What could happens if u run your motor with milky gearcase oil?

[badlockjaw]

It's not white, but light brown. There was no water in it, but the color just isn't right. Don't know what to do. Just got done rebuilding dang near everything on it. It's a 69 25hp johnson

 

[badlockjaw]

Re: What could happens if u run your motor with milky gearcase oil?

I only ran 6gallons of fuel since adding new gear oil.

It's not white, but light brown. There was no water in it, but the color just isn't right. Don't know what to do. Just got done rebuilding dang near everything on it. It's a 69 25hp johnson

 

[kbait]

Re: What could happens if u run your motor with milky gearcase oil?

Did you replace drain plug washers (seals) when you last filled the gearcase? Sometimes that'll be a leaky point if the seals are shot. I'd re-lube, add new plug washers and inspect it every so often by just removing the lower plug for a second to see how the lube looks. A little water (slightly milky) won't hurt anything, but liquid water separated out (will collect at bottom and will come out first) is not good.

 

[badlockjaw]

Re: What could happens if u run your motor with milky gearcase oil?

Did you replace drain plug washers (seals) when you last filled the gearcase? Sometimes that'll be a leaky point if the seals are shot. I'd re-lube, add new plug washers and inspect it every so often by just removing the lower plug for a second to see how the lube looks. A little water (slightly milky) won't hurt anything, but liquid water separated out (will collect at bottom and will come out first) is not good.

I replaced the drain plugs and washers 1st. There was no water at all, but the change in color from when I put fresh lube in, until I checked it, had me concerned. Was really thick yet also. Took pics but can't figure out how to get them on here from my iPod.

 

[archcycle]

Re: What could happens if u run your motor with milky gearcase oil?

Marine gearcase oil contains emulsifiers which make the oil grab onto water molecules permanently. This is bad of course but worse is letting free sloshing water live in the gearcase until you happen to drain it and notice so the oil captures the water in a permanent suspension. If you just have a little bit of water getting in then you wouldn't find separate water and oil. If you had no water intrusion you'd have put it in highlighter yellow and taken it out 6 gallons of fuel burned later highlighter yellow.

 

[archcycle]

Re: What could happens if u run your motor with milky gearcase oil?

and unfortunately what could happen (will) is the gearcase dies. It will suck up all the water it can and begin replacing fully saturated emulsified oil/water with plain water.

 

[Faztbullet]

Re: What could happens if u run your motor with milky gearcase oil?

If you run a cheap automotive 80W/90W it will areate and become thick and take on a baby crap yellow look. That oil is designed to run in a vented gear housing. I tell all my customer to use a marine spec lower lube as there is a difference between the auto and marine. Running it with water contaminated oil will wear all the brass bushings in the gearcase.

 

[Blazinmonkey]

Re: What could happens if u run your motor with milky gearcase oil?

`What could happens if u run your motor with milky gearcase oil?'
i would not want to find out...
`Just got done rebuilding dang near everything on it.'
then what is one more thing? i would replace the seals... better than replacing the gears in the lower unit...

did you just change the gear oil, run 6 gallons of gas & checked the gear oil again to find it light brown?

 

[badlockjaw]

Re: What could happens if u run your motor with milky gearcase oil?

Yes. U think it's a seal then?

 

[boobie]

Re: What could happens if u run your motor with milky gearcase oil?

What oil are you using ? Fatzbullet brought up a good point.

 

[toddschubert]

Re: What could happens if u run your motor with milky gearcase oil?

It blows up and dies! Lol. You have a leak somewhere

 

[badlockjaw]

Re: What could happens if u run your motor with milky gearcase oil?

I use Johnson/evinrude high vis heavy duty formula. I'll try to get some pics on here today.

What oil are you using ? Fatzbullet brought up a good point.

 

[badlockjaw]

Re: What could happens if u run your motor with milky gearcase oil?

I use Johnson/evinrude high vis heavy duty formula. I'll try to get some pics on here today.

 

[badlockjaw]

Re: What could happens if u run your motor with milky gearcase oil?

also wondering why there are 4 small holes in the side(if u look closely), is that normal? and on the opposite side from the prop, just above the pic, theres another hole which water pees out when its running.

 

[toddschubert]

Re: What could happens if u run your motor with milky gearcase oil?

Not sure on the other holes but you definately had water in the gear case. I just checked mine while we where on subject and have the same issue. Getting new gaskets today!!!!

 

[wayneo99]

Re: What could happens if u run your motor with milky gearcase oil?

I have thesame problem with my 1979 85hp. My mechanic who has been a johmson evinrude mechanic for 30 yrs says change the oil a few times a year and leave it alone.
I dont agree with that but he feels that with a salt water motor your opening a can of worms. I said what do you mean.
he said
the seal surfaces make be pitted, the housing may be corroded etc. He wont put 2 hrs worth of work into a 33 yr old engine and tell me its going to fix the oil leak.
he says he has quite a few gearcases that have been running for years with a small leak, but the key is to change the oil 2-3 times a season if you can.

Part of me says get it fixed and part of me says leave it alone. for now im going to check it in a few wks.

thats my .02
good luck

 

[badlockjaw]

Re: What could happens if u run your motor with milky gearcase oil?

Haha. So Walmart brand lower unit lube is good? If I'm gonna be changing it frequently, then I don't want to put $9/bottle every time. It has new upper and lower seals on the prop shaft and spaghetti seal. Could it be something by where the driveshaft goes thru the water pump housing?

I have thesame problem with my 1979 85hp. My mechanic who has been a johmson evinrude mechanic for 30 yrs says change the oil a few times a year and leave it alone.
I dont agree with that but he feels that with a salt water motor your opening a can of worms. I said what do you mean.
he said
the seal surfaces make be pitted, the housing may be corroded etc. He wont put 2 hrs worth of work into a 33 yr old engine and tell me its going to fix the oil leak.
he says he has quite a few gearcases that have been running for years with a small leak, but the key is to change the oil 2-3 times a season if you can.

Part of me says get it fixed and part of me says leave it alone. for now im going to check it in a few wks.

thats my .02
good luck

 

[ezmobee]

Re: What could happens if u run your motor with milky gearcase oil?

There's nothing wrong with Wal-Mart's Super Tech marine lower unit lube. If it was mine, I'd change it, run it a couple times and check it again.

 

[Whoopbass]

Re: What could happens if u run your motor with milky gearcase oil?

As previously stated change your oil out 2-3 times a year and you should be fine.
I ran my 1980 25hp Johnson for 10+ years with a LU leak and changed the oil when I remembered. I used Wal Mart oil and that worked fine.
I was going to put the motor up for sale so I decided to re-seal the LU with a seal kit. When I got it apart the gears looked new. After getting it back together I wish I had done the job a lot sooner because it was fairly easy to do and besides changing LU oil 2-3X a year is a pain in the butt.

 

[Scott Chinsota]

Re: What could happens if u run your motor with milky gearcase oil?

could be the driveshaft seals but the likely culprit is the seals in the bearing carrier or the carrier bolt seals. fishing line destroys these seals. the outer seal keeps water out. the washers on the fill plugs should be the first remedy then the carrier seals then the driveshaft seals. salt water will corrode everything. bushings, bearings, gears, the pump. my advice. new washers every time you remove the fill plug(s). service the bearing carrier. chech the carrier bolts for little rubber seals and change them. then the shift cavity cover and lastly, the driveshaft seals under the water pump. change fluid till water is purged. good luck.