Went out last week, Was running 3000 rpms, smelled bad odor, opened engine hatch and noticed drive oil leaking from drive lube monitor cap. Running idle, oil level returned to normal max operating range. Drive is a 2003 Bravo one X with 145 hrs. Made some tests and observed that oil level fluctuate about one inch to one inch and a half in the bottle. When oil leaks from the bottle cap, oil looks a little foamy(air bubbles). Colors is OK, smelling is OK, no water in oil, Bottle cap is OK and I have the gasket in place. Thought that maybe I filled to much drive oil when I changed it the last time or maybe was there some air in the system. This morning, I changed the drive oil and installed new drain plugs seals. Again no water from the lower drain plug, color OK, smell OK. Everything went Ok

EXCEPT : Is it normal to have a bit of steel dust on the magnetic lower oil drain plug?? I have read some treads about people worrying when they see steel on the magnetic stick..

Anyways, filled the drive with fresh oil but this time, filled just over add line. Issue is gone.

Thanks for your inputs.

Here is a picture of the drain plug with some dust on it:

Well lets start with the basics. a little bit of filings is normal on the drain plug. Are you filling your drive from the bottom up? you should be pumping oil up until it comes out through the vent. and then fill your resivior a little above the mark to compensate for the line between the drive and the resivior. it should settle out after the first use. were you cruising at a high rpm for an extended period when it ran over? Are you using High performance gear lube? What is the water temp like where you are? More than likely it was just over full.

Thank you Stageharbor,

were you cruising at a high rpm for an extended period when it ran over? : NO


Are you using High performance gear lube? :YES

More than likely it was just over full : This is actually what I think even if the oil level was right on the full mark with engine off.

A little bit of filings is normal on the drain plug : Thanks, it was a big concern.