Adding Gear Lube

[Chas]

I looked at the resevoir for the gear lube (clear container on front of engines) and it is just a little low. I did not change the lube as it was done before I purchased the boat. I do not know what was used. Is it OK to add any brand of gear lube, or is it a bad thing to add lube of a different brand or viscosity? :huh:

 

[Quint4]

An alpha 1 takes about a quart and a half to fill. I would just drain and refill with fresh merc gear lube. Fill from the bottom hole on the outdrive ( remove the vent screw on top first and fill until lube starts to come out vent screw hole ). This way you can check for water in the lube and know where your at.

 

[Nehalennia]

In the reservoir you're describing, you need to add High Performance gear lube by Merc. There is Premium gear lube as well, but don't use it. Use High perf only

 

[Quint4]

assuming that's what the last guy put in it.

 

[280 SeaRay]

assuming that's what the last guy put in it.

Agreed. If the last guy put the wrong stuff (i.e. Premium Gear Lube) then putting Higher Perf Gear lube in would not be a good thing.

I looked at the resevoir for the gear lube (clear container on front of engines) and it is just a little low. I did not change the lube as it was done before I purchased the boat. I do not know what was used. Is it OK to add any brand of gear lube, or is it a bad thing to add lube of a different brand or viscosity? :huh:

Mixing gear lubes is on the list of no-no's. Merc specifically recommends that their 2 types of rive fluid not be mixed. If you do a search you will be able to find a quote from Merc someone posted a while back about mixing gear lubes. When choosing a brand I like to stick with what the manufacturer recommends. High-Performance Gear Lube is the type specified for your alpha's.

http://www.mercurymarine.com/otherproducts/maintenance/gearlubehp.php


If I were in your shoes I would just change all of the fluids so I know that the correct quality fluids were in my boat.

 

[jarwood]

It is real easy to change the drive lube.

Remember to put new washers/ gaskets when you replace the screws. 1 in the bottom and 1 for the oil vent. They only cost about a $1.00 a piece. added insurance so no water gets in the drive.

 

[Nehalennia]

assuming that's what the last guy put in it.

Agreed. Good catch

 

[Chas]

My boat is in a well, so changing now is not an option. I will change when I winterize the boat, but for the time being, I wanted to get to the full line. I guess I will contact the dealer and ask them exactly what they used and purchase that. Thanks for the advice as it saved me from making a potential mistake.