Where's My Drive Lube?

[JLK62]

Hey Guys,

I have a 2000 Doral with a 2000 Mercruiser 5.7 & Bravo III outdrive. I've had the boat a little over a year. The drive reservoir emptied out on me & I found it was bad. I got a new reservoir and when installing it I found a screw in the hose fitting. I'm guessing someone put that screw in there to keep the tank full & stop the alarm from sounding. This has me a little worried. Now that the screw has been removed the new tank has emptied several times over the past few weeks. So far I have used a quart of lube, but one reservoir full came out from the broken reservoir. When I fill it Saturday morning, it is still full Sunday afternoon.

I have no leaks outside on the Bravo III, so am I filling the drive or leaking into the bilge? It is really tough to see back there.

Thx

 

[Bondo]

I have no leaks outside on the Bravo III, so am I filling the drive or leaking into the bilge? It is really tough to see back there.

Ayuh,.... It's even tougher, from here,.....

Put a digital camera in yer hand, 'n Look from where yer head won't fit,.....

The oil's goin' Somewhere,... The bellows oughta be 'bout full, 'n leakin' into the bilge soon,....

Is this a trailer boat,..??

 

[JLK62]

Oh, that's a great idea. I can even use my wife's selfie stick to really get down there. lol

This is a docked boat at my weekend house. It sits on an airlift most of the time. That's how I know the outdrive has no leaks - foot is out of the water & clean.

 

[tpenfield]

Hey Guys,

I have a 2000 Doral with a 2000 Mercruiser 5.7 & Bravo III outdrive.

I have no leaks outside on the Bravo III, so am I filling the drive or leaking into the bilge? It is really tough to see back there.

Thx

Well if you can't see back there, 'we' can't either.

In addition to Bondo's idea with the smart phone, for about $100 you can get a borescope/inspection camera at HD or Lowes to see places where you can't reach.

I would be concerned how much gear lube is in the outdrive, given that it has taken a bit of lube in. You could loosen the top plug on the outdrive to see (so long as you have the boat out of the water). It will also relieve of any 'air pockets' in the outdrive.

 

[JLK62]

Yes, I am concerned about the amount of gear lube in the outdrive. That's the reason for posting. Since the reservoir was rigged to hold lube, I want to know is the drive low or am I lubing the bilge. I didn't know there was a top plug for checking the level, I'll find that Saturday & check it.

How much 90W does a Bravo III hold?

 

[tpenfield]

Yes, I am concerned about the amount of gear lube in the outdrive. That's the reason for posting. Since the reservoir was rigged to hold lube, I want to know is the drive low or am I lubing the bilge. I didn't know there was a top plug for checking the level, I'll find that Saturday & check it.

How much 90W does a Bravo III hold?

just under 3 quarts.

 

[MarkSee]

Another idea to at least let you know if there's gear oil down under there, not necessarily where it's coming from:

I've used one of those $2 2-3 foot long little flexible grabber tools with some paper towel in the 'jaws' and starting from the side of the engine, push that under-and-back as far as you can swiping back and forth along the bottom of the bilge and see if it comes out soaked in gear oil or not.

Mark

 

[JLK62]

Thanks Mark, I'm definitely going to pickup one of those grabber tools. I got a look at the bilge and it's dirty, oily, nasty down there, but just a coating. No way is there a quart of drive lube down there.

I'm putting up a few pics. One shows the access to the engine bay. You'd think that seat back would come out easily, but it's formed in at the sides. Of course the power steering is right on top of what I want to see. I did mange one shot from the left side looking at the back of the engine. (wife left the selfie stick at home - doh!)

I've got to get the kayak into the water so I can find the outdrive top plug next.