Tikihut
Cadet
- Joined
- May 15, 2012
- Messages
- 8
Just bought a new to us '04 Rinker 270 with a 5.7 mercruiser and 2:20 B3(see pic). Survey and mechanic receipts showed only 15hrs since last oil change in the stern drive when it was removed/serviced and also pressure tested ok. Checked B3 oil before launch and it was clean and green at the drain plug. Ran about 10hrs with part of it being a 30mi non-stop run and had a nagging feeling after returning and reading about sterndrive heat issues on long runs so I checked it again and it's as black as tar(but no noise, water or filings at the drain). Also noticed slight grey residue on upper unit(heat related?) that I hadn't noticed earlier.
No other high quality lower unit oil I've owned has gone black, so how concerned should I be? For a definate base line I figured I'd change the OD oil with merc gear oil and clean the tank too, run it a few hrs and ck again but maybe it's standard procedure for it to get gunky as quick as it did. If it's an internal problem then pulling the drive is a pretty straight forward job, thanks to the Adults only section help files, but determining what caused it(beside heat or cheap oil) is the issue(if any).
Thanks for your opinions to sooth my overprotective nature in advance, Mike
No other high quality lower unit oil I've owned has gone black, so how concerned should I be? For a definate base line I figured I'd change the OD oil with merc gear oil and clean the tank too, run it a few hrs and ck again but maybe it's standard procedure for it to get gunky as quick as it did. If it's an internal problem then pulling the drive is a pretty straight forward job, thanks to the Adults only section help files, but determining what caused it(beside heat or cheap oil) is the issue(if any).
Thanks for your opinions to sooth my overprotective nature in advance, Mike
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