Color of lower unit lube

[asdasc]

Hi All,
Well, I managed to wait until well after freezing temps before I was forced to pull the boat out of the water. It was about 24 degrees out and so I immediately pulled the drain plugs and set a container under it while I went to sleep.

The next morning, I checked what had drained out and it was a greenish yellow color. The good news is that it didn't seem to seperate any water out of it overnight, and nothing was frozen, so i think I did that ok.

I did refill it this morning and bundle it up for the winter.

Is this color a sign that I am getting water in the lower uni? I am guessing yes, a little bit, but want to confirm.

Thanks!

 

[Rick.]

Re: Color of lower unit lube

That's what it looks like when it's mixed with water. Rick.

 

[mthieme]

Re: Color of lower unit lube

confirmed

 

[5150abf]

Re: Color of lower unit lube

The good news is you caught it in time, there is water in it but not very much.

Now you have all winter to change seals.

 

[HDPipes05]

Re: Color of lower unit lube

H20 out drive milk shake. Bummer, time for pressure check and perhaps a seal or two?? Keep fingers crossed, MAYBE it's just one of your drain plug O-rings

Good luck!!!

 

[asdasc]

Re: Color of lower unit lube

Thanks all, that it what I am hoping, that it is just the drain plug seals. I did do a full reseal on it a couple months ago, but since I was doing so much testing and fiddleing and draining and checking of levels, etc, I didn't use the proper seals on the fill/drain screws. I just used standard o-rings from the plumbing department. I was saving the good ones for when I had the other issues worked out. Now that they are, I will probably just switch out the drain/fill screw seals with the proper ones and go from there.

By the way, in a pinch because I forgot a screwdriver at the boat launch, I found that a penny works great for removing those screws! The slot is wide enough.

I will pressure test it in the spring to be sure.

 

[charleso]

Re: Color of lower unit lube

Also, check prop seal, may have fishing line in there, will cause leak. Do you have magnetic tip drain plug, if so check for metal filings. If there is filings or no mag tip, you may want to double check by flushing with fresh oil to make sure you don't have a bad bearing or gear. Do this before you run it, cause you do not want to explode a lower housing if a gear comes loose.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Color of lower unit lube

Looks exactly like mine did, an olive milkshake.
Mechanic quoted $375 , but...

I installed new drain seals , some fresh lube and it still looks like honey.

 

[freddyray21]

Re: Color of lower unit lube

Thanks all, that it what I am hoping, that it is just the drain plug seals. I did do a full reseal on it a couple months ago, but since I was doing so much testing and fiddleing and draining and checking of levels, etc, I didn't use the proper seals on the fill/drain screws. I just used standard o-rings from the plumbing department. I was saving the good ones for when I had the other issues worked out. Now that they are, I will probably just switch out the drain/fill screw seals with the proper ones and go from there.

By the way, in a pinch because I forgot a screwdriver at the boat launch, I found that a penny works great for removing those screws! The slot is wide enough.

I will pressure test it in the spring to be sure.

get the right seals for the plugs. Also If you are able to loosen them with a penny then they are not tight.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Color of lower unit lube

get the right seals for the plugs. Also If you are able to loosen them with a penny then they are not tight.

Agreed. Correct seals and personally I use the allen head plugs.

 

[freddyray21]

Re: Color of lower unit lube

allen heads are great also

 

[asdasc]

Re: Color of lower unit lube

I agree, because I used regular o-rings, I didn't tighten them very tight. I do have the proper ones, they came with the kit that I used to reseal everything about 2 months ago. I will put the proper ones on and then tighten the screws down real good.

I am 99% sure I don't have any fishing line around the prop shaft, but I will check to be sure.

I do have some phragmites growing and other weeds that I go thru and commonly get wrapped around the prop shaft. Sometimes rocking back and forth from reverse to forward will get rid of them, but usually I have to climb down and pull them away. Do you think that the weeds will mess up the seals like fishing line does?