Just an FYI - the guys around here charge 2 hrs at $90 an hour. No point spending $180 when this is simple and easy. Just bought the pump kit to get the job done. Thanks again.
Love the idea about resting oil in hot water. I place mine on the driveway while draining and flipped it over the get the other side nice and hot. (In Louisiana). One other pro tip is to place the pump on the top vent air threads and pump out the oil out faster using pump without anything attached. Good and quick vid, the way i like it
Thx - I just paid $375 for an impeller change. (And another $75 for lower unit oil change) I just hit 600 hours so thought it's time (I had one installed at 300 hours.) After watching your vid, I think I'll be tackling this myself.
You should all be aware that both the vent & Drain screw have gaskets. It is important to make sure these are in tact. I would suggest every year to just go ahead and replace both screws and gaskets since they come together and are maybe 5$
As far as a Bravo you have to pull the prop off, the drain is in the prop shaft carrier. Don't forget to grease the prop shaft splines with marine grease and check for fishing line.
Just as a quick addendum, I followed this helpful guide, but didn't fill up the Drive Lube reservoir in the engine compartment. This was tripping an alarm after starting up the boat and we couldn't figure out why. Make sure to fill up the reservoir after draining and replacing gear Lube to prevent this from happening.
Overall, good vid! One suggestion is to remove the drain plug before you remove the vent plug at top. By removing the vent plug last, it keeps all the lube from rushing out as quickly when you remove the drain plug and makes less of a mess. Once your hands are no longer under the outdrive, remove the vent plug and it will flow quickly.
Some pro tips...remove the vent screw AFTER removing the lower drain screw at the bottom. This prevents the oil from gushing out the vent as well as gushing out the bottom. Also make sure the cap on the gear oil reservoir is off so the oil drains more quickly. Once the oil drains out of the lower unit, screw the vent cap in about half way. This will still allow the gear oil to gush out the vent once full, but minimizes the mess as the screw is already halfway in place. Newer Mercruiser engines take about 1.5 qts of SAE 90 high-performance gear oil, including topping off the oil in the gear oil reservoir.
The problem from adding from the top is it won't get to the bottom due to the thickness or the gear oil. The air would have to pass by the oil in an area the size of a straw.
Do you have a reservoir in the motor for the gear oil? I assume not since you didn't mention anything about it. I have one, i was wondering if i fill it up after changing my lower unit oil 🤷🏻♂️ or do I keep pumping until the reservoir gets full?? But your video was very helpful, liked the warming up before putting it in. Thanks
This seems sooo easy, is there anything I can royally mess up while doing this? I know you don't want any air in the system which is why I assume you let it come out the top, anything else?
Why do you have to fill it from the bottom? It seems like such a pain. Why not just fill it from the top until it spills out? I haven't been able to find out why. Thanks in advance and thanks for the great video - Mercruiser 3.0 maintenance made easy!
Never should have to. If it leaks you have a bigger issue. That would mean water is getting in. Just change the fluid at the end of the season and you should be fine
Hi there, I will be doing this in the spring, just wondering I've heard some people say you have to keep pumping till the reservoir is full as well... I usually filled the gear lube until it leaks out of the vent hole and filled the reservoir from the top. is there any difference to this?
The alpha one gen 1 doesn't have a reservoir. On my alpha gen 2 I pump till it comes out of the vent then I just fill the reservoir. Any air bubble should work there way up to the reservoir and then just add ad needed.
Is there no reservoir on the engine? I've seen videos with a reservoir on the engine to change as well. My boat doesnt have a reservoir that I can see. Its mercrusier 165 3.7 with alpha one gen 1 out drive
Maybe just drain a tiny bit. The best thing to do it just change it. It is pretty hard to check. Maybe take off the top screw and put a pipe cleaner in there to check the level and you will be able to see if there is water mixed with te oil
You missed a step, make sure you refill the reservoir in the engine bay. Rest of the video was super helpful to get me through my first gear lube change, but took me a half hour to figure out why the friggin boat was buzzing. Reservoir was bone dry after draining.
I know this is an old post, but im saying it anyway. If I recall, if you have a reservoir, you should keep pumping after installing the upper plug. Pump until the reservoir is full to the mark. This makes sure the air is out of the system, as opposed to pumping the lower half and filling the reservoir
I believe it's 100 hours, not miles. 100 miles would mean after 3 hours of driving at 35 miles an hour, you need to change it. A tank of fuel lasts longer than 3 hours.
