Bravo 3 Gear Lube Capacity- 2.5 or 3.5 quarts

[CayugaCobalt]

I have installed a new bearing carrier because my 1997 Bravo3 outdrive was leaking drive oil thru the heavily corroded original bearing carrier.

I thought I found the capacity for my Bravo 3 OK180251 was 3.5 qts. I was only able to put 1.75qts in lower drive before it came out vent hole, which is half of 3.5 I was expecting to use. Then I plugged the vent and continued until I accidentally overfilled the monitor bottle ( just a little) but in total only used 2.5 qts.

I did lower the unit back down and rotated shaft both ways a little bit hoping it might drop as it is still a little over full in the monitor bottle.

Is the capacity 3.5 qts or 2.5 qts?
Thanks for your feedback.

 

[alldodge]

I did lower the unit back down

It should hold 3 Quarts.
Was the drive left to drain over night or just a short time?
Was the drive fully down when refilled?

 

[CayugaCobalt]

Hi alldodge; Thanks! Glad its not 3.5 but instead 3.0 qts.

Drive was drained for a looong time, maybe it was only 93% down becuase it almost hits the ground while on trailer. All this was down on trailer and boat is not perfectly level it is nose up a little sitting on trailer.

I refilled while tilted up, was that wrong? But after lowered it down.

 

[alldodge]

I refilled while tilted up, was that wrong? But after lowered it down.

Yes, you probably have a air bubble in there.
Just guessing but could probably leave the vent out over night with drive down and level would drop.

When vent opened oil from lube bottle is going to come out, then it will take a some time for the air to slowly move from lower to upper.

If it was mine I would drain the lube all and try again. The drive cost is just to high to take a chance

 

[tpenfield]

When I fill my Bravo outdrives, I lay them on their side with the fill holes facing up. Raise the upper end a bit higher than the lower and fill slowly. It helps the outdrive 'burp' and fill to almost 100%. Spin the drive shaft a few times now & then while filling. 3 qts. sound about right. make sure to use the "high performance" stuff.

I tried the procedure outlined in the Bravo manual . . . makes a mess.