Exactly my experiences as well.

DaveR once posted on here about the 2 way seal on a B3 drive. The gist was that it's possible foe it to let oil out, but not water in. Since I add oil to mine periodically, but have never had water contamination, I have to believe he's right on the money.

That said 1 qt in 35 engine hours seems like a lot. Unless the drive wasn't properly refilled when serviced.

I recently brought the same issue up on another board and most explained to me that some usage is considered normal, specifically when new due to possible air in the drive and fluid filling everything. Also the only time that I notice any use is after long hard runs 2-3 hours at 3800 to 4200 rpm trying to get somewhere. On thing you may want to do is to check all your bolts on the drive to make sure everything is tight. I discovered my top cover bolts loose and when the drive was warm I lost some fluid due to expansion. Have it pressure tested and keep an eye on it.

Well, my mechanic pressure tested the lower unit and they left it on for approx 24 hours straight. The needle didn't move the one bit.

At one quart which is the same as 2 pints and a 24 hour pressure test, I feel better and will just continue to monitor. I may ask them to pressure test again during winterizing.

I wonder if draining all the fluid out and then pressure testing would make any difference?

I don't think it's unusual.

First 1 quart was probably mostly due to air pockets. I don't know, but I'm betting they don't take the time to fill them from the bottom to the top like you're supposed to do. (don't know if that's done at the factory or the dealer). Anyway, they hold 3 quarts total.

My 496 B3 used about a quart in the first 10 hours. Since then, some, but not excessive use.

The reservoir is only about a 1/3 of a quart - so that wouldn't be much in the first 35 hours.

It was almost exactly the same with the Alpha on my other boat.

Fist 70 hours on mine this summer. Was still at the full line before I changed it last week. Since yours past the pressure test I would say an air bubble.



My Volvo duopro uses 2.5 quarts.

Don't know about Merc's, but my VP SX has the same oil level as it had the year before when I changed it(after six years and 280 hrs. Usage essentially zero.

Mike