Bravo One drive oil
 

Hey all. I recently dumped out the oil from my drive, it had about 40 hours on it. I wasn't too impressed with the sludgy crap that was at the bottom of the drive bottle. I have been using the Merc drive lube now for two seasons, which is as long as i have owned the boat. I'm wondering if i should switch to some other oil, like mobil one or something. I have heard that mobil is coming from the factory in some instances? What do you think? Btw, the drive is a 1990 with a 7.4L running it.

Re: Bravo One drive oil
 

Here try this;
https://www.amsoil.com/storefront/agm.aspx

Here's some good reading
http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...&postcount=547

Re: Bravo One drive oil
 

Amsoil

Re: Bravo One drive oil
 

I would stay with the Merc. When changing drive lube, let it drain the reserve bottle also, if you do that you should never have sludge.
I never blew a drive from using Merc lube, as far as anyone could prove that is. Yeah it costs a bit more, but so does gas these days.
Bryan

Re: Bravo One drive oil
 

This subject has been debated here many times do a search for the threads


the problems with the lubes other then the merc is that most are o friction, the bravo drive uses a cone clutch to shift a cone clutch needs friction to engage..... you figure out what is best


sludge is either from running hard and not changing the drive oil enough or from trace water not from the drive lube it self


40 hrs is a lot of hours between changes especially if you run hard

Re: Bravo One drive oil
 

Let me guess it was a brown pudding like substance, if this is the case I would bet it has been in that bottle for a long time. This happened when Mercury first came out with the synthetic oil and said All Bravo's needed it a lot of places didn't change the lube in the bottle hence it turned to a brown pudding like substance in the bottm of the resivior. Saw it lots of times. Ed

Re: Bravo One drive oil
 

Joe, your right, the topic has many, many threads about oil, I have run Red Line Shock proof, and Amsoil in Bravo type drives, they shifted ok. The first thing is that nobody has more R&D money than Mercury, if that HP gear oil wasnt adaquate, they wouldnt sell it. Lastly, the other gear oil will not emulsify water. Using Mercury oil, if you do get water in they gear case, it will mix with the oil and keep the water in suspension...up to a limit. I think I read 30% somewere not sure though. Are their better? Maybe..thats in part why I tried them. Overall its tough to beat Mercurys products.

Re: Bravo One drive oil
 

There is a hugh thread that is still going on lubrication. I had always ran Mercury, but now have changed to Amsoil due to the recommendations and testing touted on this thread. Hope this was the way to go with big hp.

Re: Bravo One drive oil
 

I change me drive oil every spring. Merc Hi Po stuff. drives have all new seals, I'd say I put on less than 50hrs/yr and don't run hard for the most part, have drive showers. I still get the sludge in the bottle. Have to remove and disassemble it to clean it. Had some condition on my last boat, even with a brand new drive. I go with the thinking it's an additve in the oil.

Re: Bravo One drive oil
 

FYI:
Merc oil is made by Bel-Ray.
The HP gear oil is 100% synthetic. It really is good stuff, but so is Amsoil too.

Re: Bravo One drive oil
 

is the mobile oil alright for the shifting cones?

Re: Bravo One drive oil
 

I switched to Mobile 1 last year and have no problems at all shifting my Bravo 1's

Re: Bravo One drive oil
 

Yup, sure is, GL5 75/90 Mobil 1. Its what Volvo recommends and they invented the cone clutch shift outdrive! Works great in Bravo's as well...and no sludge in the bottle.

Re: Bravo One drive oil
 

\

You sure about Bel Ray???

Re: Bravo One drive oil
 

Yes

Re: Bravo One drive oil
 

and probably a whole lot less at farm and fleet

Re: Bravo One drive oil
 

I know both Amsoil and Mobil-1 work fine in Bravos from experience. Mercury HP is an excellent product as well.

Always run showers.

Re: Bravo One drive oil
 

Should i have any concerns with making the switch from the merc to mobil being the age of my drive? ex. seals being saturated and all. I don't want any leaks due to switching oils. I'm sure not all the oil will drain out either, they will prolly mix the first time of filling with mobil..

Re: Bravo One drive oil
 

Back when synthetic oil was made they did not add seal conditioners like they should have...nobody has problems with seals swelling these days anymore. Long gone!

Amsoil has more "Marine Seal" friendly with additives including seal conditioners that prevent swelling or expanding.

My true feeling is to stick with a "Marine Gear Lube" if you switch.

having said that Mercury HP or Amsoil Marine would be my first choices especially on an older drive unit.