I've got one on a 88 240 sprot and is working fine so I should not be even asking but do the newer bravo's with the reservior on the inside transom bleed the air out of the top of the upper gear case and up through the inside bottle so that they run completely full of oil or do they trap air at the top of the upper case above the drain plug. I had not thought about it until servicing mine and then talking to a budy that did his before we met at the river.

It only goes up to about the level of the check plug. The bottle hose comes in at that level so there is air above the fluid.

You can put an external bottle on that drive if you like.
Steve

Does the gear oil circulate throughout the drive by some means or is it stagnant

Whats the process? I have a 1st gen bravo too and would like to add a bottle.

I would plan to tap into at the top overflow port with a small stainless line and go from there, doing it like merc would be quite involved, their 24 years old and still going fine, I think I'll just service it often and run it for now