What gear oil do I use?

R

RazorRobb

New Member
Apr 23, 2008
113
Seattle WA
I'm out of town and the gear oil for my outdrive is dangerously low. My clear see-thru resevoir is almost empty. There's an auto parts store within 5 miles. What oil do I buy? 75-90 Mobil 1 synthetic gear oil? I called the dealer and they said to only run "Mercruiser" or "Quicksilver" gear oils. I'm not dumb, as long as an oil is the same weight and viscosity it's interchangeable. They wouldn't give me the weight, or they didn't know it? (Which I find hard to believe.) Oh, did I say I left my manual at home like a frickin' genious? What do you think?:huh:
 
I don't have access to those oils. I'm 150 miles from the closest dealer on vacation for the 4th. There's got to be an oil I can use at the auto parts store. Doesn't there?
 
Two things:

You want to use only Mercury High Performance Gear Lube +

You do not want to mix so if you are putting something else in there you will need to drain the other gear lube. Check your owners manual if you do not believe any of the posters.

Wesley
 
The only problem with that is the low oil alarm. That sucker is loud. It sucks to be in this position. I just had it serviced before my trip and getting gear oil didn't even cross my mind. You learn something every day.
 
The dealer will not overnight you a bottle? The manual spcifies an alternative fluid to use.... but I do not know if it ok to mix oils. I personally would not mix the fluids.... heck Merc does not recommend mixing their Premium and their HP outdrive oils.

In the future you may want to consider carrying spare fluids and filters to ensure trips are not cut short and problems like this are easily solved.

Are you certain there are not Marine Stores where you are at?
 
You could give this guy a call to see if nothing else he can tell you where you may be able to find it.

The Boat Doc

413 Mossyrock Rd W
Mossyrock, WA 98564
360-983-8000
 
The Marina doesn't carry it, neither does the "Boat Doc". He carries the the old stuff, whatever that is. He also specializes in outboards. Thanks for the info. anyway, it doesn't go unappreciated.
 
I can't believe he could not give a recommendation on where to get it. In that case if I were you, three options, start driving, call dealer and have them overnight it to you, go to mercruiser website and have it overnighted to you. They do have a parts express on their website.

Good luck but I agree would not mix with anything other than high performance Gear Lube +
 
I'll just add one more vote on not mixing oils.

As I used to be a mechanic with ASE certs in engines... I can tell you that it's very inadvisable to mix oils. ALL oils have different formulations; this is true with automobile oils (SAE specs just cover oil characteristics, not chemical make-up and additives)... and given marine oils don't even have any sort of standards for specs, I'd be even more reluctant to mix. A couple of the problems you are presented with is the formulations and additives can actually counter-act each other causing lubricant break-down or preventing the suspension of the byproducts from running the particular device (this is mostly an issue with engines and transmissions; hopefully you don't have many "byproducts from operation" in your out-drive!), when that happens you get that nasty crud build up in which clogs oil passageways and hastens bearing failure. The down sides to oil break down are readily apparent; lack of lubrication and lack of efficiency in removing heat from the parts it comes into contact with.

Most knowledgeable mechanics and auto engineers will tell you that it's even best to run one brand and type of oil in your vehicle and never change; if every time you change your oils/lube you use a different brand and type, the residual mixes with the new and can still cause some of those problems listed above; and it will do it every single time you swap. This is why so many people in the auto and marine industry advise you stick with one type of oil/lube.

Obviously, it's better to mix oils than run something dry. But usually a boat shouldn't leave you in the position where you're stranded if you don't add some gas station brand oil (unless you're on a LONG trip).

And as someone stated, so long as you can see lube... you're fine. My Alpha One Gen 1 doesn't have a reservoir (wish it did though). You might want to try unplugging the sensor in the reservoir; usually they work by competing a circuit when a float drops to a specific level. In theory this would make it think it's in the clear. But still keep an eye on that sight tube.
 
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