Which Oil??? - Mercruiser Power Trim Pump - SAE J1171 Marine

[comstox]

I am getting my boat ready for this year and I noticed that my tilt reservoir had water in the bottom! I drained all of the fluid and water out. It was a milky beige color. Gross!!! Anyways, I have NO IDEA what kind of oil/fluid was in there. I've spent countless hours trying to figure out either what kind of oil/fluid WAS in there, or trying to find out what kind of oil SHOULD be in there. To me... it almost looked like it was regular 10-W 30 oil! Is that possible???
Here's a pic of my pump.
Thanks in advance guys!!!
Glen

 

[Earl Cordova]

I use Mercruiser power trim fluid in mine.

 

[Alumarine]

I am getting my boat ready for this year and I noticed that my tilt reservoir had water in the bottom! I drained all of the fluid and water out. It was a milky beige color. Gross!!! Anyways, I have NO IDEA what kind of oil/fluid was in there. I've spent countless hours trying to figure out either what kind of oil/fluid WAS in there, or trying to find out what kind of oil SHOULD be in there. To me... it almost looked like it was regular 10-W 30 oil! Is that possible???
Here's a pic of my pump.
Thanks in advance guys!!!
Glen

You don't say what year mercruiser you have but if it looked like 10W-30 it very well could have been.
You can use Dexron III, 10W-30 or I guess power trim fluid.
It doesn't care. At least the older one's didn't.

 

[comstox]

You don't say what year mercruiser you have but if it looked like 10W-30 it very well could have been.
You can use Dexron III, 10W-30 or I guess power trim fluid.
It doesn't care. At least the older one's didn't.

The boat is a 1988 Glastron and here's a picture of what the actual trim unit looks like. I'm assuming the tilt came with the boat and is about the same age?

 

[comstox]

I use Mercruiser power trim fluid in mine.

I can't find any around here.

 

[comstox]

You don't say what year mercruiser you have but if it looked like 10W-30 it very well could have been.
You can use Dexron III, 10W-30 or I guess power trim fluid.
It doesn't care. At least the older one's didn't.

I should have also asked what might happen if I put a different fluid that wasn't previously in there? I'm inclined to go get some Dextron and use it.

 

[Alumarine]

I see the manual calls for Power Trim and Steering Fluid 92-90100A12.

If I was to switch I'd make sure all the old oil/water was gone before adding something new or different.

 

[roffey]

For me the big question would be how did the water get in there in the first place? I am not a OB guy is this normal?

 

[comstox]

For me the big question would be how did the water get in there in the first place? I am not a OB guy is this normal?

lolol, I KNEW someone was going to say that. We inherited this boat and I noticed las year while in the water behind the boat, that this same colored, creamy white stuff was coming out of a loose down line fitting. THAT has already been taken care of. Now I just need to clean up and refill.

 

[roffey]

good thing you caught it then.

 

[racerone]

Many of those simply used #30 weight motor oil.----Nothing exotic is needed.

 

[Starcraft5834]

30 W oil all u need

 

[JASinIL2006]

When I had that issue (a loose hose fitting on a trim ram), just changing the fluid - repeatedly - in the reservoir was not enough; there was enough water in the system that the new oil kept getting milky and foamy. I eventually purged they entire system (instructions in the service manual) and that took care of it.