Honda outboard gearbox oil change??

[stevepick]

The user manual for my honda 4 stroke outboard says to:

"Remove the level bolt and drain bolt to drain the oil. Inject oil through the
drain bolt hole until it starts flowing out through the level bolt hole.
Reinstall and tighten the level bolt and drain bolt securely."

Anyone know / can explain why I have to "inject" oil up into the gearbox rather than pour in the correct amount from the top through the levelbolt?

Steve

 

[VicS]

That is the standard way of filling an outboard engine gearcase.

It ensures that it is properly filled and not only partly filled due to air locks.

You can get the oil in squeezy plastic bottles with a nozzle that will jam in the filling hole.
You can also get pumps.

It really is a lot easier than it sounds and probably less messy than trying to pour it in through the top hole.

It is recommended by the experts in the field that the seals on the drain and level plugs are renewed, not reused ( but I've been reusing every year since 1985!)

 

[philip_stevens]

Exactly as VicS says, but when the oil comes out of the top hole, put that plug in first, before removing the oil squeezy bottle. This stops the oil coming out of the bottom hole when you remove the bottle - well, maybe a dribble will come out, but nothing much to effect the level.

 

[stevepick]

Thanks guys, as you can tell, not done this before.

 

[philip_stevens]

This is the type of tube VicS was referring to.

 

[VicS]

Well this is actually what I had in mind.
The tube I bought in 1985 and have been refilling ever since.

 

[philip_stevens]

Hi VicS,
until I moved down your photo to your fingers, I thought it was a giant bottle

But yes, the same sort of thing as the Quicksilver stuff.