1987 2.3 OMC Cobra out drive gear lube...

[fritzL]

Hello All,
I searched and the closest answer/post i could find was from 10 years ago.
I am fitting a new to me but serviceable outdrive (upper and lower) unit.

The l6be which isnstill in the upper shows a slight green color, and no evidence of burnt smell. I have 2 quarts of Quicksilver 80w-90 and was about to fill the outdrive, from the center hole as prescribed, when i noticed the small print that this lube is only suitable for equal or less than 75 hp. I read the hp rating on the 2.3OMC is 128.
Can i fill this or need i search for other?
Thank you for reading and your time
Fritz

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... The Quicksilver High Performance gear lube is the better full-syn lube,.....
I run valvoline, or mobil 1 75W-90 full-syn lubes in all my drives,....
Same as the Merc Hi-Po, without the pretty color added,....
Any of the full-syn lubes will do the job,....
What you have will too, as that's all there was before the syn-lubes,....

 

[Lou C]

Yep those took OMC Hi Vis gear lube. I have used the Merc High Performance Gear Lube in mine for about 20 years. Seems to like it!

 

[fritzL]

Thanks Bondo and Lou,
So i am good with these.. even though the horse power difference?
I have 128, as per manual of 2.3l
The rated hp for the 80w-90 is no more than 75...

 

[Lou C]

I used the OMC stuff the first couple years I had my Cobra then my mechanic suggested to me to use the Merc High Performance Gear Lube (greenish blue stuff) because the drives he serviced seemed to last longer with it. Not saying the Mobil 1 or Valvoline syn isn’t as good. The main thing with outdrives is to keep water out of them & get them resealed when you see milky gear oil. That and to keep the shift cable in good adjustment; shift quickly & firmly to avoid grinding the clutch dog going into gear. If the drive jumps out of gear or grinds even if you shift right get it looked right away.

 

[fritzL]

Put her in the water...
Smooth shifting into.reverse and forward...
Ran better than all year.
The new to me outdrive was quiet and no geing or other ontoward noise.
Did not overheat...
I need to work on idle and carb adjustments... this being the end of October in Wisconsin, i have to leave that for the spring. I am happy i built my 30x40 foot shed, and heated...



Thank you all for help hear and thw othwr post...
Fritz