This doesn't make sense at all. You would drain it from the bottom and fill it from the top. Just like a manual transmission. The way you check a tranny is pull the fill plug on mid section and if it runs out it full, if you dip your finger or a tool in and get oil you know it is full.
New boat owner here and your videos are a huge help ! Thanks so much for your hard work !
I’m a new boat owner. I have a 89 Sea Ray 160BR. Came across your videos and I appreciate you for making them. Helps lot
I buying one tomorrow lol. how did it go with the used boat?
this was so so helpful. Thank you from this 1st time boat owner!
Thank you sir! You made this 3 minute video save me both time and money. Hats off to you!
Glad it helped save money. Easy job but, they charge a arm and a leg
Just an FYI - the guys around here charge 2 hrs at $90 an hour. No point spending $180 when this is simple and easy. Just bought the pump kit to get the job done. Thanks again.
Good tip on the hot water dude!
Well said!!
Thanks from Texas!! Excellent video.you saved me money now I can spend it on a brisket for the smoker!!
Yummy. Texas brisket
Outstanding video. All I needed to know and nothing more. Thanks a million.
You're welcome
Another Job made simple video. Awesome Job! thanks!
Very helpful. Just bought my first boat and have been watching your vids.
I'm glad they help and hopefully help in the future. What kind of boat and motor did you get?
2005 bayliner 185 with the mercruiser 135- Alpha One. Fun little boat! One owner and very well cared for.
Rad video ! I just got a wellctaft 210 excel with the mercruiser alpha one ! It’s pretty fun and your videos are helpful. Thank you
Love the idea about resting oil in hot water. I place mine on the driveway while draining and flipped it over the get the other side nice and hot. (In Louisiana). One other pro tip is to place the pump on the top vent air threads and pump out the oil out faster using pump without anything attached. Good and quick vid, the way i like it
Good tip
Thanks. I’ve done that b4 but was an excellent refresher. Thanks again!
thanks
Thanks for the info helped me nail it in no time.
Thx - I just paid $375 for an impeller change. (And another $75 for lower unit oil change) I just hit 600 hours so thought it's time (I had one installed at 300 hours.)
After watching your vid, I think I'll be tackling this myself.
Lower end oil change is super easy. It cost me $20 a year. Two gear oils at $10 each.
@@BigIslandMNMinnetonka thx - I plan on buying a pump.
Thank you, got my first boat yesterday, used and need to do this before water trials.
My first oil change. Very helpful. Thanks
Hope it went smoothly
Thanks for this video. I heated up the oil in a bath and it was fast.!
Thanks. Straight to the point!
Cody Templeton you are welcome
You should all be aware that both the vent & Drain screw have gaskets. It is important to make sure these are in tact. I would suggest every year to just go ahead and replace both screws and gaskets since they come together and are maybe 5$
Where do you get the screws and gaskets? Is there a specific part number I’m missing?
Very helpful!! Thanks for posting
Thank you, very helpful
As far as a Bravo you have to pull the prop off, the drain is in the prop shaft carrier. Don't forget to grease the prop shaft splines with marine grease and check for fishing line.
Good tip.
Quick and to-the-point. Love it! Thanks
Thanks for appreciating that. Lots of people want to waste your time to achieve a higher watch time.
Wow your oil looks so clean I thought I was at the end of the video
I don't use the boat much
Thank you. I have a rinker 2001 3.0
I love you guy. Best videos ever on youtube!
Just as a quick addendum, I followed this helpful guide, but didn't fill up the Drive Lube reservoir in the engine compartment. This was tripping an alarm after starting up the boat and we couldn't figure out why. Make sure to fill up the reservoir after draining and replacing gear Lube to prevent this from happening.
This video is an alpha one gen 1. The gen 2 has the reservoir. I did another video o. The gen 2. Yes, make sure you fill the reservoir
Overall, good vid! One suggestion is to remove the drain plug before you remove the vent plug at top. By removing the vent plug last, it keeps all the lube from rushing out as quickly when you remove the drain plug and makes less of a mess. Once your hands are no longer under the outdrive, remove the vent plug and it will flow quickly.
