Stern Drive Oil Change

[vmaks]

Universal 11 hp, Diesel: In reading all of the posts the majority seem to cover sail drive. I am pretty sure my O'Day 28 is a stern drive; when I bought the boat I had the bearing changed before my voyage to my homeport. Anyway, in my searches I can not find if my yearly winterizing maintenance should include changing the stern drive oil (it listed as an area to check off by my marina if I want the task completed, or not). So....is this a yearly maintenance task I should do just as I would have my oil changed, etc? Would this be a task they would have done when the bearing was changed about 50 hrs ago?

Also, since I am asking for information pertaining to winterizing....my boat does not come with any secondary fuel filter on the engine block, only the typical Racor style (I think). Is this something I should have them install while the boat is on it's cradle this winter? No, I am presently NOT having any fuel (diesel) issues but......from what I read on the blogs, I don't want any either.

Owning a boat is like buying a car for the Woodward Dream Cruise...you dump $ into it for pleasure. For those of you who have never heard of the Woodward Dream Cruise....look it up.
Thanks for your input

 

[j_schoenfeld]

Is it a 5411?

My 82 oday 28 has the universal 5411 diesel, with a Hurth transmission. I change the oil in it every year. The service manual says:

3. Placing transmission in storage.
If the transmission is put out of operation for long periods of time under unfavorable
environmental conditions, it should be protected against corrosion by filling it
completely with oil of the same grade and type. Otherwise, it should be operated
briefly with a good oxidation inhibiting oil to allow the agent to contact all parts of​

the gearbox.

You can find the service manual here:

http://www.ewmanchester.com/CalDocs/Universal Diesel_5411_5416_5424_5432_Owners Manual.pdf

I have never filled it all the way up, I just have it in the slip over the winter and run it once a month. The Great Salt Lake is so salty that I just leave the water in the engine and it doesn't freeze. I have a vacuum pump to change engine and transmission oil and just pull most of the fluid out and replace it to the top of the dipstick.

The only filter I have is the Racor filter/separator, and have not had any problems. I have no plans to add another filter.....

Hope this helps.

 

[vmaks]

Re: Is it a 5411?

Yes, thank you for the info. My manual is up at the boat (4 hrs away) but I had already found the same site for my engine as you provided. I read the same as you, fill it to the top for the winter, but....that wasn't clear enough for me to decipher if that meant to actually change it or just fill it. The only thing I found on the web was to change the trans fluid every 300 hrs. Heck, I am lucky if I put on 20-30 hrs a year. Perhaps I will just inspect it, if red, leave it alone.

 

[j_schoenfeld]

or....

Your right, it does say 300 hours OR yearly. I look at it like this. With a vacuum pump it's easy and quick, and it's way cheaper than pulling it out and rebuilding it. Just cheap insurance. And, no matter which way you look at it, it won't hurt it.......