Gear/Drive Lube Question

[djpoling214]

I recently bought a boat with a 3.0 Mercruiser I/O.

I've ran the boat all summer and realized I've been running with NO drive lube in it.

I recently went to West Marine and picked up QuickSilver High Performance Gear Lube (recommended by salesman)
I asked him if I could just pour it into the Drive Lube container on the engine and he said yes... however, he didn't seem very convincing.

I've looked through the forums and seen a few threads on changing Gear Lube, but no threads as to what to do if your boat has NO Gear Lube in it. Obviously there is nothing to drain, so I'm assuming I can just add it to the Drive Lube compartment next to the engine rather than pumping it into the bottom?

What should I do?

By the way, the boat runs great and I'm grateful I didn't ruin anything due to running the boat all summer without any Drive Lube.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Gear/Drive Lube Question

The outdrive probably has gear lube in it, else you would not have been running well all summer. The reservior on the engine is to keep lube available for the outdrive in case it needs some. (kind of like the anti-freeze reservior in a car)

Usually, an alarm sounds when the reservior gets too low. I wonder if yours is disconnected (?)

Anyway, pour some in so that it is within the min/max lines on the reservior container.

 

[Don S]

Re: Gear/Drive Lube Question

What year is it?

Don't even think about trying to fill the drive by filling the engine reservoir.

 

[lilpropst]

Re: Gear/Drive Lube Question

A more appropriate question for you...
Why do you think it doesn't have drive lube in it?

If you think it doesn't have lube in it- then what is stopping you from doing it the right way to ensure you haven't screwed something up? You need to unscrew the plug at the bottom of the drive to ensure a) no water intrusion b) no metal shavings.

I would think making sure there were no metal shavings would be my biggest concern for you at this point.

Good luck!

 

[Bondo]

Re: Gear/Drive Lube Question

I recently bought a boat with a 3.0 Mercruiser I/O.

I've ran the boat all summer and realized I've been running with NO drive lube in it.

I recently went to West Marine and picked up QuickSilver High Performance Gear Lube (recommended by salesman)
I asked him if I could just pour it into the Drive Lube container on the engine and he said yes... however, he didn't seem very convincing.

I've looked through the forums and seen a few threads on changing Gear Lube, but no threads as to what to do if your boat has NO Gear Lube in it. Obviously there is nothing to drain, so I'm assuming I can just add it to the Drive Lube compartment next to the engine rather than pumping it into the bottom?

What should I do?

By the way, the boat runs great and I'm grateful I didn't ruin anything due to running the boat all summer without any Drive Lube.

Ayuh,... If it were totally Empty, you'd have not ever left the dock....

Follow the instructions you found on Changin' it, I'm sure it's nearly full, in the drive, just not the bottle..
You'll need 2 qt.s, 'n a pump to put it in...

 

[hoot]

Re: Gear/Drive Lube Question

What lube do you think is in the drive now? I was told not to mix the high performance lube with anything else. Perhaps someone knows better if this HP lube is compatable with other brands/types of lubes. Suggest draining the entire foot and changing to the HP so you know what you have in there.

 

[04fxdwgi]

Re: Gear/Drive Lube Question

Ayuh,... If it were totally Empty, you'd have not ever left the dock....

Follow the instructions you found on Changin' it, I'm sure it's nearly full, in the drive, just not the bottle..
You'll need 2 qt.s, 'n a pump to put it in...

Like Bond-o and Hoot said, do a fluid change on the drive unit to be good and sure what you have. And also fix the low oil level alarm, if it has one. If your bottle doesn't have the alarm sensor in it, it's a pretty easy change to have one.
Hint: If you do have the alarm / install alarm, carry a spare bottle of drive oil with you (should have anyway, but obviously not since you are know asking about what type to use). If it runs low while you are out and the alarm starts sounding, it'll drive you nuts till the bottle is filled.

(You may have left the dock, but only far enough to need a tow back after the drive went South.)