Yes. Good suggestion.
Yea I did this by mistake
thanks for the video !!!
Make sure the washers/o-rings don't fall off the screws when removed. They are very important! =}
Important to replace you mean?
Nice job, miles or hours?
Great video. Thx.
Great video thanks for the information and tips.
Do you do it from the bottom plug or tip plug
Hey, what Kind of gear lube oil are you using? and where is the best place to find some?
Excellent video...thanks
Proper video buddy
Thank you sir
could we not simply drain all the fluid from the bottom drain, re-install. & fill to excess from the vent entry topside?
So just engine oil and this lower gear oil or is there another casing to maintain
Some pro tips...remove the vent screw AFTER removing the lower drain screw at the bottom. This prevents the oil from gushing out the vent as well as gushing out the bottom. Also make sure the cap on the gear oil reservoir is off so the oil drains more quickly. Once the oil drains out of the lower unit, screw the vent cap in about half way. This will still allow the gear oil to gush out the vent once full, but minimizes the mess as the screw is already halfway in place. Newer Mercruiser engines take about 1.5 qts of SAE 90 high-performance gear oil, including topping off the oil in the gear oil reservoir.
Nice and simple 👌, what year is that motor ?
1988
@@BigIslandMNMinnetonka thanks , I have same motor 👍🏻
Can you fill it thru the top?
Does this have a reservoir?
What is the pump and hose you attached to the lower end
I bought it in a kit on amazon
Thanks Bro
Dead on my guy. I even tried harbor freight before I went to Walmart. Ended up at Walmart thanks bud
I have a quick question, Can you put it in from the top after draining the oil? If you dont have that type of pump? Cheers
The problem from adding from the top is it won't get to the bottom due to the thickness or the gear oil. The air would have to pass by the oil in an area the size of a straw.
It might be possible but, would likely take many hours. Where if you have the pump it takes 15 min. Deaining the oil takes about ten min
Do you have a reservoir in the motor for the gear oil? I assume not since you didn't mention anything about it. I have one, i was wondering if i fill it up after changing my lower unit oil 🤷🏻♂️ or do I keep pumping until the reservoir gets full??
But your video was very helpful, liked the warming up before putting it in. Thanks
I think the added the reservoir in the gen 2 after 1992. That boat didn't have one. Yes, just top it off after filling up lower end
@@BigIslandMNMinnetonka Thanks a lot! @Chris Boats
Do you replace the o-rings?
This seems sooo easy, is there anything I can royally mess up while doing this? I know you don't want any air in the system which is why I assume you let it come out the top, anything else?
Subbed.
Damn good points
Where did you order the pump
Walmart
Thank you!!
You are welcome
Why do you have to fill it from the bottom? It seems like such a pain. Why not just fill it from the top until it spills out? I haven't been able to find out why. Thanks in advance and thanks for the great video - Mercruiser 3.0 maintenance made easy!
If you fill from the top it will just run out of the bottom. It weird but true.
to prevent air from getting into the system
Thank you
Your welcome
Nice going man, too easy
Do it in the lifted in the trailer tow mode?
Its easier to do.it up but lower is better. To avoid bubbles in the lower end
Do all Alpha ones take 90w?
That works.
Do you have to have the trim all the way down like this? Mine is all the way up right now
It's better if it is down. You might get air pockets if is up. But, better than nothing.
How do I check the sterndrive fluid level? My engine doesn’t come with the gear lube monitor.
You can't
Just change it
How many quarts bottle u use ? Ratios on lube ? Quick silver. I have a Alpha One
I think it is just over 1.2 quarts.
Do you ever top off the lower unit through the season? Or does it not use that much at all?
Never should have to. If it leaks you have a bigger issue. That would mean water is getting in. Just change the fluid at the end of the season and you should be fine
Why not just put the oil in through the vent hole?
Hi there, I will be doing this in the spring, just wondering I've heard some people say you have to keep pumping till the reservoir is full as well... I usually filled the gear lube until it leaks out of the vent hole and filled the reservoir from the top. is there any difference to this?
The alpha one gen 1 doesn't have a reservoir. On my alpha gen 2 I pump till it comes out of the vent then I just fill the reservoir. Any air bubble should work there way up to the reservoir and then just add ad needed.
