black smelly gear lube

[skeeter2]

hi,awesome forum great info.I have a 04 vz225tlrc HPDI .my gear lube is black and burnt smelling.there are no metal filings in the lube or on the plug.I use amsoil synthetic marine gearlube 75w/85w-90.it does not take very long to get that way maybe 10 hrs.The dealer suggested exhaust getting to hot or change gearlube brands.It just started doing it last summer.thanks for any help.

[99yam40]

look up Rodbolts reply to using-mercury-premium-plus-gear-oil to see if has something to do with your problem as it is synthetic, I tried to link it but it said a moderator would have to look at my post before it would appear

[skeeter2]

ok will do thanks.

[skeeter2]

cant find rodbolts thread!

[rodbolt17]

since the introduction of the Yamaha V8 they released a GL-5 75w-90 oil specifically for the V8 and was NOT reccomended for ANY other V or inline yamaha engines.
we kept asking why we cannot use the HD GL-5 oil in older 3.3,3.1,2.6L v6 and the other smaller engines.
last month we finally got an answer.
the GL-5 WILL NOT properly lubricate bushings.
the only cases yamaha builds with NO bushings are the 4.2L v6 and the V8.

[200090tlry]

So your saying Mercury performance plus is

Not good for even 90hp 2stroke? Im having a hard time beliving that someone on internet was saying they recommened this oil for Yamaha lower units. The oil is thicker than most syn's ive delt with. Not all syn's are equal id dump amsoil quick stick with marine manufacter's oil. Cableas lower unit oil thined out fast I had to dump it. I think MercPlus is straight 90wt sticky like conventional oil.

[Tucker]

Ok, ok back to the subject. What's Skeeter's problem? Having a hard time believing the Amsoil is junk. Is the dealer on to something with exhaust getting into the gear case? (sounds like a crock to me)

[skeeter2]

tucker, i think the dealer implied that overheated exhaust gasses exit prop shaft theirfor overheating the gear lube in the lower unit.sounds like a stretch to me to.i have used amsoil oil and gear lube for 15 years with out a problem in two different yamahas. the lube is rated GL-4/GL-5 compatable.Is catastrophic failure on the horizon.

[Tucker]

I don't see how it can get that hot since it's underwater. I use straight 90 weight and it looks the same coming out as it did when it went in. This is a real head scratcher...but it does sound like the oil broke down...but only 10-hrs on it!!! WTF?? I would think dollar store cheapo oil would last longer than 10-hrs. Do you change it every year? So you've been using the same gear oil this motor since, whenever, and this just started?
Ok Rodbolt, cool stuff about that new gear oil, but what do you think is this lad's problem?

[99yam40]

tucker, i think the dealer implied that overheated exhaust gasses exit prop shaft theirfor overheating the gear lube in the lower unit.sounds like a stretch to me to.i have used amsoil oil and gear lube for 15 years with out a problem in two different yamahas. the lube is rated GL-4/GL-5 compatable.Is catastrophic failure on the horizon.

I would have to say if it keeps doing that in just 10 hrs then there is something going on that is not good.
you may try the Yamaha lube recommended for your motor and see, but be ready for anything.

[rodbolt17]

not saying anything is junk, not saying you may or may not have a problem.
all I am saying is what the yamaha engineers conveyed to us at the last gearcase school I attended in jan 2011.
the yamalube HD GL-5 synthetic was found NOT to properly lubricate BUSHINGS.
the ONLY yamaha cases made with NO bushings are the 4.2L v6 AND the V8 cases.
you take it from there.
yamaha specifically DOES not reccomend GL-5 synthetic in any other cases, just the 4.2L v6 and the V8.

[200090tlry]

I know all about gear oils for axles and manual trannies

Many of manual trannies like bmw,nissan have brass syncros the gl5 rated dino oil will wear them out fast and do damage you know axle oil that smells really bad that's extra additives for gl5 rating. Those car's specify gl4 rated oil which is impossible to find ask me how I know this. You can get the stuff at dealers but $20 a pop for gear oil is alot. Most full syn oils like Redline gl4 rated mt90 or mtl are fine and can be mixed to get proper viscosity. For rear axles just about every car uses gl5 gear oil and is found everywhere. Mobil one is bad choice for manual trannys for some reason few people asked Mobil about this. Marine gear oils for some reason have the abilty to work with water better maybe the additives. One of the Mercury mehcanics said he uses Mercury premium plus in his jeep axles which does have me perplexed. Either he doesnt know what he's doing or know's something I dont. Could be plus is gl5 rated but I doubt it. Bobistheoilguy web site might be a good place to ask about specific oils and why they might not be good choice. Also those oils cross over label gl3,gl4,gl5 are still bad choice for manual trannies. Skeeter I would try the mercury premium plus $16 oil and see what happens have a feeling with your powerhouse it's good oil to use. Dont confuse mercury premium, premium plus there different. One you want is blue green color. Rod the v8 is like a new sho motor right not skeeter's 225

[rodbolt17]

the SHO, like the V8 case, contains NO bushings.
EVERY other case made by Yamaha CONTAINS bushings.
the yamaha engineers studied this and determined the GL-5 synthetic oils would NOT properly lubricate BUSHINGS.
the current SHO is a 4.2L V6.
the 4.2L and the V8 case contain NO bushings.
it be better explained????
aint gotta clue about auto sheet and really dont care.
I simply use the products reccomended by the factory engineers and typically it works very well for a very long time.

[skeeter2]

Tucker,I am the original owner, gearlube gets changed 2x a summer every year.same brand.only work ever done is a water pump kit and periodic maintenance.rodbolt what does the sho or v8 have in common with the my motor,so you recomend changing brands as tlry says. im confused im a bass fisherman keep it simple

[99yam40]

not saying anything is junk, not saying you may or may not have a problem.
all I am saying is what the yamaha engineers conveyed to us at the last gearcase school I attended in jan 2011.
the yamalube HD GL-5 synthetic was found NOT to properly lubricate BUSHINGS.
the ONLY yamaha cases made with NO bushings are the 4.2L v6 AND the V8 cases.
you take it from there.
yamaha specifically DOES not reccomend GL-5 synthetic in any other cases, just the 4.2L v6 and the V8.

skeeter2
Is it too hard for you to understand that if you do not have one of the gear cases that Rodbolt said are made with NO bushings then yamaha specifically DOES not reccomend GL-5 synthetic in them