mercruiser alpha 1 gen II fluids questions

[Rob406]

Guys I am sure this has been addressed a thousand times but I was unable to find a direct answer. I have a 1991 Mercruiser 4.3 V6 4bbl carb motor with an alpha 1 gen II outdrive.

I got a gallon of Quicksilver 25w40 synthetic blend oil - is this correct?
(I read to use 20w40 full synthetic but was unable to find it)
It has got a Mercury brand oil filter on it now but I understand it's acceptable to use any filter of my choice for a 4.3l from auto parts store?

Also for the lower unit, is it safe to use the Quicksilver 80w90 gear lube? And should two quarts be sufficient?

 

[harringtondav]

Your plan looks fine. Your lower unit will use just short of two quarts. I don't know Quicksilver 80W90, but if it's the blue stuff, it's the Merc recommended lube for the Alpha II. I believe "Premium Gear Lube" should be on the bottle.

 

[Boater31]

My manual, Merc 14, says use "High Performance Gear Lube". That is a straight SAE 90. Premium lube is for the low horsepower outboards. Now if it matters that for the experts to say.

 

[achris]

Engine oil is engine oil. As long as the specs are the same or better than the recommended, you're good. Same with filters. Drive oil, for the Alphas (and the Bravos) you have 3 choices. Quicksilver High Performance Gear Lube, Quicksilver High Performance Gear Lube or Quicksilver High Performance Gear Lube..... Anything less is not doing justice to the drive....

I have a question for you, and everyone else out there trying to 'nickel and dime' on oils, filters, impellers, etc. Why? That machine you love so much is worth thousands of dollars, and if you're like me, and take your boat to either remote locations, or a LONG way out to sea, or both, then it's also your lifeline. Saving a few dollars on 'mission critical' parts is just plain stupid. Buy cheap fishing gear, buy cheap bait. But for the love of god, buy the best parts and fluids for the machine that has your life in it's hands!

And even if you only use the boat swimming distance from the beach, saving $10 on an impeller could easily end up costing you thousands to repair an overheated engine. It's going to make the $10 saving look a bit pathetic, isn't it.... And if you really can't afford the extra $10 for a genuine impeller, cut back on the booze and fags....

Chris.........

 

[altitude 411]

Nicely put Chris. My boat is treated like an airplane....it isn't going down with cheap parts at fault.

 

[Bondo]

Engine oil is engine oil. As long as the specs are the same or better than the recommended, you're good. Same with filters. Drive oil, for the Alphas (and the Bravos) you have 3 choices. Quicksilver High Performance Gear Lube, Quicksilver High Performance Gear Lube or Quicksilver High Performance Gear Lube..... Anything less is not doing justice to the drive....

Ayuh,.... I disagree with the underlined,......

Full Syn-oil is Full Syn-oil,....
I run Mobil 1, 75W-90 in all my drives,.....
Just as good as Quicksilver High Performance gear oil,.... Without the pretty colored dye,......

 

[nola mike]

Is that true? Had read that the qs stuff handles water in the drive better, though I don't how true it is (and iirc, only premium was available when my drive was built). For the $10 I'm spending on a QT though, not much more than the m1. No reason for me to think that a semi-syn Merc motor oil is better than the full syn that gm recommends in the same engine. Plenty of other things will leave you stranded before a motor grenaded due to non-approved oil.

 

[achris]

Is that true? Had read that the qs stuff handles water in the drive better, though I don't how true it is ...

It's true. And I've seen it with my own eyes. The QS high performance will hold more than double the water that other oils can before losing lubricity... That is why it is the ONLY oil recommended by Merc for their drives.

Chris....

 

[Bondo]

Just as good as Quicksilver High Performance gear oil,.... Without the pretty colored dye,......

Ayuh,..... I've drained Mobil 1 that was contaminated heavily with water,.....
Bein' a full syn-oil, there were some lumpy clumps of milky amber globs, as well as good slippery oil,.....
Still doin' it's job,.....
Just amber, rather than a pretty color,......

 

[H20Rat]

Ayuh,.... I disagree with the underlined,......

Full Syn-oil is Full Syn-oil,....
I run Mobil 1, 75W-90 in all my drives,.....

Without getting too bogged down in details, syn oil isn't always syn oil. Google for Mobil 1 vs Castrol for an evening of entertainment. M1 is only considered synthetic in some countries because of the lawsuit.

M1 is a group III oil, not really synthetic but 'reconstructed' oil molecules. Almost anything titled 'european synthetic' is a real synthetic group IV, as well as some Amsoil, Royal Purple, and Motul oils.

In any case, any oil is better than no oil. Marine sterndrive engines rarely wear out due to any reason that the choice of oil will affect. There are lots of other ways they die, oil is not one of them.

https://blog.amsoil.com/are-all-synt...ii-vs-iv-vs-v/

 

[nola mike]

H20Rat , we're talking gear lube...don't know if the same applies.
Bondo, achris , I have some M1 gear lube and (used, admittedly) Hi Po QS. Would mixing a given amount of water + lube show anything? And how do you know if the lube isn't lubey anymore?

 

[Bondo]

Bondo, achris , I have some M1 gear lube and (used, admittedly) Hi Po QS. Would mixing a given amount of water + lube show anything? And how do you know if the lube isn't lubey anymore?

Ayuh,.... It was accident of course,.... Had a drive with a leak, which tool on water,......

Drained it, had oil on everything, which was slicker than snot,.....
Nothing was wet with water, but everything was wet with oil,.....