Alpha one on my sea ray Weekender does in fact have a reservoir
What are we suppose to do with the fluid in the reservoir bowl that sits on top of the engine?
Anyone ever answered this?? I'm in the same "boat" lol
Which is a better substitute for sae90, 80w-90 or 85w-140?
how many liters should there be?
In the USA it is 4 quarts or 1 gallon. Not sure how many liters
@@BigIslandMNMinnetonka 1.2 liters
if it has no dip stick or reservoir, older mode 1992 and down
Is there not good any sae90 oil?
Is there no reservoir on the engine? I've seen videos with a reservoir on the engine to change as well. My boat doesnt have a reservoir that I can see. Its mercrusier 165 3.7 with alpha one gen 1 out drive
You must have a gen 1 alpha one. Older than 1992. The gen 1 does not have a reservoir
Went to change mine out but there is no drain screw in the bottom. I found the vent though
It's tricky to see. Isn't way back there.
@@BigIslandMNMinnetonka ya I found it out you gotta remove prop in order to get to mine.
@@joshuacohoon4742 oh ok wow
how many qurtz did that take
+Corey Couch i believe 1.1 the book says
Why can you just pump the correct about in the top hole?
Because air needs to be able to come out.
Is your motor an alpha one gen one?
Yes sir
Can I use this same oil on a 1990 mercruiser bayliner 4.3 lower unit?
Yes. It is a standard mercruiser lower end year oil.
Big Island MN thanks man!!
No gaskets?
+D Mobile one for each screw but, mine had them and they were in good shape
Im trying to figure out a way to check the trim fluid on my 1978 bellboy, it doesnt have a reservoir any suggestions?
Maybe just drain a tiny bit. The best thing to do it just change it. It is pretty hard to check. Maybe take off the top screw and put a pipe cleaner in there to check the level and you will be able to see if there is water mixed with te oil
What kind of oil is
90. Gear oil
100 miles? Your sure on that?
Lol. Hours not miles.
I Wanna see you Dance. Upload another video already!
DanceVision i dance like a white person
The ehhh ehhh sound when turning a screw is a bit much.
You missed a step, make sure you refill the reservoir in the engine bay. Rest of the video was super helpful to get me through my first gear lube change, but took me a half hour to figure out why the friggin boat was buzzing. Reservoir was bone dry after draining.
+Sean Mclean i dont have a reservoir on my motor. New engines do.
Exactly, then gen2 has the Reservoir on the engine. I also have a gen1 and no reservoir on engine.
Great point. Haven't seen a video yet that mentions filling the reservoir.
No reservoir on gen 1 approx 1 qt should fill as opposed to about 2 liters on gen 2 with reservoir
I know this is an old post, but im saying it anyway. If I recall, if you have a reservoir, you should keep pumping after installing the upper plug. Pump until the reservoir is full to the mark. This makes sure the air is out of the system, as opposed to pumping the lower half and filling the reservoir
Why can’t you just fill from the top?
It won't go in cause of air pressure. It would just run out of the bottom rather than fill up
I believe it's 100 hours, not miles.
100 miles would mean after 3 hours of driving at 35 miles an hour, you need to change it. A tank of fuel lasts longer than 3 hours.
give me that oil, it looks new, i'll use it for 5 years
I change it before winter. It definitely doesn't get many hours of use.
100 hours not 100 miles.
Lol. Correct.
Remove remote cap from remote reservoir first. Bottom plug second. Then top plug. Hydraulics people...they suck
The gen 1 alpha one doesn't have a reservoir. The gen 2 does. But, yes on gen 2 you are correct
This doesn't make sense at all. You would drain it from the bottom and fill it from the top. Just like a manual transmission. The way you check a tranny is pull the fill plug on mid section and if it runs out it full, if you dip your finger or a tool in and get oil you know it is full.
Thats how u drain and fill lol😂
You fill from bottom so there are no air bubbles stuck in the oil
screw drivers are overrated...
Nothing to do with a Bravo as the video title claims
this was so so helpful. Thank you from this 1st time boat owner!
Glad this video worked out for you. Keep doing preventive maintenance and boating should be fun.
What size engine you running?
3.0. 4 banger. 135 horse. Alpha 1 lower end. Nothing special
@@BigIslandMNMinnetonka thanks bud