Remote Gear Lube Tank

[akincer]

Merc 4.3 Alpha Gen II
Engine Serial # OW626893
Drive Serial # OW845544


I'm going to be pulling my outdrive this weekend for regular maintenance (first time for me). It has the square remote gear lube tank. I will be draining the gear lube first. I assume that draining from the lower unit will drain all the oil in the system - is that correct?


Also, as a matter of curiosity, if you pull the drive without first draining the gear lube, is there some kind of check valve that keeps the oil in the remote tank from draining out or does would it just drain through the transom onto the floor when you pull the drive off?

 

[Bt Doctur]

draining the gear lube involves opening the fill (bottom plug) and vent (top plug) . lube bottle may not drain. Yes, there is a check valve in the gimbal housing
to prevent the oil from draining out.

 

[alldodge]

Merc 4.3 Alpha Gen II
Engine Serial # OW626893
Drive Serial # OW845544


I'm going to be pulling my outdrive this weekend for regular maintenance (first time for me). It has the square remote gear lube tank. I will be draining the gear lube first. I assume that draining from the lower unit will drain all the oil in the system - is that correct?


Also, as a matter of curiosity, if you pull the drive without first draining the gear lube, is there some kind of check valve that keeps the oil in the remote tank from draining out or does would it just drain through the transom onto the floor when you pull the drive off?

If you remove the drain plug from the drive and do not remove the drive, all lube will drain from the bottle into the drive and out. There is a check valve in the bell housing and the drive, so when the drive is removed no lube comes out of the drive or lube bottle. It is good to clean out the bottle every so often because slug will build up. Some drain the bottle every time, some don't. I drain and clean the bottle every other season or so.

 

[akincer]

Excellent - thanks. I'm planning to drain it all and clean the bottle this time since I don't know when it was done last. In future years, I can probably do it every other year or so as suggested.

 

[WeekendCruise]

If you remove the drain plug from the drive and do not remove the drive, all lube will drain from the bottle into the drive and out. There is a check valve in the bell housing and the drive, so when the drive is removed no lube comes out of the drive or lube bottle. It is good to clean out the bottle every so often because slug will build up. Some drain the bottle every time, some don't. I drain and clean the bottle every other season or so.

Listen to this^. He told me this a few months ago and was absolutely correct. The bottom of mine was very sludgy, old and probably wouldn't have ever drained with or without a plug.