What Do You Do If Your Lower Unit Oil Is Cloudy?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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That milky color and consistency is most

likely due to water intrusion

. It will not break down from use and get lighter, like other oils as it breaks down and gets used it darkens. Time to change seals and when you do your water pump do the whole kit and not just the impeller.

Why is my lower unit oil GREY?

Gray in the lower unit oil is

indicative of metal shavings coloring the oil

. In the case of gear work; or even a power head replacment, it is not unusual to have a bit more than average shavings work loose as all the parts seat in.

What does it mean when your lower unit oil is milky?

That milky color and consistency is most

likely due to water intrusion

. It will not break down from use and get lighter, like other oils as it breaks down and gets used it darkens. Time to change seals and when you do your water pump do the whole kit and not just the impeller.

Why is my gear oil milky?

It’s unusual for industrial gear oil to have a milky appearance

because it has good water separation properties

. … If the machine has not been operated for a long time, it is possible for moisture in the air to condense and contaminate the gear oil.

What color should lower unit oil be?

What Color Should Lower Unit Gear Oil Be? Brand new gear oil should be a

shade of blue, green, brown, or yellow

, depending on the brand. Used gear oil should be a black/dark variation of the brand new color.

Can you fill lower unit oil from top?

Filling from the top

down will not allow all the air to escape

from the gear box … The heavy gear lube will stop flowing down as cohesion from surfaces slow it down till it stops as the air wants to go out the top hole … If you let it sit overnight all the trapped air would eventually make its way up to the top …

How do you clean a lower unit?

Simple Green Water Spot Remover works great for getting it off. Some say

distilled vinegar in

a 50/50 solution with water works as well but I haven’t tried that. Spray it down heavily, scrub it, then rinse THOROUGHLY. Then wax the midsection and lower cowling.

How do I know if my lower unit oil is bad?

Bad outboard lower units can give the

operator shifting issues

, and other signs will include water in the gear lube, metallic particles on the drain screw magnet, clunking sounds when shifted, or the loss of the ability to shift into gears.

How often should lower unit oil be changed?

Most sterndrive and outboard manufacturers advise you to change the gearcase oil in your lower unit every 100 hours or

once a year

(whichever comes first). Clean oil is critical for protecting the heavily loaded gears in your lower unit and preventing expensive damage.

How do you get water out of gear oil?

There are two common ways to remove water from lube oil- one is

by coalescing the water

. Coalescence is the method of joining water droplets together to form an increasingly sized pool of water which can then be removed from the oil in order for it to be purified and re-used successfully.

What kind of oil goes in the lower unit of an outboard?

You can use any brand of lubricant that

has a grade designation of API GL5 SAE 80 or 90 weight

. Make sure you do not mix different oil brands or weights. into the BOTTOM drain hole. Then slowly squeeze the bottle to force the oil into the lower unit.

How do I know if my gearbox needs oil?

  1. Late engagement. Low levels of gearbox oil usually result in 2-3 second delays when shifting between gears.
  2. Your car is lurching. …
  3. Vibration. …
  4. Issues with the clutch. …
  5. Dark-coloured fluid. …
  6. Transmission slipping. …
  7. Grinding. …
  8. Can you prevent gearbox replacement?

What Colour should gear oil be?

If healthy, gearbox oil should be

slightly red in colour

, and should not emit a strange burning smell. A grinding noise from the clutch or slipping gears are common indicators of faulty gearbox oil, and checks should be carried out immediately.

Why is my gear oil black?

Nearly black or black transmission fluid means

the fluid is old, very dirty, contaminated

, and if paired with a burnt toast smell, has oxidized. At this point, your transmission is telling you something is wrong. If your transmission is showing signs of slipping or hesitation, repair or replacement may be in order.

David Martineau
Author
David Martineau
David is an interior designer and home improvement expert. With a degree in architecture, David has worked on various renovation projects and has written for several home and garden publications. David's expertise in decorating, renovation, and repair will help you create your dream home.