gear lube - did I screw this up?

[redboat2]

I recently bought a '99 Sea Ray with '99 3.0L 135HP Mercruiser. No maint had been done so I started doing that. I drained the lower unit and then realized that there was a resevoir by the engine. I poured some gear lube into the resevoir but then noticed that it was a different color. So... I did some checking and found that I had put in Premium Gear Lube vs High Performance Gear Lube. I cyphoned out the Premium Gear Lube from the resevoir - not sure if any though had made it into the hose feeding the lower unit - I"m guessing some did. Anyway, marine store sold me correct stuff and said it should take 2 1/2 quarts. I filled through bottom hole in lower unit 'til it came out the vent. I put in the vent plug, put in the drain plug, and then filled the resevoir. It only took 1 1/2 quarts. I've run the boat a couple of hours. It randomly beeps at me (the audible alarm - temp & oil pressure seem fine). Marine said that after about 10 hours the air should work its way out and then refill. Not sure if that is elapsed time or running the boat.(?)<br /><br />So.....should I be concerned that there was potentially some of this other lube in the line? I doubt its much - but will it cause a problem? Should the air work its way out? More importantly, did I screw this up? On the newer boats is draining the gear lube something of the past?<br /><br />Thanks!<br />Kurt

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: gear lube - did I screw this up?

The slight problem you are having is not the different lubes,they will blend just fine.My guess is that when you disconnected the feeder line to the vent in the drive there was some air in the line.You were supposed to let the line hang with the resovoir cap off and let it drip until all air was out of the line and then connect it to the drive.Should not be a big deal,just keep an eye on the fluid level and make sure there is some oil on the vent on the cap.Charlie

 

[MH9371B]

Re: gear lube - did I screw this up?

Once the lube comes out of the vent plug on the top, did you replace the screw, and continue to pump until you saw lube in your resevoir? You shouldn't fill your resevoir until you have pumped the lube all the way up until you see it appear there.

 

[redboat2]

Re: gear lube - did I screw this up?

I pumped thru the drain hole until it came out the vent. I then replaced the vent plug and the drain plug and filled the reservoir.<br /><br />Any course of action that I should take at this point or just simply monitor the reservoir and keep it filled?<br /><br />thanks.

 

[MH9371B]

Re: gear lube - did I screw this up?

Yeah once you pump the lube in and see it come out the vent hole, you then have to put the screw back in the vent hold and continue to pump until you see it start to come out in the resevoir. That is how you purge the system of air. Once you see it coming out in your resevoir (which you should have already emptied when you drained your old lube) then you can simply pour the rest into the resevoir to the fill line.