MercCruiser drive oil leak

[girlboatie]

My '96 4.3L I/O has developed a drive oil leak somewhere. There is a reservoir in the engine compartment on the port side towards the back of the boat. It's a whitish plastic container that says 'fill to line'. It was about an inch below that line so we added gear oil. Took it out for a couple of days of cruising around and it's down an inch again. No sign of oil leaks in bilge. The leg seems to work fine.

It's a real hassle to pull the boat out of the water. Is there a way to find the leak without doing this? We just had it serviced in October 07 & everything was supposedly ok.

Thanks,
girlboatie

 

[Don S]

Re: MercCruiser drive oil leak

It's a real hassle to pull the boat out of the water. Is there a way to find the leak without doing this?

Nope, Time to pull the drive and check the bellows for gear lube. If none there, drain the drive and do a pressure check of the drive. Specifically check the shift shaft bushing.

 

[Rusty Boater]

Re: MercCruiser drive oil leak

Don-

Sorry to hijack. I am having the same problem (not as severe) on an Alpha 1. If there is lube in the bellows what do you do. The lube never moved last year and now I filled it at the beginning of the season (late March) and had to add some yesterday.

 

[girlboatie]

Re: MercCruiser drive oil leak

Nope, Time to pull the drive and check the bellows for gear lube. If none there, drain the drive and do a pressure check of the drive. Specifically check the shift shaft bushing.

Dang. What will happen if we just keep the reservoir filled until we pull the boat out in late Sept?

girlboatie