Water in my merc lower end oil

[vandamit]

Found fishing line on my prop of my 60 hp 4 stroke in October. I pulled it off, changed the lower end unit oil and went on a trip in November where it stayed on a lift and in the water for 7 days. When I pulled it out of the garage today I loosened the drain plug for the lower unit and had water come out. Not a ton but a few drops. Guessing the prop shaft seal needs replaced? How big/hard of a job is that? Serial number is in the first picture for post guidelines

Attachment 396465

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Attachment 396467

[vandamit]

One thing I will say, it was only about 6 drops of water and also the water doesn't really look like a milk shake or anything?

[TritonTRXV8]

That line around the prop shaft seal makes your stomach sink. You have a pic of the oil in a pan? Best i can say is have the gearcase pressure tested to check for leaks and remove the fishing line. You may of caught it quick enough and got lucky.

[vandamit]

20200302_164516.jpg

[ct0218]

When its the color of chocolate milk I would guess that there is more than a few drops of water in there...

[vandamit]

It's not near as bad as the pictures looked.. Regardless I'm getting all the deals replaced tomorrow. Safety first :)

[TritonTRXV8]

What brand oil is that and how long has it been sonce its been changed? Mercury high performance sae90 gear oil (recommended) is blue and even used is just a darker blue color. Ive never drained oil out of any of my motors that looked like that. Water isnt going to cause that either.

[vandamit]

That's the exact oil i used Roy. It's only been in there 2.5 months and was on the water for 8 days during that time frame.

What brand oil is that and how long has it been sonce its been changed? Mercury high performance sae90 gear oil (recommended) is blue and even used is just a darker blue color. Ive never drained oil out of any of my motors that looked like that. Water isnt going to cause that either.

[ct0218]

Strange color, but at least you're changing out the seals. Never seen it go to whatever color that is.

[TritonTRXV8]

Yea that oil is brown colored. Ive never seen the blue hi perf stuff turn that color before.

[vandamit]

You guys got me all nervous now, that oil was only in the boat while it was on the water for 8 total days

[vandamit]

I looked again, I used quick silver 90 I believe and it says it's for engines less than 75 hp

[TritonTRXV8]

I looked again, I used quick silver 90 I believe and it says it's for engines less than 75 hp

Wrong oil thats why its brown. The stuff you want is the hi performance sae 90. Its blue in color. Have the gearcase pressure tested and go from there you may of gotten lucky.

[Transom]

Yeah you want the high performance line. Mercury is bad about their labeling. Like you say it says for less than 75 hp and that confuses people. Kind of like how they go by serial number. Buy a manual for serial xxc and above. But what if you have serial number zzc that was built 10 years ago. Will that manual cover a motor that was not engineered when it was published?

[vandamit]

This is what I used. Screenshot_20200305-200251_Amazon Shopping.jpg

[jeffro636]

Vandamit, You are using the correct lower unit lube according to Mercury. Scroll down to proper section and it lists all 60 hp 2001 and later using that lubricant.

https://www.mercurymarine.dk/_Resour..._Guide_Low.pdf

[vandamit]

i thought so as well and it's blue also.

Vandamit, You are using the correct lower unit lube according to Mercury. Scroll down to proper section and it lists all 60 hp 2001 and later using that lubricant.

https://www.mercurymarine.dk/_Resour..._Guide_Low.pdf

[TritonTRXV8]

This is what I used. Screenshot_20200305-200251_Amazon Shopping.jpg

Are you running a 60hp? I thought it was a 75 on your boat. For a 75 and higher hp application this is the incorrect oil. The hi perf oil is sae90 only not a split weight.

[vandamit]

no my boat has a 60 hp.

[TritonTRXV8]

Sorry my mistake. You can run the oil you posted on your motor. That explains the color too.