TRS oil reservoir vent

[KerrLake]

Anyone had any issues with oil blowing out of the reservoir vent? The drive has been completely rebuilt a couple years ago. Could there be a need for a drive cooler to keep the oil temp down so it won't expand as much?
Brian

[pipnit]

strange, I've never had that problem. How much are you putting in? I'm pretty sure it takes two quarts of type F trans fluid.
I had KC Marine rebuild mine this winter and opted for their pretty slick "Gaitlin Gun" cooler. I'm not sure if you've seen the stocker, but it's just a single small piece of copper bent in a U.

LINK: http://www.kcmarinetr.com/MercTrans-Oil-Cooler.aspx

[axelkloehn]

yep, happens to me too. Refilled the drive with fresh oil cause I thougt I have airbubbles inside, was ok for a while and now starts to do this again. No idea what to do... it is a Bravo 1

[Conquistador_del_mar]

Anyone had any issues with oil blowing out of the reservoir vent? The drive has been completely rebuilt a couple years ago. Could there be a need for a drive cooler to keep the oil temp down so it won't expand as much?
Brian

Brian,
That reservoir has quite a bit of room for expansion of the drive fluid to where it should not come out if it was not overfilled. I would drain some of your drive fluid to make sure water has not entered the drive. My TRS drives have never puked out fluid, and I don't run drive coolers. Bill

[Rodger]

Your setup does not have a tranny cooler?

Do you mean there is no drive cooler? The Merc Trans used with a TRS has a cooler and I'm pretty sure the Borg Warner has a cooler also.

[pipnit]

I too would check for overfill or water in there.

***Years ago for some reason, I pulled out the heat exchanger on the MERC II trans, just the simple copper loop and there was a pinhole on that tube that would have introduced water. I can't even remember why I took it out, I think I was just curious but I did catch it by coincidence before any problems happened. I think it pulls out by removing just two bolts, maybe four, can't remember. I'd check that too. Remember water is more dense than oil and you won't see it right off the bat.

[pipnit]

Do you mean there is no drive cooler? The Merc Trans used with a TRS has a cooler and I'm pretty sure the Borg Warner has a cooler also.

The MERC II trans absolutely has a "cooler" or heat exchanger, it's down low on the port side I believe.

[pipnit]

btw, you might want to call Casey at KC Marine, he's a TRS specialist and would gladly help out with any knowledge, he's a nice and helpful guy.

[Rodger]

I too would check for overfill or water in there.
*** just the simple copper loop and there was a pinhole on that tube that would have introduced water.


I had the same issue and just soldered up the pinhole. That was over 23 years ago....still does not leak.

[BUIZILLA]

The MERC II trans absolutely has a "cooler" or heat exchanger, it's down low on the port side I believe. pretty sure mine is lower stb side

[MOP]

I deleted my prior post! Did hot fully read the first, the few TRS drives I worked on don't remember them puking oil. I did have a couple that cooked the tranny from the cooler being plugged. I would drain and refill carefully and see what happens, it like mentioned could just be a little over filled.

[silverghost]

The TRS dives with the Borg-Warner Velvet Drive Trans also has a large multi-tube heat exchanger style oil cooler.

[pipnit]

pretty sure mine is lower stb side


you sir, are correctomundo! Thanks! :wink:

[KerrLake]

I think a couple of you are thinking it is tranny fluid. The trs has a drive oil reservoir mounted on the transom, mine is on the port side. Matt at TNT rebuilt the drive so I gave him a call. He said to check for water, which I already did, and also that sometimes the drives completey lose all air pockets which leaves no expansion room. He said to drain the drive to the full level at the top plug and refill the reservoir to the full mark on the dip stick and see what happens. I'll let you know if it works in case anyone else ever has this problem. He also said that drive showers are pretty much useless on the trs since they tend not to run as hot as the Bravos.
Brian

[Conquistador_del_mar]

I think a couple of you are thinking it is tranny fluid. The trs has a drive oil reservoir mounted on the transom, mine is on the port side. Matt at TNT rebuilt the drive so I gave him a call. He said to check for water, which I already did, and also that sometimes the drives completey lose all air pockets which leaves no expansion room. He said to drain the drive to the full level at the top plug and refill the reservoir to the full mark on the dip stick and see what happens. I'll let you know if it works in case anyone else ever has this problem. He also said that drive showers are pretty much useless on the trs since they tend not to run as hot as the Bravos.
Brian

Yes, my TRS drives don't even get hot enough to develop the typical mineralization deposits like many other drives. I find it hard to believe that the reservoir is not large enough to handle the slight expansion of the fluid. I actually thought the reservoir concept was there to allow the drive to be totally full of fluid - unlike the drives that must have an expansion area of air at the top or the fluid would puke past the seals as it got hot. Anyway, I will be curious what caused the puking in your case. I have to presume that this is a new development. Bill

[KerrLake]

Bill it is not so new of a development. I had decided it was over filled before and had not investigated but so much. I did however add oil to drive after it was removed and replaced recently. It could be overfilled once again. If it is not over the full line in the reservoir you would think this would not be a problem. I am also turning rpms now to 5500. There are alot of variables that have changed since I initially bought the boat. I think I will change the oil in the drive and fill it to the plug on the top of the drive and fill the reservoir from the top like Matt suggested. I did fill the drive last time from the bottom and continued to fill it until the reservoir was full to the line on the dipstick. I did read a short post on OSO that said this was a common problem in the 80's. The solution was to add a nipple to the vent to raise the height. That's about the only other info I can find on the subject. Who knows!
Brian