merc outdrive oil level question

[lhenk]

I just bought a used 2003 bayliner 2150, 5.0L, merc alpha 1 outdrive. The dad sold it to me saying it had 15 hours on it and it was in perfect condition. I brought it home and noticed the drive unit oil was on the low mark. I didn't think anything about it.<br /><br />I called back about something else and talked to the son (25 yrs. old). He asked if I had taken it out yet and I said no. He said it only had 6 hours on it and that they "ran it hard" to break it in as they were told to do. He said the outdrive oil ran low so they borrowed some out on the lake from another boater. He told me to watch that oil level because until it was "broke in" it would use some oil.<br /><br />This sounds suspicious to me. Does it sound normal or is this a red flag for me to take this boat back?

 

[tommays]

Re: merc outdrive oil level question

the level in the tank will drop a littel bit as the air works its way out of a new or refilled drive <br /><br />if it went low enough that the tank was empty?? on the lake thats a lot<br /><br />that is not the recomened break in method for anything<br /><br />if you have the oil drained and refilled the condition of the oil would give a very good idea if there was a problem <br /><br />tommays

 

[lhenk]

Re: merc outdrive oil level question

I drained out a couple ounces of the oil and did find some "glitter" stuck to the magnetic plug. It is not very much but it is metal. I'm thinking this may be normal for a boat with only 6 to 15 hours on it. Am I mistaken? Should I drain the entire outdrive?<br /><br />The boat does have a low oil alert on the drive oil so the previous owner probably didn't run it completely dry. I had to add 4 oz to the resivoir to bring it up to full level.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: merc outdrive oil level question

4 oz I would not sweat the first time. if it goes low again go find the leak. its a sealed system and wont use oil. however some techs cannot or will not learn to fill them correctly and it goes low in the first few hours. usually by about 4 oz. the ran it hard is NOT in the service manual. that part is total BS or HS depending on where ya live. find someone with some knowledge to help.