Dead horse beating: Merc 3.0L A1 gear lube consumption
 

"katekebo" wrote in message
oups.com...

Mr Wizzard wrote:
"katekebo" wrote in message
ups.com...
You say that every time you take the boat out you have to add about 2
oz. of lubricant.


On my drive I experience exactly the same thing during
the first 3, maybe 5 times I use the boat after an oil change.

Oh really?? Well, this was only the second time out after
they (dealer) changed the drive gear lube, and pulling the
drive for annual maintenance. Still doesn't explain why it
was doing this *before* I took it in - boat was run all
last year without doing this. So what type of drive you
have, and what year ?

2005 Alpha I Gen. 2 with 3.0L 4-cyl, in a Bayliner 175.

Damn, thats the exact same boat I got!! Tell me more here.
How many hours on it, and did it EVER use any lube *before*
you did this lube change?

Dead horse beating: Merc 3.0L A1 gear lube consumption
 

"Eldon" wrote in message
oups.com...
I had the same thing on my 94 Alpha 1 Gen 2 outdrive. It finally
stopped going down after about 4 or 5 times. I don't think you have a
problem. When it is filled originally, you fill it until gear lube
comes out of the upper hole. I think the air on top of the outdrive
works it way out to your reservoir and lets a little more lube in the
gearcase. I bet if you take the upper screw/plug out you will find the
lube level is now above this hole. Again, no big deal.

Eldon

Wow! - these posts are starting to give me new-found hope here!
But I need to pick your brain for some more info. So on your
94, *when* did it start going down? With the factory lube, or
after you changed it? If asfter, did it ever use any before ?

So to recap on the background of this never-ending saga:
I bought this 2005 Bayliner 175 in June of 2005, and I ran
it all the way thru last July, Aug, and Sept and the lube level
never budged!. I let it sit over the winter (Seattle area), and
it seems that ever since I started using it this year (got a late
start, probably only had it out 5-6 times at best), I've noticed
the lube level dropping, thus why I took it into the shop.

Thanks in advance for any detailed info/timelines/etc that
you can offer me.







Mr Wizzard wrote:
"Jim" wrote in message
ink.net...

"Mr Wizzard" wrote in message
. ..

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"Mr Wizzard" wrote in message
. ..
Ok, I know this subject (and all of my posts) are like
beating a dead horse, but problem is still not solved,
so I thought I'd throw it back out there to re-visit it.

I'm hoping that some well-seasoned Mercruiser
mechanic who is familiar with the newer Alpha-1
drives may see it and know what the issue is.

2005 Bayliner, 3.0L Alpha-1 started using gear
lube on a regular basis - about 1/2 inch per hour.
Took it to a shop and they said no problem found,
and it passes pressure test. They did the annual
maintenance, pulled the drive, checked alignment,
and all the other maintenance items, and said its
all in good shape - basically a new boat with about
50 hours on it, nothing to worry about.

But yet when I take it out on the lake, for every
hour of running time, the gear lube level in the
gear lube monitor (gear lube reservoir on motor)
drops about 1/2 (which I think is like 2 ounces).

Is there ANY one who is experiencing this on the
2005 Bayliner 175 with the 3.0L Alpha-1 ???

I cant believe that I'm the only one with this issue.
No trace of gear lube, no smell, no rainbow's, no
drops/leak sitting in the driveway for weeks on
end. Where the *HELL* is the lube GOING ??

Good Karma due to anyone who knows about this!
(or maybe sell the boat, and good Karma due *me* ?)



Are you adding gear lube to the reservoir when it drops?
Check your bilge under the engine.

Adding lube to the reservior, yes. Bilge so clean
you can eat out of it. I simply don't get it. Also,
I would think that if reservoir, and associated
piping were leaking, it would be leaking all the
time, not just when running. Its *gotta* be
something that is happening "at" speed. Either
some strange vacuum, or water vortex being
setup aroud the prop, and maybe the water
flow is "sucking" the lube out from around
the prop seal at speed ? I'm a a total loss here.


