Power Trim Fluid Color??

[gibbywmu2000]

Ok, this may sound silly but that is why I am here. I noticed my Power Trim fluid is low on my 7.4L Mercruiser Mag. I noticed in the past that the color of the fluid was more of a creamy brown, but when I saw the actual color of the fluid made by Quicksilver, Mercury, etc is more like the color of oil. My boat is a '97, and I bought it in 2002. I have never experienced a problem with the trim, nor have I seen any leakage anywhere.......just noticed that my tank was low. My question is should I purge the entire system just to make sure its not old, since the fluid seems to be an odd color?

Looking for any suggestions here at all...........

 

[Fishermark]

It wouldn't hurt to purge out the old fluid and start fresh. "Creamy" could be a sign of water intrusion or perhaps the result of the oil being aerated. With new fluid you will have a better handle on what the problem might be (if any).

 

[JASinIL2006]

A lot of different fluids can be used in that system, from motor oil to ATF... hard to know how they might look if two dissimilar fluids were combined. Purging the system and refilling with a known fluid would help you make sure you're not getting the milkshake look from water intrusion.

On mine, I had to purge it a couple of times before it got all the old stuff out completely, so be prepared to do it more than once.

 

[500dollar744ti]

I think it is pretty well cooled by seawater surrounding the trim cylinders and lines. It's cream colored because it has got water in the trim pump oil.

 

[bspeth]

sample some and put it in a clear glass to see if it separates.

 

[gibbywmu2000]

Thanks guys for all the input. Does anyone know where there are instructions so I can bleed the trim fluid and start fresh? I've heard I can just use power steering fluid also, or 10W-30 oil. Is this true to anyones knowledge?

 

[JASinIL2006]

Thanks guys for all the input. Does anyone know where there are instructions so I can bleed the trim fluid and start fresh? I've heard I can just use power steering fluid also, or 10W-30 oil. Is this true to anyones knowledge?

Yup, both will work. I use motor oil.

What kind of drive? I found instructions for my Alpha I Gen 2 in the manual for the outdrive.

 

[gibbywmu2000]

Its the Bravo One Drive. I think I have a service manual lying around somewhere.......

 

[Bondo]

Thanks guys for all the input. Does anyone know where there are instructions so I can bleed the trim fluid and start fresh? I've heard I can just use power steering fluid also, or 10W-30 oil. Is this true to anyones knowledge?

Ayuh,..... It's a pretty simple hyd system, it'll run just fine on 'bout Any light weight oil,.... it Really don't matter, so long as it's good clean oil,....