Does it look like I have water in my gear fluid?

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BreakOutAnotherTwenty

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Jul 30, 2011
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I just drained my gear fluid. The fluid is dark blue but with green streaking. Is this normal, or does it mean that water has gotten into my system? I have pressure tested at 15 psi and it has not dropped any.

Thanks- Jason
 

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airshot

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Jul 22, 2008
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Re: Does it look like I have water in my gear fluid?

The green color i believe has to do with the type/brand of gear oil, however their appears to be some milky streaks in that oil that would indicate water in the mix. Tough to determine from just a pic, how long has this oil been in the unit? Did it set over winter, was it flushed and changed before storage, has it recently been run in water? More info would be helpfull.

Airshot
 
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BreakOutAnotherTwenty

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Re: Does it look like I have water in my gear fluid?

I used Quicksilver gear oil. It was dark blue when I installed it- the same color it is now, except for the green streaking. The fluid has been in the drive since last July. It sat over winter. It was last run in water in October, although I ran it with the muffs 1 month ago.
When I drained it, the green came out with the blue- not before or after.
 
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bellhop

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May 1, 2011
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Re: Does it look like I have water in my gear fluid?

Not sure but I had the same thing in my lube the other day when I drained it. That stopped after a couple of minutes and then there was nothing but lube coming out. Boat is only a year old. Bought it new. I was thinking maybe it was grease that got mixed into the oil during the assembly process. But then again I'm not sure. Other than those streaks the lube was clear and the proper color and no chips on the magnetic plug. Didn't winterize it, I live in Florida. Just ran it on muffs on a regular basis. Stored under roof.
 
Josh P

Josh P

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Aug 26, 2009
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Re: Does it look like I have water in my gear fluid?

it looks like some water may have gotten in there, it could be from the seals on your drain/ fill plugs.
 
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riptorn

Chief Petty Officer
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Mar 8, 2012
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Re: Does it look like I have water in my gear fluid?

You should get it pressure tested. It's not too bad now, maybe one more season.
I know the experts here would say get er fixed.
It depends how much and how long you are going to use it.
 
picklenjim

picklenjim

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Mar 11, 2009
Messages
528
Re: Does it look like I have water in my gear fluid?

If there's any substantial amount of water in the drive it will go to the bottom. When you remove the drain plug water will come out first then oil. Let the container sit overnite and then see if there is any water at the bottom. Even if theres only a couple drops you will see it at the bottom. I've drained oil from drives several times that had that streaking in it like that. With your pressure test results I would say your fine.
 
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BreakOutAnotherTwenty

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Re: Does it look like I have water in my gear fluid?

Is it possible that the green is the grease I used when I reassembled my drive last year? The green streaking flowed out the entire time the gear fluid was draining, not as water that had settled to the bottom of the drive. The drive held 15 psi overnight.
 
Don S

Don S

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Re: Does it look like I have water in my gear fluid?

Did you do the pressure test with oil in the drive? If so, try it again after draining it.
Have you pulled the drive off the boat and checked the bellows for water? With water in the bellows, the input shaft seal is designed to prevent oil leaking out, not water getting into the drive.
 
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