Eisboch




After properly changing gear lube you MIGHT experience 1 burp to expel
trapped air in the stern drive. It is extremely peculiar that a gear
lube
leak can't be found. You didn't mention if any water was found in the
stern
drive when they drained the gear lube for the pressure test. Also
vacuum
testing sometimes finds a problem.

Don't wait till your warranty expires. Get it fixed now. Suggest to
your
shop that Mercruiser might need to get involved, since normal shop
troubleshooting hasn't been able to show up the problem. They might
want
to
take another crack at it before they call in the big dogs.
Good luck,
Jim

Good advice. They said that no water was found in lube at all.

Dead horse beating: Merc 3.0L A1 gear lube consumption
 

"jamesgangnc" wrote in message
oups.com...
If you are not finding water in the gear lube I would continue to use
it. Check regularly by opening the bottom plug carefully and letting
out a few drops of lube. If you get water or the lube is milky then
you've got to get it fixed. Occasionally adding lube is not going to
hurt it as long as it doesn't get water in it. If you really have a
leak it will probably worsen after a few more years and then you will
be able to find it.

Well thats all good info, thanks. Well, the dealer said no water found,
but I guess I can check easy enough, right? So the clear blue lube
will definetly turn milky if water got in ?



Eldon wrote:
I had the same thing on my 94 Alpha 1 Gen 2 outdrive. It finally
stopped going down after about 4 or 5 times. I don't think you have a
problem. When it is filled originally, you fill it until gear lube
comes out of the upper hole. I think the air on top of the outdrive
works it way out to your reservoir and lets a little more lube in the
gearcase. I bet if you take the upper screw/plug out you will find the
lube level is now above this hole. Again, no big deal.

Eldon


Mr Wizzard wrote:
"Jim" wrote in message
ink.net...

"Mr Wizzard" wrote in message
. ..

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"Mr Wizzard" wrote in message
. ..
Ok, I know this subject (and all of my posts) are like
beating a dead horse, but problem is still not solved,
so I thought I'd throw it back out there to re-visit it.

I'm hoping that some well-seasoned Mercruiser
mechanic who is familiar with the newer Alpha-1
drives may see it and know what the issue is.

2005 Bayliner, 3.0L Alpha-1 started using gear
lube on a regular basis - about 1/2 inch per hour.
Took it to a shop and they said no problem found,
and it passes pressure test. They did the annual
maintenance, pulled the drive, checked alignment,
and all the other maintenance items, and said its
all in good shape - basically a new boat with about
50 hours on it, nothing to worry about.

But yet when I take it out on the lake, for every
hour of running time, the gear lube level in the
gear lube monitor (gear lube reservoir on motor)
drops about 1/2 (which I think is like 2 ounces).

Is there ANY one who is experiencing this on the
2005 Bayliner 175 with the 3.0L Alpha-1 ???

I cant believe that I'm the only one with this issue.
No trace of gear lube, no smell, no rainbow's, no
drops/leak sitting in the driveway for weeks on
end. Where the *HELL* is the lube GOING ??

Good Karma due to anyone who knows about this!
(or maybe sell the boat, and good Karma due *me* ?)



Are you adding gear lube to the reservoir when it drops?
Check your bilge under the engine.

Adding lube to the reservior, yes. Bilge so clean
you can eat out of it. I simply don't get it. Also,
I would think that if reservoir, and associated
piping were leaking, it would be leaking all the
time, not just when running. Its *gotta* be
something that is happening "at" speed. Either
some strange vacuum, or water vortex being
setup aroud the prop, and maybe the water
flow is "sucking" the lube out from around
the prop seal at speed ? I'm a a total loss here.


Eisboch




After properly changing gear lube you MIGHT experience 1 burp to
expel
trapped air in the stern drive. It is extremely peculiar that a gear
lube
leak can't be found. You didn't mention if any water was found in
the
stern
drive when they drained the gear lube for the pressure test. Also
vacuum
testing sometimes finds a problem.

