gear oil loss Mercruiser 4.3L Alpha 1

[chipper]

I have a new 2001 4.3L with an alpha 1. After each 2 hour session I need to add about an ounce of gear oil. I can see no leaks. I drained a bit of oil out of the lower drain hole and it was a bit milky but not excessive. Any suggestions?

 

[Walter]

Re: gear oil loss Mercruiser 4.3L Alpha 1

Gear oil that has even a slight milky appearance suggests water is entering the outdrive...that is not good. The most likely places for water to enter &/or gear lube to escape are:<br /><br />The gear lube drain & vent plug seals.<br /><br />The prop shaft seals<br /><br />The outdrive's water pump o ring/gaskets<br /><br />The gear lube passage seal between the gear housing and drive housing.<br /><br />A crack in either of the gear or drive housings<br /><br />There may be more...but these are some of the most common areas to check.<br /><br />Walt

 

[Trent]

Re: gear oil loss Mercruiser 4.3L Alpha 1

Walter forgot the one that leaks alot....Shift shaft seal.

 

[Walter]

Re: gear oil loss Mercruiser 4.3L Alpha 1

Uh...I...uh...didn't forget. Heck no. I...uh....well...I just wanted to see if YOU knew. Yeah...that's the ticket. I knew all along but I just wanted to see if you knew. Whew...got myself outta that one!<br /><br />Shame on me...add to the list the shift shaft seal.<br /><br />Walt

 

[Trent]

Re: gear oil loss Mercruiser 4.3L Alpha 1

Thats your story...Guess you will stick to it!

 

[flashback]

Re: gear oil loss Mercruiser 4.3L Alpha 1

can you take it back to the dealer? the boat aint very old? by the way, Walt and Trent are right. any water in oil is not good...........

 

[chipper]

Re: gear oil loss Mercruiser 4.3L Alpha 1

Thanks. I just checked under the drive and I see a small drop on a shaft just above the speedometer tube. Is that the shift shaft? And, yes, I am taking the boat to the dealer tomorrow, now that you have helped.

 

[Walter]

Re: gear oil loss Mercruiser 4.3L Alpha 1

Well shame on me again...<br /><br />I'm usually one of the first to cry WARRANTY!!! In this case, I totally blew over the fact you said NEW 2001 boat...meaning...there may be warranty considerations. If warranty is an issue...by all means take it back the dealer!!<br /><br />Walt

 

[chipper]

Re: gear oil loss Mercruiser 4.3L Alpha 1

I won't hold it against you this time! I just didn't know if a bit of gear oil usage was normal or not. Getting the boat to the dealer is a bit of a nuisance, but now that I know more, I am going to get it there. Thanks again.

 

[bearman]

Re: gear oil loss Mercruiser 4.3L Alpha 1

Hey chipper<br />Let me know how you make out on that, I just bought the boat listed below with 7 hrs on it and it is doing the same thing. Wish this weather would clear up.<br />Cheers<br />Bear

 

[chipper]

Re: gear oil loss Mercruiser 4.3L Alpha 1

Bear, weather lousy but what can you do. I took the boat into the dealer and am getting a few things looked at. Looks to me like a shift shaft leak for sure, but may be more. I will post a message once I know for sure what is up. Where the heck do you go to fish? If my memory is correct, there aren't too many large lakes near the "Hat".

 

[bearman]

Re: gear oil loss Mercruiser 4.3L Alpha 1

Hey chipper<br />We often go to lake Newell out @ Brooks, or head to Diefinbaker, Last Mountan, or out to Fishing Lake by Foam Lake SK, I have family there. I tow my boat behind a 30 ft Avion 5th wheel, so where ever we go we are comfortable. Chat to you later.<br />Cheers<br />Bear

 

[chipper]

Re: gear oil loss Mercruiser 4.3L Alpha 1

Bear, never been to Newell , but fish lots at Dief., Last Mountain. You must look like a train pulling that load!! Go to the fishing chat room and we can discuss great spots in Sask.. That way we won't tie up the technical site.

 

[DA]

Re: gear oil loss Mercruiser 4.3L Alpha 1

chipper i have a 2000 stingray with a 4.3 alpha also doing the same thing just not quite as bad as yours sounds. i would also be interested to know what you find out. e-mail at msagagator@aol.com <br /> thanks for the help

 

[chipper]

Re: gear oil loss Mercruiser 4.3L Alpha 1

MSA, I will let you know. I think I should have the boat back by Friday.

 

[chipper]

Re: gear oil loss Mercruiser 4.3L Alpha 1

I got the boat back on Friday and the dealer changed the seals in the entire unit. I haven't had it out yet to see if it's fixed. He did say that he couldn't really see where it was leaking so he changed all the seals. It was covered by warranty. I also got him to replace the solenoid due to some erratic starting problems. Apparently, it got wet somehow. Probably when that last big wave came over the side! No warranty coverage for water filling up the bilge.

 

[chipper]

Re: gear oil loss Mercruiser 4.3L Alpha 1

Well, I took the boat out again after the new seals were put in and guess what? It still leaks. I took it back to the dealer and he advised me today that the drive shaft had a flat spot all the way down so the oil would leak when the flat spot passed the seals. He has put in a new drive shaft so I hope that solves it. He believes it to be a factory defect so anyone else out there that has this same problem should check with Mercury to see about warranty to replace defective drive shafts.

 

[Walter]

Re: gear oil loss Mercruiser 4.3L Alpha 1

Wow...<br /><br />I'm pleased the dealer is taking care of this problem, but still...that's gotta be frustrating for you.<br /><br />Hope he's discovered the problem once and for all... Thanks for the heads up RE: drive shaft defect.<br /><br />Walt

 

[chipper]

Re: gear oil loss Mercruiser 4.3L Alpha 1

I will be more upset if the boat is not ready for the long weekend coming up. I was also having a problem with dieseling, and the dealer changed the thermostat so the engine runs cooler. Last week, I used premium gas and the problem was eliminated for the most part. I think it dieseled once on a 30+ degree celcius day after a long ski. I'll post the results of the drive shaft change next week.

 

[chipper]

Re: gear oil loss Mercruiser 4.3L Alpha 1

Hooray!! The leak has stopped, at least for now. It also runs quieter. Maybe there is less vibration with a completely round drive shaft. Too bad we will be winterizing in the next couple of weeks. Summer is way too short up here. Thanks for all the advice. This is a great site to learn from.