Best lube for OMC Cobra?

[CCrew]

Just wondering if there's a "best" lube for an OMC Cobra outdrive unit? Been told that the Mercury Quicksilver High-Performance is the best there is, noticed that the instructions on the bottle say it can't be mixed with other brands. Johnson/Evinrude Hi-Vis just looks like a standard GL-5 75W-90. Looked at the Mobil 1, but now wondering. <br /><br />Have a lot of $ in a full top to bottom rebuild, just want to use the best I can. Thanks!

 

[Lou C]

Re: Best lube for OMC Cobra?

Well what the factory specified was the OMC Hi Vis that is still available, but I don't know if what is available today is even better. Why don't you ask the shop who re-built it what they recommend??

 

[CCrew]

Re: Best lube for OMC Cobra?

"Why don't you ask the shop who re-built it what they recommend??"<br /><br />I asked myself, but I don't know the answer I rebuilt it myself. Not that hard a job once I bought the tools, considering my upbringing was in a machine shop. Nothing in this was .0001 so it was pretty simple. About 2 days worth of work taking my time and making sure all the lashes and end plays were what they were supposed to be. <br /><br />Shop I bought most of the parts from said "I use the Mercruiser in all mine" but said that there were other things to use. That's what prompted the question. All the Hi-po engines I've built I've always run Mobil 1, but this pretty much the first I/O.<br /><br />Thanks.

 

[CharlesW]

Re: Best lube for OMC Cobra?

The place i bought both of my boats with OMC drives, no longer sells boats. They do still have a repair shop and recommended the OMC outdrive lube that is available today for my 1993 Cobra. I think the new version is called Hi Performance rather than Hi-Vis. Anyway, these guys have always steered me straight and they do have a lot of OMC experience.<br />And the reason they don't sell boats anymore, they were a Slick Craft and a Chris Craft dealer. They finally gave up trying to find a company that was going to stay in business.<br /><br />Charles

 

[tylerin]

Re: Best lube for OMC Cobra?

A company called CRC sells Hi-Vis gear oil. I get mine from Napa auto parts. There is also a Ultra HPF I've used which is made by CRC and I've used OMC Ultra HPF. My marine supplier says the HPF is better than the Hi-Vis. Both say recommended for Cobras on the label

 

[pecothern]

Re: Best lube for OMC Cobra?

That Mercury synthetic stuff that's 10-15 dollars a bottle says it can still lubricate effectively when it has 25% water contamination. I asked the guy that rebuilt my Cobra if I was going to get any water in my drive. I answered myself, No. I pressure and vacuum tested it, replaced all the seals. I'll be checking for contamination every time I take it out the first few times. use the cheap stuff and change the oil twice a season. My mechanic "me" thought that was a good idea.

 

[andrewgroup]

Re: Best lube for OMC Cobra?

look at the official ratings on the oil and research what they mean, Its quite interesting.<br /><br />Then research <br /><br /> http://www.oilsnmore.com/marlube.shtml <br /><br />I know what I use in my 34 year old Mercruiser (Type II Rock Crusher (About 7 qts) and in my 1989 OMC Cobra (64oz)<br /><br />.