outboarlower unit

ryan fish · 07-29-2001, 04:52 PM

What is the proper way to check fluid level and to fill same on a lower unit.Thanks in advance

Salmonator · 07-29-2001, 06:13 PM

Place catch pan under lower unit. Have a squeeze tube of lower unit lube ready, remove drain (lower) screw and quickly put tube in hole. Remove upper bleed screw and squeeze tube until fluid weeps out of upper hole. Leaving tube in place, replace upper screw then remove tube and QUICKLY replace lower screw. Pretty simple but messy. To just check the level I guess you would take out the upper screw and try to look in with a flashlight although I don't even know if this is possible... Joe

CAGEY · 07-30-2001, 07:28 AM

ryan,
you can do the squeeze tube bit or for under 10 bucks you can pick a oil kit that is nothing more than a little hand operated pump that really works good. Both methods are easy but the pump method is far less messy and seems to be the easy way to do it. As far as just checking slamonator gave you the only method that iam aware of but i dont think you can see anything with a flashlight.. Just remember that every time you check it you lose oil out of the unit. I dont know about others but i have never had a problem with it. I change my lower end oil twice a year and the same amount comes out that i put in so i just never check it. If i were you i would change the oil putting in the proper amount and forget it until you change it again. If you are running the motor every day and working it hard you might want to increase the frequency of the oil change. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

NorthRiverS · 07-31-2001, 05:53 PM

Salmonator & Cagey,
My question is why, after draining the unit, can't you put in the lower screw and fill it from the top? Will you trap air or what? I don't get it. Please fill me in. Thanks. S

boater · 07-31-2001, 06:23 PM

if you leave the bottom plug in and try to put oil through the top plug it will seal it off and not allow any to go in, you have to fill it through the bottom like salmonater said, to just check the lower unit oil i take the top plug out and bend a q-tip and stick it in the to see how full it is. just my usual 2 worthless cents worth....

Salmonator · 07-31-2001, 07:57 PM

Boater? Man it's been a long time since we've seen your worthless two cents. What'd ya do, buy a Thunderjet and just been too ashamed to tell us? [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

boater · 07-31-2001, 08:15 PM

na, ive had some family medical problems to deal with