Alpha One Drive Gear Oil Leaking? Or Burning Through It?

[taylorjheinzen]

Hey guys, been keeping an eye on my gear oil level this after getting my drive completely resealed last summer,

 

[taylorjheinzen]

Hey guys, been keeping an eye on my gear oil level this summer and every time I take it out, it's been getting a little lower. I'm still pretty new to boating, but I find this odd, as had my drive completely resealed last summer by an actual marine mechanic. There's been no traces of leaking oil, whether than be on the drive itself or the pavement, (as it was last summer), and I do trust the mechanic who resealed the drive. I can't remember what the exact names of the seals were, but he said he did 3 different seals, one being the shifter shaft. Can these drives burn through oil, or do you guys think it's actually leaking? Any thoughts are appreciated!

 

[Maclin]

It won't burn anything, leaking out is the only way the level will drop. If level drops with no external evidence then it may be going into the drive bellows. Removing the drive will show if that is happening. If you wait too long there is a weep hole at the top of the transom assembly inside the boat where any fluid in the bellows that gets up to that level will start coming inside the boat.

 

[alldodge]

Leaking only, how much are you leaking?

 

[ThomW]

You shouldn't "burn" through gear oil. If the levels are dropping, its probably leaking somewhere.

 

[taylorjheinzen]

Leaking only, how much are you leaking?

I started the summer with the level at it highest and now the the level is barely touching the indicator. Maybe have 10 hours on this year so far.

 

[taylorjheinzen]

It won't burn anything, leaking out is the only way the level will drop. If level drops with no external evidence then it may be going into the drive bellows. Removing the drive will show if that is happening. If you wait too long there is a weep hole at the top of the transom assembly inside the boat where any fluid in the bellows that gets up to that level will start coming inside the boat.

Is this because of specific seal failing?

 

[alldodge]

I started the summer with the level at it highest and now the level is barely touching the indicator. Maybe have 10 hours on this year so far.

That's a lot of lube and needs fixed

Is this because of specific seal failing?

If it is leaking into the bellows its the yoke seal, or called the drive shat seal which is behind the U joints

 

[wahlejim]

Was it filled correctly, from the bottom up and then top off the reservoir, or was it only filled by the reservoir. It's conceivable that in 10 hours the air in the outdrive worked its way out/oil worked its way down. That is about how much oil would be used.

 

[harleyman1975]

I would fill it up and keep monitoring it. If trailered boat pull bottom plug and see if any water comes out or just oil.

 

[62cruiserinc]

You can't "burn through" gear oil. The only way for it to go away is to come out through a leak. In an engine, you can burn through oil because it can enter the combustion chamber and burn with the gasoline. There is no combustion chamber in an outdrive.

Steve

 

[GA_Boater]

Hey guys, been keeping an eye on my gear oil level this after getting my drive completely resealed last summer,

Please don't start more than one thread on the same issue. It is too confusing for all involved.

 

[achris]

When filled like that, which is the correct way, an air space is left in the drive between the vent hole and the very top of the housing. It slowly works its way out through the monitor and hose. That's normal and the amount is about what you see being 'lost'. Refill the monitor and well, monitor....

There is a way to completely full the drive so that doesn't happen, but it's a time consuming process, and professional mechanics don't like spending time. What he should have done, and what I do for all my customers, is explain to you about the air and losing oil from the reservoir.

Chris. ....

 

[enginesilo]

I had something similar happening a season or two back. If you top it off and you keep on losing it you may have a bad seal somewhere, and it's not just air in the system. when I saw that mine needed an extra top off I pulled my drive and pressure tested it. The culprit was a bad shift shaft bushing which was letting the oil out. I thought for sure I would see some kind of oil in the water if it was a true leak, but I never did. After I fixed that piece the oil level never dropped again. Pressure test and fix it, it would be sad to keep dumping all that oil in the water.