drive and basically forced more oil in. I started the motor and no alarm. My question is is it possible to put to much oil in the drive.

I'm thinking I should take some out. Sorry if I'm not be clear, lol. I see that in all sorts of posting.

It should completely drain the reservoir out the bottom plug. If it really didnt drain there is probably some debris in there or in the hose back to the outdrive. when i refill just pump from the bottom up until you see lube coming up in the bottle. At this point i would let it idle on the muffs and just make sure any air bubbles work their way up to the lube bottle and top off if needed. I usually end up adding a little after using the boat a time or two after changing the lube.

 

[Stinnett21]

The tanks do gunk up and it's wise to keep them de-gunked. I clean mine about every 2 or 3 seasons. I remove it, put some mineral spirits in and shake. Might have to use a few Q tips on needle nose pliers to get the corners or hard to reach areas. Dry it out re-install, pump up from bottom. Leave the cap off or loose while pumping.

 

[roffey]

Thanks for all the replies. Keep in mind the boat is not that old, 2014. My question was, can you over fill with gear oil. I know you can put to much oil in a motor, like wise can you over fill the out drive or will it just spill out the reservoir?
Once again sorry for not being clear.

 

[Scott06]

Thanks for all the replies. Keep in mind the boat is not that old, 2014. My question was, can you over fill with gear oil. I know you can put to much oil in a motor, like wise can you over fill the out drive or will it just spill out the reservoir?
Once again sorry for not being clear.

It will just come out the reservoir, not the same situation as overfilling oil in an engine crabkcase.

 

[roffey]

It will just come out the reservoir, not the same situation as overfilling oil in an engine crabkcase.

thanks, that's what I was looking for and thought. I have a plastic tub under my reservoir.

 

[Grub54891]

Since you have the oil reservoir , no you can't overfill it. The lube would spill out the reservoir. Sometimes when the reservoir goes empty the float gets stuck on the bottom causing the alarm. It's good practice to remove the reservoir and clean it out every few years.. I think the tank is a good thing for monitoring the lube level myself.

 

[QBhoy]

I think there is no way you should get another litre in there between the vent level and the tank.
see if the float is stuck or if the alarm is for something else.

 

[roffey]

the alarm stopped once I put more gear oil in. When I unscrewed the gear oil pump a fair amount of oil came out, not a liter tho. As I mentioned I was concerned about putting in to much oil.

 

[Scott06]

the alarm stopped once I put more gear oil in. When I unscrewed the gear oil pump a fair amount of oil came out, not a liter tho. As I mentioned I was concerned about putting in to much oil.

A gen two is about 2 qts ( from memorial) fully dry to full, depending on how patient you are letting it drain out more or less willbe needed to refill.