SX Outdrive always overfull??

[Technologic80]

Last fall I changed the oil in my 1997 Volvo Penta SX outdrives. Ive done this many times. I remove the dipstick on top then drain it out of the bottom drain plug on the lower unit, let it drain overnight, then refill with my hand pump and Volvo Penta gear lube from the drain plug- when I get to about 2 quarts, I start checking the level on the dipstick and stop when it registers full on the dipstick.

This spring- just for satisfaction I suppose -I checked the outdrive oil levels by pulling the dipsticks. The oil was all the way to the top! I took my mity-vac and suctioned out about 1/2 quart of gear lube. The dipstick said it was at the correct level. I checked it again 5 minutes later, and its all the way to the top of the dipstick again!!

I dont know whats going on - last fall, did I inadvertently introduce AIR into the outdrive and air is pushing the oil UPward? Thats my theory, but it would be the first time this has ever happened and thats all I have ever owned is OMC's and Volvos. Ive ALWAYS filled from the drain plug to avoid air pockets.

What I dont want is to keep suctioning gear lube out and launch the boat (it stays in the water til October) and find out its perilously low and burn up my outdrive(s). Anybody else have this problem before and what am I doing wrong?? Its like every time I suction the oil out to the right level, I check it 5 minutes later and its all the way to the top again!

 

[tgell001]

Re: SX Outdrive always overfull??

not trying to be a smartass but by chance are you checking to oil level with the trim all the way up? Since you filled it with the trim down that would give you a false level reading.

 

[Technologic80]

Re: SX Outdrive always overfull??

not trying to be a smartass but by chance are you checking to oil level with the trim all the way up? Since you filled it with the trim down that would give you a false level reading.

Haha! thats not being a smartass. I filled it with the outdrives all the way down, and Im checking it that way too.

Yesterday I drained both outdrives, carefully measured what was going back in and pumped it in s-l-o-w-l-y; this might have been my problem last time, as I was "marathon" pumping it in. I think not only did I overfill it, but I also introduced a lot of air.

This time, after pumping slowly, after I got to around 72 ounces or so, I stopped, took a break, came back and it was perfectly on the full mark on the dipstick. I buttoned everything up, and am launching today :watermelon:

Oh, and I had about 1/2 quart EXTRA after all this. So it looks like I had overfilled both outdrives by 1/4 quart. :facepalm:

 

[skydiveD30571]

Re: SX Outdrive always overfull??

For future reference, the SX drive does have an oil level plug next to the shift mechanism. If you remove this during your refill, just stop pumping as soon as lube comes out of this hole. Plug that hole and the drain hole, and check the level with the dipstick.

It's also a good idea to check the level again after you run it, as any air introduced into the drive will be purged out after you run it a little bit.