Don't wait till your warranty expires. Get it fixed now. Suggest to
your
shop that Mercruiser might need to get involved, since normal shop
troubleshooting hasn't been able to show up the problem. They might
want
to
take another crack at it before they call in the big dogs.
Good luck,
Jim

Good advice. They said that no water was found in lube at all.

Dead horse beating: Merc 3.0L A1 gear lube consumption
 

Lube and water don't mix so when it is run the water frothes in the
lube and creates a milky look. Water is also heavier than lube so any
water will be at the bottom of the outdrive. So occasionally carefully
loosen the lower plug and open it for a second or so. Some lube will
drip out. If water drips out you have a problem. If the lube that
drips out is milky whitish you have a problem.


Mr Wizzard wrote:
"jamesgangnc" wrote in message
oups.com...
If you are not finding water in the gear lube I would continue to use
it. Check regularly by opening the bottom plug carefully and letting
out a few drops of lube. If you get water or the lube is milky then
you've got to get it fixed. Occasionally adding lube is not going to
hurt it as long as it doesn't get water in it. If you really have a
leak it will probably worsen after a few more years and then you will
be able to find it.

Well thats all good info, thanks. Well, the dealer said no water found,
but I guess I can check easy enough, right? So the clear blue lube
will definetly turn milky if water got in ?



Eldon wrote:
I had the same thing on my 94 Alpha 1 Gen 2 outdrive. It finally
stopped going down after about 4 or 5 times. I don't think you have a
problem. When it is filled originally, you fill it until gear lube
comes out of the upper hole. I think the air on top of the outdrive
works it way out to your reservoir and lets a little more lube in the
gearcase. I bet if you take the upper screw/plug out you will find the
lube level is now above this hole. Again, no big deal.

Eldon


Mr Wizzard wrote:
"Jim" wrote in message
ink.net...

"Mr Wizzard" wrote in message
. ..

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"Mr Wizzard" wrote in message
. ..
Ok, I know this subject (and all of my posts) are like
beating a dead horse, but problem is still not solved,
so I thought I'd throw it back out there to re-visit it.

I'm hoping that some well-seasoned Mercruiser
mechanic who is familiar with the newer Alpha-1
drives may see it and know what the issue is.

2005 Bayliner, 3.0L Alpha-1 started using gear
lube on a regular basis - about 1/2 inch per hour.
Took it to a shop and they said no problem found,
and it passes pressure test. They did the annual
maintenance, pulled the drive, checked alignment,
and all the other maintenance items, and said its
all in good shape - basically a new boat with about
50 hours on it, nothing to worry about.

But yet when I take it out on the lake, for every
hour of running time, the gear lube level in the
gear lube monitor (gear lube reservoir on motor)
drops about 1/2 (which I think is like 2 ounces).

Is there ANY one who is experiencing this on the
2005 Bayliner 175 with the 3.0L Alpha-1 ???

I cant believe that I'm the only one with this issue.
No trace of gear lube, no smell, no rainbow's, no
drops/leak sitting in the driveway for weeks on
end. Where the *HELL* is the lube GOING ??

Good Karma due to anyone who knows about this!
(or maybe sell the boat, and good Karma due *me* ?)



Are you adding gear lube to the reservoir when it drops?
Check your bilge under the engine.

Adding lube to the reservior, yes. Bilge so clean
you can eat out of it. I simply don't get it. Also,
I would think that if reservoir, and associated
piping were leaking, it would be leaking all the
time, not just when running. Its *gotta* be
something that is happening "at" speed. Either
some strange vacuum, or water vortex being
setup aroud the prop, and maybe the water
flow is "sucking" the lube out from around
the prop seal at speed ? I'm a a total loss here.


Eisboch




After properly changing gear lube you MIGHT experience 1 burp to
expel
trapped air in the stern drive. It is extremely peculiar that a gear
lube
leak can't be found. You didn't mention if any water was found in
the
stern
drive when they drained the gear lube for the pressure test. Also
vacuum
testing sometimes finds a problem.

