Outdrive Oil

[mjgates]

trying to figure out if I need to change the outdrive oil this year. It was changed at the start of last season. I only had a 1 month boating season as the lake completely dried up. It was docked in a wet slip for the one month. Will last years outdrive oil be ok with very limited use, or should I change it again this year. I am under the impression it has to pumped into the outdrive, so I would assumre some kind of pump kit is needed if I need to change it. I used to have my mechanic do everything, for the last 13 years, but I believe it's time to start learning to do some of this stuff myself to save some money. My mechanic, who was once very reasonably priced, has now priced me out of the shop.

 

[greg82255]

Re: Outdrive Oil

Changing the oil is usually done as part of winterizing. It probably won't hurt anything if you wait until the end of the season, but if it were my boat I'd change it just for reassurance. The gear lube costs about $10 a quart and you will need to buy 2 quarts, a pump, and a set of drain screw gaskets. total of about $30. What type/year outdrive do you have?

 

[mjgates]

Re: Outdrive Oil

Thanks Greg. It's a 99 Alpha One. 5.0 Mercruiser. I did get it winterized. I'll have to call the mechanic. They have basic and full winterization packages. i chose the basic, so I'll find out what that included.

 

[greg82255]

Re: Outdrive Oil

Outdrive oil is pretty basic, so I bet it was done. If not, go on over to your local marine supply store and get yourself a gear lube pump, 2 quarts of gear lube, and a set of drain screw gaskets (2 in a set). Then follow these steps:

1. Remove the vent screw and drain screw from your drive. The vent screw is located near the top of the drive on the port side - a flat head screw driver will take it out. The drain screw is near the very bottom of the lower unit near the front, port side as well, same flat head screwdriver. Let the oil drain out.
2. Attach your pump to the drain screw hole(bottom) and to your quart of oil. Pump the oil from the bottom until you see it coming out of the vent hole (top). It should take about 1 and 1/3 quarts.
3. Put the new gaskets on your screws and re-install them.

Don't forget those gaskets - I did last year and ended up with a pool of green underneath my drive over the winter. about half of the lube drained out. Good luck

 

[robjen1019]

Re: Outdrive Oil

seriously...if you don't know the condition of the oil. Then change it. Its much cheaper than a new outdrive...and easier to do it now rather then when the family is waiting to get out in the boat.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Outdrive Oil

Changing the oil is usually done as part of winterizing. It probably won't hurt anything if you wait until the end of the season, but if it were my boat I'd change it just for reassurance. The gear lube costs about $10 a quart and you will need to buy 2 quarts, a pump, and a set of drain screw gaskets. total of about $30. What type/year outdrive do you have?

Along those same lines, the oil SHOULD be changed before winter lay-up so you can have a look at it to inspect for water in the oil. If you do (have water) , you don't let it sit in there for the entire winter.

If you do not want to change the oil now, you can have a look at the oil..... (drain a little)...... and if it looks "ok" (no water, metal or REALLY DARK), run it for the summer and change it at the end of season.

Mercury recommends 100hrs or once a year.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Outdrive Oil

Along those same lines, the oil SHOULD be changed before winter lay-up so you can have a look at it to inspect for water in the oil. If you do (have water) , you don't let it sit in there for the entire winter.

If you do not want to change the oil now, you can have a look at the oil..... (drain a little)...... and if it looks "ok" (no water, metal or REALLY DARK), run it for the summer and change it at the end of season.

Mercury recommends 100hrs or once a year.

Ayuh,.... With a proper sized screwdriver,...
Pull the lower drain plug,...
If there's water in the drive, you'll see that 1st, then oil....
If ya just get a few drops of oil,...
Yer Good ta Go, screw the plug back in, 'n snug it tight...

 

[mjgates]

Re: Outdrive Oil

Thanks for the advice. I checked the outdrive oil this weekend. No water, and once it dried on the towel it didn't have a nasty black color. kind of a greenish tint, which I guess is normal for the kind of oil used.

 

[Don S]

Re: Outdrive Oil

Ayuh,....
If there's water in the drive, you'll see that 1st, then oil....

That's the nice thing about using the Mercruiser High Performance gear lube and not aftermarket synthetics. With the Hi Perf, the water mixes with the gear lube and turns milky and stays suspended in the oil. It does't seperate back out. This keeps the lower gears and bearings from sitting is water only with gear lube above.