After what seems to have been a very successful repower from a 7.4MPI to a 502MAG I'm starting to worry about my outdrive (bravoIII).

At the maiden voyage the outrive reservoir needed topping off, no big deal... air pockets in the system. A couple of hours later again the fluid level was below the low mark, no buzzers going off...just a low fluid level...must be some more air pockets, right?

There are absolutely no leaks at all in the engine compartment and the outdrive oil in the reservoir is green with no milky water contamination signs. That should indicate that the outdrive itself is not leaking, right?

So 18hrs and 8 weeks later of a no mechanical issues and fun boating I had to top of the outdrive oil several times...just a little at a time... to a total of a 1/2 quart of oil.

Should I worry, or is it just air in the system from the repower? What is there to check on the outdrive?

Any advise is appreciated,

Jamal

Just a thought could be the shift shaft seals going.no big thing keep an eye on the shift cable on top if it starts to drip on the valve cover you got it peged and can be fix in hour with the right tools.With luck it is just the air in the drive comming out

Sounds like you just had a big air pocket Although 1/2a quart is alot.if there are no leakeage signs or it's not milky,I wouldn't worry.

Jamal,

I would pull the drive and see if there is a large amount of drive oil in the drive shaft bellows. If the seal on the input shaft is leaking it can seem to disapear, but is hiding in the bellows. Check it out and see what you find.
Also do u see any leakage trails on the drive when is it on the trailer.. if not the leak could be head for the bellows..

Good luck

Dick

Could be leaking from input shaft seal into the bellows. Wouldn't hurt to pressure check the drive.

Sounds like I need to pull the boat out of the lake in order to check the bellows... she is due for the mid season detail and bottom powerwash.

If the oil is leaking into the bellows and it is not getting milky, is it OK to just keep adding oil for the rest of the season?

Thanks,

Jamal

If it is leaking at the input shaft seal into the bellows it should be taken care of.I think I would run her a little more and see if you have to add any more,if it is still takeing more oil then you might have a problem that needs you to take action.

I would put my money on the upper seal at the bellows being the culprit. But if not, it could still be a propshaft seal. You may not have noticed lube in the water because it only leaks when hot and under load. The prop shaft seal is double lipped typically and will prevent fluid from exiting (under positive pressure) and fluid from entering (vacuum) upon cool down. So the seal that prevents fluid from exiting could be bad and letting fluid out, but the seal that prevents fluid (water) form entering is ok. Like Team Gary said... pressure testing should tell the story.

BT

I've had the same problem. Would go thru a bottle of oil a yr. Never a sign in the bilge, when I have pull drive off to inspect, or even an oil slick in water. Notta, nothing! Even pressure tested and vaccum tested drive, still nothing. I have quit looking for it and just top it off now when it gets low.

I have never had a BIII, but I have heard that they use oil. Nobody really could explain why, just that they do. If you don't see any signs of leakage, don't worry about it.