Don't wait till your warranty expires. Get it fixed now. Suggest to
your
shop that Mercruiser might need to get involved, since normal shop
troubleshooting hasn't been able to show up the problem. They might
want
to
take another crack at it before they call in the big dogs.
Good luck,
Jim

Good advice. They said that no water was found in lube at all.

Dead horse beating: Merc 3.0L A1 gear lube consumption
 

OK, here's the story.

I bought the boat in Feb, 2005 from a dealer in Hammond, Louisiana.

When I took the boat from the dealer, I did not experience any change
in oil level during the first 30 hours of operation. Then in June 2005
I changed the oil in the engine and drive for the first time. After I
changed the oil, I observed that the level in the reservoir dropped
about an inch after first trip. I added lubricant and the level kept
on dropping during the next 2-3 outings - but each time it was a
smaller amount. First time it was an inch, but the subsequent times if
might have been a 1/2 inch or so. Eventually after 3 or 4 times I took
out the boat it remained stable. Then, in April this year I replaced
the oil again, and exactly the same thing happened. My engine has
about 150 hrs now. I use the boat year round (the advantage of
Louisiana climate),




Mr Wizzard wrote:
"katekebo" wrote in message
oups.com...

Mr Wizzard wrote:
"katekebo" wrote in message
ups.com...
You say that every time you take the boat out you have to add about 2
oz. of lubricant.


On my drive I experience exactly the same thing during
the first 3, maybe 5 times I use the boat after an oil change.

Oh really?? Well, this was only the second time out after
they (dealer) changed the drive gear lube, and pulling the
drive for annual maintenance. Still doesn't explain why it
was doing this *before* I took it in - boat was run all
last year without doing this. So what type of drive you
have, and what year ?

2005 Alpha I Gen. 2 with 3.0L 4-cyl, in a Bayliner 175.

Damn, thats the exact same boat I got!! Tell me more here.
How many hours on it, and did it EVER use any lube *before*
you did this lube change?

Dead horse beating: Merc 3.0L A1 gear lube consumption
 

"katekebo" wrote in message
ups.com...
OK, here's the story.

Man, this is very helpful information, 'preciate dat!.
So, the rest of the boat been good/Ok to you ?



I bought the boat in Feb, 2005 from a dealer in Hammond, Louisiana.

When I took the boat from the dealer, I did not experience any change
in oil level during the first 30 hours of operation. Then in June 2005
I changed the oil in the engine and drive for the first time. After I
changed the oil, I observed that the level in the reservoir dropped
about an inch after first trip. I added lubricant and the level kept
on dropping during the next 2-3 outings - but each time it was a
smaller amount. First time it was an inch, but the subsequent times if
might have been a 1/2 inch or so. Eventually after 3 or 4 times I took
out the boat it remained stable. Then, in April this year I replaced
the oil again, and exactly the same thing happened. My engine has
about 150 hrs now. I use the boat year round (the advantage of
Louisiana climate),




Mr Wizzard wrote:
"katekebo" wrote in message
oups.com...

Mr Wizzard wrote:
"katekebo" wrote in message
ups.com...
You say that every time you take the boat out you have to add
about 2
oz. of lubricant.


On my drive I experience exactly the same thing during
the first 3, maybe 5 times I use the boat after an oil change.

Oh really?? Well, this was only the second time out after
they (dealer) changed the drive gear lube, and pulling the
drive for annual maintenance. Still doesn't explain why it
was doing this *before* I took it in - boat was run all
last year without doing this. So what type of drive you
have, and what year ?

2005 Alpha I Gen. 2 with 3.0L 4-cyl, in a Bayliner 175.

Damn, thats the exact same boat I got!! Tell me more here.
How many hours on it, and did it EVER use any lube *before*
you did this lube change?

Dead horse beating: Merc 3.0L A1 gear lube consumption
 

Mr Wizzard wrote:

Man, this is very helpful information, 'preciate dat!.
So, the rest of the boat been good/Ok to you ?

