Gear lube issue on 1995 cobra!!!

[Stinger95]

I have a 1995 Sunbird Stinger with the 3.0 OMC Cobra motor. I was going to change the outdrive oil when I found out that no one agrees on the lube type! I bought 3 quarts of Quicksilver high performance gear lube but then read on the back of one saying, " Do not use in OMC electric shift gear cases." So the question is do the 95, 96 years have the electric shift? If not am I good to go with the Quicksilver? I am almost sure it doesn't but I figured I would throw this out there to see what some of you might think.

Oh, I do not have the owners manual so no I can't look there.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Gear lube issue on 1995 cobra!!!

You are fine. Electric shift OMCs were last made in 1977.

One thing you do need to find out is if you have the Cobra SX or the older Cobra. The older Cobra is filled from a middle screw while the newer SX Cobras are filled form the bottom.

 

[Stinger95]

Re: Gear lube issue on 1995 cobra!!!

Mine is filled from the bottom.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Gear lube issue on 1995 cobra!!!

Mine is filled from the bottom.

If it is the Cobra SX......

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Gear lube issue on 1995 cobra!!!

if you have the volvo drive merc HP gear lube is NOT the reccomemned lube. synthetic GL-5 75W-90 is the reccomended lube.
a picture of the gearcase will let us identify if you have the cone clutch volvo or the dog clutch OMC cobra.

 

[Stinger95]

Re: Gear lube issue on 1995 cobra!!!

I first bought the Penzoil GL-5 75W-90 but is was yellow in color and the oil in the case now is bluish green and smells like hell, and that is what the Quicksilver looks like but smells different? I think I am on the right track but not 100%?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Gear lube issue on 1995 cobra!!!

In my Volvo I use Mobil 1 GL-5 synthetic and that is what the Volvo manual calls out besides their own fluid. Since it sounds like you have the SX model, I would get that.

 

[Stinger95]

Re: Gear lube issue on 1995 cobra!!!

I just read the Seloc repair manual and it said to use OMC Ultra HPF gear case lube or it's equal in 94 to 95 years, BUT....... from 1995 to 98 to use Mobilube 1 SHC fully synthetic. Guess it comes down to a first of the year model boat or end year?

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Gear lube issue on 1995 cobra!!!

Someone put the Merc lube in it.The Pennzoil or Mobile one should be fine.
I would go with the Synthetic Mobile One GL5 rated.

 

[Sparkinator]

Re: Gear lube issue on 1995 cobra!!!

I just read the Seloc repair manual and it said to use OMC Ultra HPF gear case lube or it's equal in 94 to 95 years, BUT....... from 1995 to 98 to use Mobilube 1 SHC fully synthetic. Guess it comes down to a first of the year model boat or end year?

Seloc is not the best manual and that is part of the problem. The overlapping 95 model year (as described by Seloc ) isn't explained fully. The difference is the plain Cobra vs. the SX Cobra. The older plain Cobra is a dog clutch and the SX is a cone clutch. The drives look similar, but the gear lube fill proceedures are completely different.

Below is the older COBRA drive (fill from the middle hole)

Below is the Cobra SX drive (with the hump) and it is filled from the bottom.

I hope that helps! If you find you have the SX cobra drive, do yourself a favor and get some Volvo Penta manuals (they are identical drives) for your model.

 

[Stinger95]

Re: Gear lube issue on 1995 cobra!!!

Sparkinator the pics were a help, thanks!! I have the SX drive without a doubt! So I guess the guy who had the boat before me put the wrong gear oil in and that is what has been confusing the hell out of me. I bought the Penzoil synthetic GL-5 first, then when I drained the outdrive Merc lube came out so I bought the Quicksiver thinking that is what needs to go back in.

The more I kept researching the two different outdrives everything kept leaning more towards Mobile 1 or Penzoil. So I guess I need to flush out the Merc oil and put in the Penzoil. Thanks to all for the help.