Best Drive Oil
 

Installing new XR drive.

What is the best drive oil to run from the beginning. I've always run Merc's High Performance with no issues. But now with the new drive it is my chance to start with synthetic if that's what would be best.

So... What is best???

Re: Best Drive Oil
 

Teague recs Amsoil 80W90.

Re: Best Drive Oil
 

I did some searching through the archived threads and read that Redline Shockproof Heavy was the way to go. Not sure if it is better that Amsoil or not. Anyone want to confirm?

Re: Best Drive Oil
 

Ive Heard Of A Few Failures Occuring In Bravos That Were Experimented On With Lubes Other Than Mercury Hi-perf. I Know Of A Super Vee That Experienced Problems With The Drive Staying In Gear While Using Amsoil. The Problems Ceased When He Changed Back To Merc Hi-perf. On The Other Hand I Know Of Some Success Trying These Lubes In Other Drives Such As The #5. On These Drives I Tried A New Lube Developed For Nascar By Torco That Worked Really Well As The Boat Picked Up 100 Rpms Over The Merc Hi-perf.

Re: Best Drive Oil
 

Interesting that a drive had probelms and stayed in gear using Amsoil. Wonder why?

Re: Best Drive Oil
 

Mercury HP is a tough gearlube to beat because it has great gear cushioning capacity but it seems the synthetics cause less shavings on the magnet...that may not be all that significant..just observations.

Re: Best Drive Oil
 

ScrapMan what Torco lube was that exactly.

Thanks

Re: Best Drive Oil
 

Torco is a fully synthetic Gear Oil. It has EP agents to carry heavy loads. It carries a GL-6 rating as does Redline Shockproof Heavy. It's a 2,000 lb gorilla. If Merc says to use it in #6's it should be fine in Bravo's...this may be a real gem..anyone wanna try it and get back to us? :D

According to Bob's site Redline; Schaeffer's; Royal Purple and Torco have the highest levels of MOLY. (Molybedium Sulfate). Now moly is a soild that is added to an oil or lube to fill in micropores and reduce metal to metal contact. Some love it and some hate it. Personally I like Moly. It really does reduce friction; increase horsepower and "micropolish" as well. It's good to have some in your cocktail. Mobil-1 is using more Moly now in their Extended goldcap line-up. Moly is good!

Some think it's all about lube or oils when it's really about what's ADDED to the base stock. The additives make all the difference in the world.

From the research I did tonight I would use Torco 75W-90 in a Bravo or #6 or any drive for that matter. It may well be the best stuff out there.

How much do you want to bet Reggie uses this stuff??? Just a feeling... :D

$11.95 75W-90
$13.95 75W-140
Plus shipping .....

I think the 75W-90 is the way to go for a Bravo....I am liking this stuff a lot...especially since the boys at Merc like it in #6's so it's tested....gets a Hydro :D :D :D :D :D rating.

Online ordering:
http://www.torcoracingoils.com/misc/...rrentMarket=10

Re: Best Drive Oil
 

What about Royal Purple gear lube? Anybody using it?

Re: Best Drive Oil
 

Hydro, I like staying with the Merc stuff afterall Im running 300X sportmasters O/B, but sometimes I wonder if there is better stuff out there. Afterall total protection is something Merc may not want. Remember their biz is made up of me buying parts and gears. So they make something good ,but not the best it can be. I still use the Merc HP stuff, but thinking about something totally synthetic. I run hard and have had several gear failures on 2 year old motors, so im thinking about trying something different just and see what happens.

Re: Best Drive Oil
 

Here is my take on what is the best drive oil:

Mobil-1...users like it..easilly available...PAO

Amsoil...New formulation...PAO...Good company

Royal Purple...not PAO but repels water best

Torco...PAO...Mercury uses it the #6's....wow

Redline....75W-140 thick and may foam due to air trapping
use 75W-90 in my humble opinion.

Alisyn....PAO...good formulation...loyal users

Mercury HP....Semi-synthetic limitations but very good

...and the winner is...the one you pick! :D

Re: Best Drive Oil
 

I've been running royal purple max gear 75/90 in my bravo for two years with out any problems and little to no metal on the magnet.
Good stuff.

Re: Best Drive Oil
 

Yup it's all Martin Marine uses and they love it I hear.

Re: Best Drive Oil
 

I ran the green merc fluid in my XR drives and it was fine. I changed over to the Shockproof Redline and picked up a mile per hour and the drives shifted much smoother. I was very happy with the results and especially the easier shifting.

Re: Best Drive Oil
 

Anyone else that are using the Merc Hi-Per oil also get the 'sludge' buildup in your drive bottle? I have completely drained mine 3x in the 2 yrs I've owned the boat, R&R the bottle to clean it out too, and it still has this sludge each time. Last spring was both drives rebuild, so all was perfectly clean to start with, yet last week when I drained to change, it had this again. I would think it's gotta plug the hose. Has to be something with the Merc lube as a friend gets the same thing. What's the deal?

Re: Best Drive Oil
 

Jerry,
Have you thought about analyzing the sludge to see exactly what it consists of? I used to have a small amount in my old B1 but none since I swapped to an XZ. From what I remember it appeared to be an aluminum paste.

Re: Best Drive Oil
 

What do you all think about the 75w90 in a heavily loaded Alpha? I went to the above link but can't find the products......

BH

Re: Best Drive Oil
 

Merc HP in an Alpha is fine they recommend it as a matter of fact since 1981 with any 350 Mag engine set-up.

Re: Best Drive Oil
 

US1, Every season I've used the Merc oil, I've had to clean the sludge out of the bottle when I've change the drive oil for the next year. It took 3 changes with Amsoil to get it out before I had the drive rebuilt. The drive had 550 hrs. on it. I had noticed that there seemed to be more sludge in the bottle each season, before putting the drive shower on.

Re: Best Drive Oil
 

Mercury HP can leave that residue you are talking about...it may just be a settling out of a suspension of the additives..

But the stuff works and it works pretty good.

In my new boat it's going to probably be Torco since it will have #6's and that's what Merc is using. I called down to Reggieland and they do have cases of Torco "laying around"...I was told :D

Re: Best Drive Oil
 

Tim,
No. Since it is in both drives (w/showers) and a buddy has the same thing, and I also on the 27 which had a brand new drive, it's the Merc lube itself. Never had any issues with the stuff itself. I'm with Hydro thinking it is the additives.

Re: Best Drive Oil
 

Since #6's are "sprayed" that may be why HP is not used in them...this settling out or suspension may clog injectors?