Yes, I have been very satisfied with the boat. I had zero issues with
the boat itself, and all problems have been self-inflicted. I hit
something one day and chopped off half of the skeg. The water here is
very murky so you can't see what's below. I suspect it was a block of
concrete or something like that. This happened when the boat was very
new, over one year ago, and it was nicely repaired by a local boat shop
/ Mercruiser dealer - they cut off the old skeg and welded a new one in
its place - you really can't see that it's not original.

I also had to replace the prop because the original one was bent /
damaged in the same incident. I opted to replace the prop with the
stock aluminum one. It gives me decent performance, and I prefer to
use a "soft" and weak prop, so in case I hit something again, the prop
will sacrificy itself instead of stripping the gears.

As for the boat, it's very austere, but that's why I like it - there
are few things to go wrong and take care of. I do all the maintenance
myself. I use it mostly on the local bayous and lake Pontchartrain -
it's a big lake and it develops a nasty chop on windy days. I also
like the fact that it's easy to tow, and I can still get 22 mpg even
when towing the boat.

Of course there are better boats. Ideally I would prefer to have a
four-stroke outboard motor and higher freeboard, but similar sized
boats with these characteristics are at least 50% more expensive. So
for the price, the 175 is unbeatable. Actually most people I have
talked with here can't believe that I paid so little for a brand-new
boat - they expect the boat to cost at least 20 to 30% more.

Dead horse beating: Merc 3.0L A1 gear lube consumption
 

Yup - same impression with mine. $9,999.99 from Bayliner.
Something like $13,100 out the door with everything including
first-time boater accessory kit (anchor, fire bottle, fenders, etc).

So I gotta bring up another nagging issue - the engine noise,
and/or valve tapping noise at very low idle: when totally
warmed up, I hear what sounds like lifter/tappet noise.
But of late, it sound more like wrist pin/piston slap noise,
almost sounds like its 'dieseling'. But runs/sounds fine at
higher speeds. You notice any of that? (with engine cover off)

Also, found another tip that I should share with you. On mine,
very -RARELY- when I come off the throttle relitevly quick
after racing around a bit, the idle would get really really slow,
and run rough, and almost die (may have once or twice).
Anyways, I discovered that if I flip on the blower when it
gets in this mode, it goes right away.

So when you had your incident, how did you get it back to
the launch? Limp it back ? Was the vibration bad with the
bent up prop?

And Lastly, how did you and the boat survive Katrina?
(what was it like, where was the boat, where were you etc)

Thanks.


"katekebo" wrote in message
ups.com...

Mr Wizzard wrote:

Man, this is very helpful information, 'preciate dat!.
So, the rest of the boat been good/Ok to you ?

Yes, I have been very satisfied with the boat. I had zero issues with
the boat itself, and all problems have been self-inflicted. I hit
something one day and chopped off half of the skeg. The water here is
very murky so you can't see what's below. I suspect it was a block of
concrete or something like that. This happened when the boat was very
new, over one year ago, and it was nicely repaired by a local boat shop
/ Mercruiser dealer - they cut off the old skeg and welded a new one in
its place - you really can't see that it's not original.

I also had to replace the prop because the original one was bent /
damaged in the same incident. I opted to replace the prop with the
stock aluminum one. It gives me decent performance, and I prefer to
use a "soft" and weak prop, so in case I hit something again, the prop
will sacrificy itself instead of stripping the gears.

As for the boat, it's very austere, but that's why I like it - there
are few things to go wrong and take care of. I do all the maintenance
myself. I use it mostly on the local bayous and lake Pontchartrain -
it's a big lake and it develops a nasty chop on windy days. I also
like the fact that it's easy to tow, and I can still get 22 mpg even
when towing the boat.

Of course there are better boats. Ideally I would prefer to have a
four-stroke outboard motor and higher freeboard, but similar sized
boats with these characteristics are at least 50% more expensive. So
for the price, the 175 is unbeatable. Actually most people I have
talked with here can't believe that I paid so little for a brand-new
boat - they expect the boat to cost at least 20 to 30% more.