Drive fluid
 

Any idea why the fluid for my drive would be gone. Ran boat all last season with no problems, then over winter went to run it in the driveway and noticed bottle for drive was empty. Had some oil in bilge area throughout the season, but thought it was residual from old pan leak that had gone through middle of the boat. Now thinking maybe it was outdrive gear oil. But where would it be leaking from?

Assume what your saying is the reservoir for your drive fluid was empty. Probably a line running from the reservoir to the gimble assembly leaking in to the bildge. What drive is it?

Could be rear seal in the drive leaking into the bellows.

Griff is probably right on this. Had one go out a year ago and my father just had one go on his boat. slowly leaks into the bilge thru the bellow but pull the drive off and i bet you get a lap full of oil.

It's an Bravo XZ. Was installed the winter before last season when we put in a new motor. I'll take it in to have the bellows checked. I can see where the line from bottle to the transom might be it, but nothing obvious going down the inside.

It is also likely the reservoir itself is leaking. I have had two that leaked.

MIne bottle was leaking so i found one on ebay that was in good shape and no leaks, guess what that one leaks too. Got me on that one

Drained some fluid from the drive today and it looked fine. A little dark but still green. I didn't see any leak trails from the bottle or the hose. But where the hose into the tramsom, it looks a little lose with some RTV around it. If it is leaking into the bellows would that cause a fluid color change in the drive? I'm in SoCal, Orange County, does any one know a good shop to take a look at this, if it means taking drive off??? Thanks, Jon

Look up Quality Performance Marine in Corona Ca, 951-735-5503.

jodane, if there is gear lube in the bellows, it is from a leaky seal on the input yoke, typically. The first XR/XZ's had a seal that was not held in place by a lip. The seal would work forward and rub on the yoke and soon leak. A replacement retainer kit was sold to solve the problem. The seal is now retained by a lip so it cant work forward.
Easiest way to tell, is to pull the drive and look in the bellows. If it is full of drive lube, that would be your problem.. If not, then it could be going out the seals on the propshaft. That is if you cant find an obvious leak, elsewhere..

Hope that helps you.
Dick