gearcase lube burnt odor

[crawdad]

I just changed the lube in my gearcase for the 1st time in a long, long time. :rolleyes: (15 hp Johnson) The fluid that drained out is pretty black and has a burnt odor. The manual says if it has these characteristics or metal filings or is milky etc to call the dealer. A quick internet search keeps bringing up the same qoute from the manual, but one site said it could just mean a lube change was way over due.

Does anyone know if this is really something to worry about? What might these symptoms indicate? Many thanks ahead of time.

[Sensei-san]

A burnt odor in gearcase oil is not a good thing. Especially since you also said it was dark. The fact that you did not have metal flakes or milky color does work in your favor though. If it was milky it would mean that you blew a seal and water got in the gearcase. Metal flakes mean that you ran the oil low and the gears were not being lubricated. As you did not have these two severe conditions, you probably skated this time.

I would replace the oil with the factory recommended oil and check it more often than what you have been doing.

[1pump]

Gear oil is naturally skanky. Could it just be the normal mineral odor? :whazzup:

[Chrome Bumper]

Change it every year so you can get a better reading on fluid condition. As stated it is stinko anyways, you know, kinda whiffy.