Volvo Penta dp-sm white gear lube

[summer madness]

I went to change the gear lube in one of my drives and it came out a creamy white color, I know water. I had checked both drives last year and seemed to be ok as I let out some of the oil out and was a brown clean color. My question is how is it possible that in the spring it is creamy white? Also dare I ask what could be the results of this blunder. I realize it needs to pressure tested and my internals could be rusted. I am taking to a shop this week and was looking for some opinions. Is it possible by internals could be ok?

Summer Madness

 

[summer madness]

Re: Volvo Penta dp-sm white gear lube

Sorry one other thing, What areas of the lower unit could water make it into the gear lube.

 

[Don S]

Re: Volvo Penta dp-sm white gear lube

Sorry one other thing, What areas of the lower unit could water make it into the gear lube.

Every seal for the prop, shift, between the upper and lower, are all possibilities for leaks.

I had checked both drives last year and seemed to be ok as I let out some of the oil out and was a brown clean color

That is why you change the gear lube during winterization. Many times I have drained gear lube from drives where the first little bit looks good and the rest is junk.

Check the ujoint bellows. If they get water in them, it goes right into the drive and the bearings in the flywheel cover (engine pull to replace those bearings). As a rule of thumb, in salt water, change those bellows every other year. They are thinner than bellows on other type drives.