Top off gear oil with engine titlted

[vicedja]

Hi, I need to top off the gear oil on my 2004 150XL SWB Mercury Outboard Motor. Ideally I would like to do this while the engine is tilted up so I do not have to take the boat out of the water (I do not own a truck). I can do this while the boat is in the water safely ... my question is should I?

Thank you

 

[flyingscott]

No the motor needs to be level for that. If you fill it tilted you could get an air pocket in there.

 

[bruceb58]

Out of curiosity, how long has it been since you changed it and why do you think you would need to top it off unless it is leaking?

 

[vicedja]

Thanks to you both. I just changed the gear oil before putting the boat in the water; however I noticed a slow leak from the bottom magnetic plug. So I changed the plug with the boat in the water; but now I think I should top off the gear oil. The gear oil looked good, no signs of water. So, I will have the boat pulled out, and then top off the gear oil while the engine is vertical.

 

[bruceb58]

Make sure you always change the gaskets on the all the plugs when you change your gear oil.