Changing gear oil

Edward Thieme · Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 11:43 am Post subject: Changing gear oil

I usually take long trips, this one started at Souix (spelling?) City, Iowa in Sept. and I am now on Lk. Okeechobee, Fl. The boat has not been out of the water on this trip. I have the 135hp Honda.

While I can change the engine oil and filter, sucking the oil out the dip stickhole, I can't figure a way to change the gear lube. The gear lube drain and vent are at the front of the engine so when the engine is tilted up air will be trapped in the rear of the gear box preventing it from being filled all the way.

Anyone have a method of changing the lube while the boat is in the water? Thankyou

Ed on "Rambler"

journey on · Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 12:00 pm Post subject:

No idea how to change the gearcase oil while the boat is in the water, BUT I'd love to hear about your trip.

What was the route, and please post some pictures.

Boris

flrockytop · Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 12:10 pm Post subject:

matt_unique · Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 12:25 pm Post subject: Hmmm

I would not attempt a gear oil change while in the water. At the very least the engine would be trimmed up pretty high and it might limit the oil drain. There would be a high risk of spilling the oil or dropping the plugs into the drink. That could make for a bad day!

marvin4239 · Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 12:44 pm Post subject:

Ed don't know if you are traveling east or west but if you are going east Indiantown Marina has a couple travel lifts that might accomidate your boat and it's a do it yourself yard. There very accomidating and may just lift you out long enough to do your lower unit.

jennykatz · Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 5:22 pm Post subject: oil change

I know you have a Honda but the E-Teks go for 300 hrs without changing the gear oil . How many hours have you put on the eng since sioux city .Are you coming down to Ft myers or going towards the east coast? There are a few places over here in Naples that can pick your boat up and change the gear oil for you . What does your boat weigh I have a 24ft trailer that handles 5000 lb this might be to light for your boat I'm not sure I have the venture cape cruiser 23 It's about 4000 lb without trailer.

thataway · Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 5:59 pm Post subject:

Another option is pulling the boat with a lift. I change the oil on my outboards when the boat is up on the lift--I use an aluminum skiff and put a 5 gallon bucket under the lower unit, let it drain out.

Give those of us who live along your route a shout. Had you contacted me, I would have been happy to haul your boat on my lift and change the oil for you.

Simplicity · Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 8:57 pm Post subject:

It's a pain in the neck but you really need to pull the boat to change the lower unit lube. It's also a good idea to have it out for the oil change.I think Honda recommends 100 hours for the lower unit lube change but a number of people have told me that's very conservative and probably overkill. Being anal I do it at 100. I've got a question for you. I'm unable to use my flexible grease gun to get to all the grease fittings on the 135. Do they make a 90 degree attachment or something?

thataway · Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 9:39 pm Post subject:

You can get all sorts of angle fittings at your local auto parts store--90 degree fittings included.

Edward Thieme · Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2009 9:53 am Post subject: gear lube

Thanks for all the reponses. When I was at Ft Pierce I went to a marina with a large boat stacker operation and for $51 they lifted the boat and they changed the gear lube. You aren't allowed to do it yourself.

Thanks again for the replies. I am at St Augustine now and had a chance to get on the internet again.

Ed on "Rambler'

journey on · Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2009 12:19 pm Post subject:

Simplicity:

Remember that you need zerk fittings that are both both stainless and metric. Here's where you can order some: 6 mm zerk fittings .

Even simpler is to go to a parts store and buy a Flexible Grease Hose and a Swivel Grease Gun Coupler. These don't need to be either metric or stainless, and can serve in other hard to get to places.

Boris

kennharriet · Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2009 1:16 pm Post subject:

I am sold on synthetic motor oil and gear oil. My Honda manual says to use only Quicksilver gear lube in the lower unit. Has anyone used a synthetic and extended the interval?

Somewhat related... I am going to a system with my Chev, Silverado, Duramax, Allison where I will use synthetic oil in the engine with a dual bypass filter, all synthetic in the differentials and transmission. Everything including the engine oil will be on a 25,000 mi. or 1 year change interval, so it can all be done one day/yr.

breausaw · Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2009 7:50 pm Post subject:

I don’t think the manufactures interval gear oil change is based as much on oil breakdown but as a way to monitor seal integrity. If you extend your oil changes by using synthetic and your seals start leaking at 125 hours the lower unit will be toast at 200 hrs; perhaps Evenrude is more confident of their lower unite seals if they allow 300hrs.

kennharriet · Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2009 11:21 pm Post subject:

That makes good sense. I think with any extended life fluid you would still want to check fluid levels and color at shorter intervals.

With my pick-up on the extended change interval, it is still recommended to inspect fluid levels at 5,000 miles and even perform an engine oil analysis at 10,000-15,000 miles. I think it only pays to do this if you drive lots of miles/yr. otherwise the once/yr fluid change would be more conservative.