Any idea what I’m supposed to put in this empty reservoir

[Thornton69]

A couple things look off to me, if that is a Bravo in your pic. They do not use a gasket where they mate to the bell housing and have not seen a gimbal ring like that before on one?
If you post some pics from farther back, someone can help you with the identification of it.

 

[Espos4]

Does that last picture look like the paint bubbled, possibly from heat?

 

[Nater Potater]

Does that last picture look like the paint bubbled, possibly from heat?

It does look suspicious.

 

[blaster]

It could be the yoke seal is leaking and the u-joint assembly needs replacement. The drive needs to be removed and thoroughly inspected. If the bellows is full of gear oil you will have your answer. What ever is wrong it should be repaired before it becomes a much bigger problem.

 

[Johnny Dimez]

Does that last picture look like the paint bubbled, possibly from heat?

It does look that way note that you mention it. I figured it was from saltwater corrosion.

 

[Johnny Dimez]

Well…The previous owner has been running it like that for who knows how long; he said he never checked anything because his mechanic looked at it every year while he was winterizing.

I can’t find a manual for this boat. Got one for the engine from previous owner who got it from the guy who sold it to him, but that’s it. Tried online but all I got was the owner manual.

I’ll check the previous message areas Saturday. Hasn’t thought about it before because I found the oil on the outside but that oil may have leaked out of the bilge hole while I was driving it home. Still could be a simple leak inside the engine compartment. I’ll know Saturday and update. Either way, not taking it out again until I find it.

Thank you all for your help everyone.

 

[Bill Curtis]

I have the OEM service manuals for the 5.7 and the Alpha drives, in PDF, if you need them.

Also can lend some advice, as I am 75 minutes south of you in Ahoskie, NC and go to Chesapeake, VA to visit son on occasion.

 

[Johnny Dimez]

Found the manual and the leak. Leak coming from stern drive bolts (see yellow highlight in pic). The bolts were not the recommended 35ft pds, I could tighten them with my pinky finger. The reservoir hose clamp was loose as well.

With that said, I’m suspecting his small time boat mechanic wasn’t checking the bolts or clamps during his annual tune or winterization.

I crawled into the hull and checked the line going back to the stern drive, it was dry as a bone as was the entire area.

Gear oil was milky and has been changed.
Took it out for 3 hrs this morning, no problems, no leaks.

Thanks to all who helped with this leak.

 

[Johnny Dimez]

I have the OEM service manuals for the 5.7 and the Alpha drives, in PDF, if you need them.

Also can lend some advice, as I am 75 minutes south of you in Ahoskie, NC and go to Chesapeake, VA to visit son on occasion.

I’d love to have those manuals in pdf.

 

[blaster]

Did you pull the drive off? Gear oil is not supposed to be where those bolts are. The u joint assembly is inside of there.

 

[Nater Potater]

Did you pull the drive off? Gear oil is not supposed to be where those bolts are. The u joint assembly is inside of there.

If the bolts aren't tight, oil will leak out from between the outdrive and bellhousing. That'd be right between the two upper bolts seen in the picture he posted in post #8

 

[Nater Potater]

I’d love to have those manuals in pdf.

Try these guys: https://www.downloadboatmanuals.com/motors/mercury/mercury-mercruiser-service-manual/

 

[Bill Curtis]

I’d love to have those manuals in pdf.

Sending you a PM

 

[Johnny Dimez]

If the bolts aren't tight, oil will leak out from between the outdrive and bellhousing. That'd be right between the two upper bolts seen in the picture he posted in post #8

If you meant post #18 not #8 then yes, that’s where it was leaking from, between the two bolts.

 

[BillK2632]

So here are my thoughts:
1. That is an alpha I gen II drive, not a bravo
2. The gearlube check valve is right where you are seeing the oil leak - that's how gear oil gets from the bottle into the drive. When you take the drive off, the check valve keeps gear lube from running out of the bottle on the engine while the drive is off. When putting the drive back on, a little (or a lot) of gear oil can leak out depending on how easy the drive goes back on and seals up that check valve. That, combined with the outdrive mount bolts being loos was probably letting that check valve open enough to leak out some oil. I would still pull the drive, check it all out, clean up all the gear oil, put a new gasket set on and torque all the bolts to the 35ftlb spec. -- and if a mechanic did this never let him touch your boat again.

 

[Johnny Dimez]

I appreciate the reply Bill, I’ll check that out next weekend. If for any reason it will be to look for damage from the leak because I have no idea how long it was leaking.

 

[rpasquarello]

It depends on what drive he has. It may be behind the prop.

Bravo 1 is behind the prop.