Uh oh - Lower Unit Milkshake...

[Mercury60]

So I spent this past weekend rewiring the boat...fun stuff. I finally started the 1986 60hp mercury outboard sunday night for the first time. It ran great! Today after work I decided to change the gear oil in the lower unit. MILKSHAKE!

I always change the gear oil every year before I hit the water and this is the first year that water has gotten into the oil. What gives? Maybe some condensation got in there during the winter? I'm going to be running the boat this upcoming weekend and will change the fluid next week to see the status of things.

What would cause water to get into the gear oil?

 

[alaskanassassin]

Re: Uh oh - Lower Unit Milkshake...

After you run it next time when you tilt your motor back down watch the water drain out of your prop. If milkshake comes out, your prop shaft seals are likely bad. Also, pull off your prop and see if there is fishing line wrapped around the prop shaft. Fishing line will wrap around and cut that seal really fast. If you are mechanically inclined, those seals are really easy to do, you will be able to figure it out by looking at the new seals. There are seals under your water pump as well, check those next if the prop seals don't fix it. Good luck, and don't blow your lower unit.