Water In The Gear Lube? Here's How Ya Find Out.

[Hooty]

There was some discussion about that stuff that Joew94th got out of his gear case. Some said it was water, some said it wasn't. Here's how you find out. Put a coupla drops of it on a hot automobile exhaust manifold. If it sizzles, it's got water in it. If it doesn't sizzle, just kinda spreads out, no water.<br /><br />c/6<br />Hooty

 

[andrewkafp]

Re: Water In The Gear Lube? Here's How Ya Find Out.

That's why you are ther "Keeper of the Cuervo"<br />Hooty....

 

[bubbakat]

Re: Water In The Gear Lube? Here's How Ya Find Out.

Hooty I had plum forgot about that old test.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Water In The Gear Lube? Here's How Ya Find Out.

Good one, Hooty! Bout time someone came up with an easy test... Thanks for the info!<br /><br />(But, ya gotta admit, that stuff did look like Sh*t)

 

[Mettaree]

Re: Water In The Gear Lube? Here's How Ya Find Out.

Now that is using your head for something besides keeping you ears apart. <br />Great info.<br /><br />

 

[KCLOST]

Re: Water In The Gear Lube? Here's How Ya Find Out.

Easier with a frying pan!

 

[BillP]

Re: Water In The Gear Lube? Here's How Ya Find Out.

How do you know the sizzle isn't caused from additives or contaminants? Regardless, water doesn't stay suspended in gear lube for several days...it doesn't even stay suspended overnight.

 

[Hooty]

Re: Water In The Gear Lube? Here's How Ya Find Out.

You're right Bill. To many variables and "what ifs". Don't try it.<br /><br />c/6<br />Hooty

 

[jim dozier]

Re: Water In The Gear Lube? Here's How Ya Find Out.

There is acutally a paste used in the gasoline industry to test for water in underground fuel tanks. I have used it professionally on leaking underground tanks. You smeared it on the wooden dipstick and if it touched water it would change color (pink if memory serves me). If you really want to know, get some from a fuel dealer (or he will tell you where to buy it).

 

[JoeW]

Re: Water In The Gear Lube? Here's How Ya Find Out.

Thanks JimD,<br />I'll see if I can get some and let everyone here know how it turns out. As I said in the other thread, I'm taking no chances with my lower unit. It gets, at minimum, new plug seals and marine grade synthetic gear lube. <br /><br />How sensitive is this test anyway? There were a few drops of water already in the plastic bottle before I dumped the oil in it. Will this give me a false positive?

 

[jim dozier]

Re: Water In The Gear Lube? Here's How Ya Find Out.

This paste (comes in a tube like toothpaste) simply reacts with water on contact and changes color. If water is in oil or fuel as droplets or more commonly in a gearcase as an emulsion (looks like funky mayonaisse) it should change the paste color when contacted. Put the portion of the oil that you think has water in it and smear it on a piece of paper with the paste already smeared on it. If its water it should change color if not it won't. You might do a test with some clean fresh oil and some that you have mixed a little water in to see how sensitive it is. I have never used it in this particular situation. It was designed for marking the level of water (which would be at the bottom of a tank) which had leaked into buried fuel tanks. If you smeared a couple of feet on the end of a wooden dipstick and stuck it in a tank with 6 inches of water in it you would see 6 inches of pink at the bottom.

 

[KCLOST]

Re: Water In The Gear Lube? Here's How Ya Find Out.

jimd has a perfect test, if you want to go that route.....<br /><br />Did you ever confirm what oil was put in the lower unit?<br />My point being, if automotive oil was used, it's a lot thinner that 90W gear lube.... That could be a cause... Detergents also in that stuff...

 

[Hooty]

Re: Water In The Gear Lube? Here's How Ya Find Out.

It's my understanding that outboard gear lube has additives, some sort of surfactants I guess, that keeps the water emulsified with the oil so that it doesn't seperate and rust tha gears.<br /><br />c/6<br />Hooty