Trim Pump Fluid is White in the Reservior...

[rauch0812]

The fluid in the trim pump reservior is white... what's are next step? It's a Mercruiser 5.0L with a alpha 1 gen 2 drive if that matters...

We've only owned the boat a few months... could it just be the color of whatever fluid the person before us used? If so, how to we empty the reservior to fill it with Quicksilver Trim Fluid like the manual recommends?

 

[Don S]

Re: Trim Pump Fluid is White in the Reservior...

Milky white is water in the oil. Probably a leaky seal in one of the trim rams.

 

[rauch0812]

Re: Trim Pump Fluid is White in the Reservior...

We called a mercruiser repair shop and we were told that air in the system will also turn the fluid white and that can take 6 month to bleed out (or something to that effect) and we shouldn't worry about. Now, we aren't having any trouble with the trim at all... any thoughts?

 

[SSSuper83]

Re: Trim Pump Fluid is White in the Reservior...

Get that oil out of the trim system or you WILL have problems shortly. Its easy..lower the drive to full down position (reservoir full). Use a small hand pump, like something you would change oil with. Suck out all the fluid..replace with correct fresh fluid. Cycle sterndrive up and down about 5 times.. then to full down again. Check the fluid. If it is still like milk, repeat the process as above until the fluid is clear. Air bubbles will definitely change the consistency of the fluid, but not make it like milk. WATER will. Good luck!

 

[SSSuper83]

Re: Trim Pump Fluid is White in the Reservior...

I just did this yesterday to mine, and went through three quarts of oil doing it. Buy enough oil to have on hand.