Do you change your lower unit gear lube?

[guitchess]

Was reading online and it has been suggested that it should be changed every year, but no one I know does and we haven't had any obvious problems. Just would like to have some opinions/experience before taking the risk of messing something up by trying it myself.

Thanks

 

[Alumarine]

Re: Do you change your lower unit gear lube?

I check all mine for water intrusion on occasion.
If there is water intrusion, I change the oil.

If not and it looks good, I wait.

 

[achris]

Re: Do you change your lower unit gear lube?

All outboard manufacturers recommend the lower unit oil be changed every year or 100 hours, which ever is first. They built the thing, so I guess they would know....

Why would you want to delay a maintenance item? If you want you engine to last a long time, and enjoy trouble free use of your boat, change the oil.

Chris........

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Do you change your lower unit gear lube?

Hey Chris, I once asked a friend "when was the last time you changed the gear oil". His reply was "what gear oil". We had to come home in reverse that day, since forward no longer worked. When I removed the bearing retainer on the gearcase, chunks of metal fell out.

Those guys will learn an expensive lesson, if they do not learn to change the gear oil, and do the other maintenance items.

 

[Solomon Shaffer]

Re: Do you change your lower unit gear lube?

The oil is pretty cheap and it makes sense to do it. Those gears make a lot of revolutions....my 2 cents

 

[will941s]

Re: Do you change your lower unit gear lube?

I change mine every year, sometimes twice a year depending on how much I use the boat. I also change the plugs twice a year, and do a compression test everytime I do it. Rebuild the carb/fuel pump, t-stat, impellar, fuel water separator, and run Seafoam once a year. When I got the motor it has 110psi on both cylinders, now it's holding steady at 135psi and runs like a champ. People call me crazy for maintaining my motor that much, but $70 in maint if you do it yourself saves HUNDREDS in the shop. Think about it.....do your let your car's engine oil or service go until something happens? Most people don't because it causes major problems.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Do you change your lower unit gear lube?

Will, You are the maintenance overkill champ. Well, unnecessary maintenance is better than no maintenace.

BTW-I agree that changing the gear oil twice a season is a good idea. As is greasing the motor zercs and steering, multiple times/season.

Rebuilding the carbs, fuel pump, replacing plugs and 'stats once/year is overkill. Plugs, carbs, 'stats and fuel pumps last several years, if not longer.

 

[milehighboater]

Re: Do you change your lower unit gear lube?

I change mine in the fall after the season is over. My boat sits outside and if there ever is any water intrusion I would prefer to get it out before it freezes.

 

[SeaKaye12]

Re: Do you change your lower unit gear lube?

If you ranked all the maintenance duties for your outboard for Simplicity vs. the Dollar amount of the repair/replacement of the item involved.....changing the lower unit oil would have to rank at the very very top.

Takes about 10 minutes; costs about 10 dollars...and can save thousands.

Lets just be glad that the OP cared enough to post his question here. Now that his question has been answered and his knowledge has been increased; I'm sure that at least one more lower unit is going to get serviced from now on

OP: If you have any questions as to exactly what the procedure would be for your particular engine...Please ask now while it's still on your mind.

Forums like this ROCK!

Chuck

 

[will941s]

Re: Do you change your lower unit gear lube?

...I have a merc 25, 2-stroke, I got no fancy alarms to tell me when something is happening......other than turning around and looking at the pee stream while running, and touching the powerhead after a good run to test for heat. I know i'm compulsive but darnet, my parts are going to be working good; and to make it worse, in the tool box (snap top battery box) is as follows: spare impellar, compression tester, 3' of fuel line, clamps, t-stat and gasket, plugs, and about 8' of wire and the tools to do the jobs on the water.

 

[109jb]

Re: Do you change your lower unit gear lube?

I change mine AT LEAST once a year.

 

[joed]

Re: Do you change your lower unit gear lube?

I remove the lower plug and check for water and the condition of the oil. If it looks good it stays. If there is water in it you better do more than change the oil. Water got in somehow. That needs to be repaired or changing the oil is not going to do much good.

On a side note. How often do you change the oil in your cars rear differential? Very similar situation.

 

[RicMic]

Re: Do you change your lower unit gear lube?

On a side note. How often do you change the oil in your cars rear differential? Very similar situation.

My differentials don't do all their work under water and they have a vent in the top, so that any water that does get in there can evaporate out! My theory is that it is a lot easier if I do a little preventive maintenance in my garage as opposed to finding out I have a problem 10 miles from the ramp and just before dark. The BEST way to find out if you have water in the lube is to DRAIN it out and look at it. Normal part of the winterizing, drain the old lube and fill it with fresh. Or you can let the gears sit in water for months.

 

[Alumarine]

Re: Do you change your lower unit gear lube?

My differentials don't do all their work under water and they have a vent in the top, so that any water that does get in there can evaporate out!

How the heck is it going to evaporate out after it's mixed with the oil?
The vents aren't for letting water out.

The BEST way to find out if you have water in the lube is to DRAIN it out and look at it.

If you crack the lower plug you will know if there's water in there.

I check my lower ends AND diffs several times a year for water intrusion and lube condition.

 

[Wingedwheel]

Re: Do you change your lower unit gear lube?

I buy the oil by the gallon and have a small hand pump. Saves alot of time and I generally change mine twice during the summer due to heavy usage and the need for overkill.once in the spring and then when winterized. costs about $5 for oil and $1 for new seals each time. It sucks having to worry about how you might get back to the launch if it goes out. Its hard to find someone to pull you back up the Detroit river if your LU or engine goes out and you drift into Erie.

 

[109jb]

Re: Do you change your lower unit gear lube?

...On a side note. How often do you change the oil in your cars rear differential? Very similar situation.

How often do you drive with your rear differential under water??