Loosing Drive Oil Merc 3.0 alpha 1

[anchortexas]

I am new to the boating thing... I just bought a 1999 Sea Ray from a dealership. They had it all checked out and everything was fine. I never noticed before, but just the other day I noticed that the drive oil for the stern/outdrive oil reserve was almost empty. I called Marine Max who services the Sea Rays and he told me that if it was low it was a red flag. I told him I just bought it bla bla bla, and he said to top it off, and watch it. I bought the correct oil from them filled it up 3/4 of the way and took it to the lake and ran it for a couple of days and then checked it and it went down about half way. Not sure where it's going. There is no sign of oil leaking anywhere. None under the engine and none in my garage on the floor. They said it would only leak in two different places and that was under the engine or on my garage floor under the outdrive. Please help is there something wrong with my engine or is this normal????

 

[jmills224]

Re: Loosing Drive Oil Merc 3.0 alpha 1

bump and tag. I've got a similar problem.

 

[bomar76]

Re: Loosing Drive Oil Merc 3.0 alpha 1

It's going into the lake/bay/ocean or whatever body of water you boat in.
Your drive leaks.

 

[jmills224]

Re: Loosing Drive Oil Merc 3.0 alpha 1

It's going into the lake/bay/ocean or whatever body of water you boat in.
Your drive leaks.

Okay, the drive leaking is obvious. I think the question (at least in my case) is how does the oil leak out w/o either, water in the drive or gear lube in the bilge?

 

[anchortexas]

Re: Loosing Drive Oil Merc 3.0 alpha 1

Yes, how are we leaking oil in the water and not notice? I drive to one spot anchor for hours. I would have noticed if something was leaking. I mean you would see the oil on the water right? Could it only leak out when I am cruising around the lake? I just bought this boat from a dealer. They told me they checked everything out, and it was great.

 

[marunr]

Re: Loosing Drive Oil Merc 3.0 alpha 1

It can be leaking in to the bellows where you can't see it or it can be leaking in to the lake and you aren't seeing it. And yes, if oil is leaking out in to the water, water is getting in to the drive.

 

[anchortexas]

Re: Loosing Drive Oil Merc 3.0 alpha 1

Took it to the shop, and they told me it was normal for drive oil to deplete! It's just like power steering fluid they said. You have to keep in eye out and not to let the reservoir get too low. Also, make sure that you watch your tilt and trim reservoir. It's going to deplete as well. The oil burns up and is expelled out your exhaust.

 

[JoChek219]

Re: Loosing Drive Oil Merc 3.0 alpha 1

you shouldn't really ever be loosing oil... you have a leak somewheres.... I'd suggest you take it to get looked at from another dealer

 

[bomar76]

Re: Loosing Drive Oil Merc 3.0 alpha 1

Took it to the shop, and they told me it was normal for drive oil to deplete! It's just like power steering fluid they said. You have to keep in eye out and not to let the reservoir get too low. Also, make sure that you watch your tilt and trim reservoir. It's going to deplete as well. The oil burns up and is expelled out your exhaust.

That shop is staffed by idiots.
Drives DO NOT normally loose oil.
Hve those morons explain the mechanism whereby oil is sucked out of the drive (or trim reservoir or cylinders) and burned by the engine.
You ought to go back and slap the bejesus out of them for trying to feed you that line of garbage.

 

[anchortexas]

Re: Loosing Drive Oil Merc 3.0 alpha 1

Took it to another shop!! They told me the same thing!!! On this Sea Ray, this type of oil burns up after being run a lot! I'm not loosing any drive oil in the outdrive, this is just a lubricant overflow reservoir something ruther. It's some kind of gear lube that has to be replenished once in awhile!! Who knows where it goes, but I'm telling you all there is no freakin leak anywhere. Checked my oil in the outdrive and there is no water in it.. So that tells me NO LEAK!!

 

[doug205capri]

Re: Loosing Drive Oil Merc 3.0 alpha 1

I am having the same problem, from what I can tell so far is that the drive is running too hot, and the pressure goes too high when the boat is running. Then it leaks while in motion so you don't see it. Why? poor seal? wrong prop? working to hard while tubing? or all of the above.I'm going to change my prop and have the unit pressure tested.

 

[bomar76]

Re: Loosing Drive Oil Merc 3.0 alpha 1

1. You need to start a new thread with your problem if you want help
2. The OP's drive DOES NOT burn up oil, he has a leak.