Drive fluid leak on 3.0 mercruiser with alpha one

[mira4581]

Hi all, I have a drive fluid leak somewhere in my 2013 Bayliner 175 with 3.0 mercruiser with alpha one drive and about 80 hrs on it and hoping someone can shine some light. My drive fluid reservoir over the last 5 month would periodically get a little low and I would add a little bit of fluid before each use. I haven?t used the boat in over 2 month and noticed a few oil drops from the drain plug inside my garage so I looked inside and realized my entire drive fluid reservoir is completely empty and all the oil is inside the boat towards the back. I tried to determine where its leaking and everything looks completely dry outside the boat around the drive and from the top front??the hose looks nice and clean but it?s impossible to see the back of engine. A friend of mine suggested the only thing it could be is the connector where the hose connects in the back. Has anyone ever experienced this before? Where does that hose connect to and how would one get there without removing half the engine?

 

[Bt Doctur]

To check the hoses and fitting remove the drive and refill the res.The fitting assembly can be changed with great difficulty.Power steering unit removal makes it a bit easier. Remove the quick dis-connect hose, the cir-clip and push the unit outward toward the drive.carefully wiggle it out from the housing, remove the hose, attach new fitting to hose, insert into transom, install C clip and hose.

 

[mira4581]

Thanks Bt Doctur, so it's possible to fix it without pulling the drive ? Any idea on how much this should cost as I will have to most likely have to take it in somewhere.

 

[Rick Stephens]

Like he said: "To check the hoses and fitting remove the drive".


Removing the drive is a 15 minute job. Fixing a leaky fitting is going to take more.

 

[Bt Doctur]

I have changed the plastic fitting with the drive on, it can be done. First pull the drive, there is a button valve in the housing that stops oil when the drive is removed. Another place for oil to leak and get into the bilge is from the inputshaft seal on the outdrive. It fills the bellows and weeps thru the gimbal bearing into the bilge

 

[mira4581]

Thank you guys for the help, I'll try to get it done in a few weeks.

 

[Hoosmatroos]

I'm having the waterhose connector replaced at the back of the transom with a 7,4 ltr V8 in. A hard job for just 2 bolts but it can be done. The drive fluid connector is next to the waterhose on the inside. First remove the drive and check that the input shaft seal is oke. Are you sure theat the hose isn't pinched or something?