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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Outboard Maintenance

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3467 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/08/2008 : 15:38:00

Do you guys change the lower end oil every year ? How about those that keep their boats in all year-round - Taking outboard off and changing lower end oil each year ?

I have been changing the spark plugs, fuel filter, engine oil and oil filter each year since buying the Honda 9.9 beginning of 2006. But I can do that while outboard is still onboard. I have one of those manual vacuum pumps and suck the oil out of the engine oil dip stick hole. The other things can be done fairly neatly by the use of duct taping some rags to catch any residuals when removing the filters. When I had repainted the bottom, I took advantage of having the boat in the maintenance yard and changed the lower end oil at that time with outboard still onboard (but on land).

The lower end basically just lubricates the shaft. There is no real concerns unl;ess the oil gets contaminated - water gets in. I guess that is the big "IF" water gets in. The last time I changed the oil, it looked like new and I noticed no evidence of water. Sailboats also use the outboard generally a lot less than a motorboat. So......can I get away with changing the lower end oil perhaps once every 3 years or so....or do I have to lug the outboard off the boat to change the lower end oil ? (Maybe I could suck that oil out thru the upper screw vent hole similar to how I do it for the engine oil ?)

Larry
'89 Robin's Nest#5820, Potomac River/Quantico, Va
http://catalina25.homestead.com/olarryr.html

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 11/08/2008 : 15:58:32

I change my lower end gear lube every year. I believe yearly changing is recommended by most, if not all, outboard manufacturers.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 11/08/2008 : 20:28:12

I change the lower end oil each year too. This is done with the motor on the boat but the boat is on the trailer. Easy job.

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 11/08/2008 : 21:00:26

Don't forget to pull the prop and re-grease the shaft/thrust washers as applicable. (Use propshaft grease).
Also closely inspect the shaft & seal for fishing line that can get wound up in there.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3467 Posts

Response Posted - 11/08/2008 : 22:39:15

Well....so far, it looks like I need to change the lower end oil each year. I know the manual indicates that...but wanted to get the collective thoughts on this issue and right now...looks like 3 out of 3 change the lower end oil each year.

(However, those that trailer or take their outboards off their boats for winter months, changing the lower end oil is a basic non-issue. It's easy. The question really is but what about those that keep their outboards on year-round on boats in the water and sailed year-round. The outboard has to be removed for sole purpose of doing the maintenance - So...these guys also doing the lower end changeout annually or less frequently ? If less frequently, then at what periodicity and has that been in any way harmful to the outboard ?)

I mostly do maintenance according to periodicities listed in service manuals - outboard, cars, lawnmowers, etc. But sometimes when mtn is reqd "annually", I sometimes question how that is determined, other than it being a nice periodicity...kind of rounded off to doing it each year. Timing belts on cars....They used to be replaced around 60,000 miles but now most are replaced at 90,000 to 100,000 miles as perhaps the belt design and a less stressful configuration are improvements made in recent years. Engine oil in cars - It used to be that it was best to change it at 3000 miles but these days, I use synthetic oil and do oil changes around 7500 miles. This has had no ill effects since I am now around 156,000 miles on my car. The engine oil really can get contaminated in direct proportion to how much the engine is run. So...on a sailboat where the outboard is used so much less in running hours compared to use on motorboats, no gas, etc contamination of the oil and last lower end oil change had no evidence of water contamination......it still seems reasonable to me that the lower end oil need not be changed out every year.

Well...if you guys all indicate...change it annually....I guess I will lug it off the boat and do the oil change.

Edited by - OLarryR on 11/08/2008 22:58:00

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 11/09/2008 : 10:27:24

I suspect you're right that annually is more often than is required in terms of the oil itself--it's the possibility of water contamination that's the issue. And the only way you find out if it is an issue is by changing the oil. If you wait three years and find water (milky oil), you'll be mad at yourself.

Edited by - on

Tradewind
Admiral

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USA
531 Posts

Response Posted - 11/09/2008 : 11:23:58

I've been wondering the same thing myself. I bought my Honda 8 new in January, have run less than 2 gallons of gas thru it this year and wonder why I need to change the oil with such little use. I guess with a new engine there could be some metal particles due to break-in but it's a real hassle. The boat is kept in the water and I can't get the motor off the boat myself. Pulling the boat this winter may be an answer since it needs a bottom job but I don't have a vehicle to haul it out. Ahhhh, yachting.

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 11/09/2008 : 12:17:40

Larry,

I have s 21' SeaRay with a 350 cu. in/350 HP Chevy with a MerCruiser outdrive and always change the oil based on hours not time. Same as in aviation.

I run my engine/outdrive very hard (lots of high RPM for long periods of time). I change the gear case oil every 50 hours and it usually comes out relatively clean. If I go 100 hours the oil is black and smells burned. I've got 700+ hours on my outdrive and I've never had water in the gear case oil or had any problems with the drive.

I don't believe our 9.9 HP outboards get the kind of abuse my Mercruiser does so I'd go based on hours not time.

Unless you leave your outboard in the water all the time the odds are it doesn't have any water in it. Think about it, at the most it may stay down in the water an hour each time you use it. Unless your prop seal is really, really in bad condition it's not going to have time to get water in the gear case. One reason water gets in past a bad seal is the gear case getting hot and then cooling down fairly quickly when you stop the boat and you leave the gear case in the water. The gear case itself cools down faster than the oil and it causes lower pressure in the gear case that pulls the water past the bad seal. We usually use our motors to get in and out of the marina, shut them off, and then immediately lift the motor our of he water. The water doesn't have the opportunity to get pulled past a bad seal.

BTW, the same thing happens on your trailer bearings if you launch or retrieve your boat while the wheel bearings are still hot.

BTW 2, I changed the engine oil in my 350 every 50 -75 hours using Mobil 1 synthetic oil. I had it rebuilt after 500 hours of use and the mechanic told me there was virtually no wear on the crankshaft!

Edited by - GaryB on 11/09/2008 12:18:32

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3467 Posts

Response Posted - 11/09/2008 : 13:37:32

Thanks guys !

I guess I should change it every year just in case water has gotten inside - you never know. On the other hand, the shaft is out of the water almost all the time and few run hours per year compared to motorboats...so run hour-wise, it probably makes the case to put off the lower end oil change...maybe to next Spring.

I think if I am feeling ambitious and have the time, I may pull the outboard, bring it home and change the oil in the next month or two since I have to take my sails off anyway because Quantum wants to inspect them before they continue warranty for second year. So...that may be a good time to also pull the motor.

Edited by - on

Turk
Admiral

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USA
736 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2008 : 06:18:07

I change my lower every year and my upper every other year. It just doesn't get that much use. Since your outboard is out of the water most of the time, You could loosen the lower screw and sample the oil to see it's color and if their is water in it. I'm assuming that the water would be at the bottom, is that right?

I skipped a year once cause it looked as new as what was in the tube!

Edited by - on

Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2008 : 09:43:47

Turk,
You bring up a good point regarding the oil rising to the top. I had an old Johnson 5.5HP motor with a leaky seal. It always had water in the lower end and, since I did not use it that often, if you removed the lower screw clear water would run out. I would think you would need at least a week for the water/oil to separate but if you are thinking you just need to check the oil for water that is a viable option. Water or milky looking oil would necessitate an oil change and maybe a seal replacement.

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