Picked up from storage and no drive oil!!!

C

Costeveco

New Member
Jan 17, 2010
12
1000 Islands
Boat Info
2009 270 Sundancer
2006 195 Sport
Engines
350 Mag
4.3 MPI 220 HP
Hello

I picked up my boat today from it's winter storage and I noticed when looking around that the drive oil was empty!!! Before I call the Marina who serviced and winterized my boat last fall and just wanted to know if this ever happened to anybody.

I had them take the drive apart to make sure all was well plus the usual engine and drive oil change plus everything else needed to survive our usual freezing winter (i'm in Ottawa).

I'm thinking they forgot to refill or there is a leek somewhere. I'm very concerned because I sold the boat (sea ray 195 sport 4.3L) and I don't want any problems for the new owner.

All comments are appreciated

Thanks
 
Maybe when they put the drive back on... it had an air bubble or trickled some oil into the drive... and that left the reservoir low or empty?
 
Sometimes it needs to be topped off after it is changed. Check with them to be sure before you run things.
 
Just because the reservoir is empty doesn't mean the lower unit is empty. Remove the upper vent plug, if fluid comes out then the drive is full and you just need to top off the reservoir. If nothing comes from the vent plug you will need to fill the drive from the lower drain plug until fluid comes out of the vent plug, then top off the reservoir.
 
Was there a oil stain under the drive when you picked it up ???.

If yes have the drive pressure tested !!, It doesn't cost that much. :smt001
 
Drive fluid does not leak out without making itself very obvious.

I had the pleasure of losing my bravo3 fluid last year before I put her up for winter....lost the lower carrier bearing seal from corrosion..spilled it all over my driveway in one night.

I have a replacement drive in the garage just waiting to bring her home.
 
I lost the oil from my reservoir last spring but the drive had oil in the lower unit. It was the O ring between the upper and lower unit a cheap fix 1/2 hour total including pressure test. Like Wayne said they was oil all over the ground.

Ken
 
Last edited:
Hi all

Thank you for the comments so far. I will contact the person at the storage facility and see if there is oil where the boat spent the winter because when I picked up my boat it had been unwrapped and moved to the front of the lot.

When removing the upper vent plug I would imagine the drive should be down correct?

Steve
 
When I changed my gear lube at the end of the season, I would always fill the reservoir close to the top of the container and over the winter it would be right at the full line. A merc mechanic told me to try that and he was correct. I would check the upper drain first in the drive and see if you have lube in there.
 
skolbe said:
When I changed my gear lube at the end of the season, I would always fill the reservoir close to the top of the container and over the winter it would be right at the full line. A merc mechanic told me to try that and he was correct. I would check the upper drain first in the drive and see if you have lube in there.
Click to expand...


I do that as well. it avoids the underfill warning you usually get after changing the gear lube.
 
OK so I lowered the drive and removed the screw in the upper drain and voilà I hand oil coming out. So my thinking is they forgot to fill the reservoir after they changed the drive (gear) oil.

Now I wanted to fill it myself but the oil I have at home is not the same color even though it says gear lubricant so I guess I will need to drive back to where I had it serviced (it's a long drive):smt013
 
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