Walters V-Drive

[fijidaniel]

I got my boat at the end of last season, so this will be my first full year. I was changing the tranny and V-Drive fluid/oil and coming out of the V-Drive unit was some of the reddist 30wt I have ever seen I think the guy who owned it before got the fluids changed last year at a Nautique dealer. Maybe they have never seen a Walter's V-Drive before? It ran fine last year, so I just drained all of the ATF fluid and loaded her up with some 30 wt. The good news is that she ran fine last year. Do you thing there could have been any subtle extensive wear to the unit from running the ATF?

[rinconking]

you will probably be fine, tranny fluid lubricates, Not like oil, but its not like water either

[Jimmypooh]

I got my boat at the end of last season, so this will be my first full year. I was changing the tranny and V-Drive fluid/oil and coming out of the V-Drive unit was some of the reddist 30wt I have ever seen I think the guy who owned it before got the fluids changed last year at a Nautique dealer. Maybe they have never seen a Walter's V-Drive before? It ran fine last year, so I just drained all of the ATF fluid and loaded her up with some 30 wt. The good news is that she ran fine last year. Do you thing there could have been any subtle extensive wear to the unit from running the ATF?

I think the new vDrives actually take ATF fluid now. They probably just didn't pay attention to your year.

[Sixball]

If you have not dumped the old fluid yet poor some through a paper towel or a coffee filter something to hold debris. Have a look see if you can find any signs of metal ware. How did you get it out? Was it cold and been sitting for an extended time. I used a pump to pull my fluid out and did it after a good run so debris was hopefully suspended. If it had been sitting all winter any debris my be settled at the bottom. if so you could use a long flexible magnet to go to the bottom of the case and see what comes up. Be careful not to drop anything down there.

[fijidaniel]

Thanks for the advice. I'm guessing they didn't know any better, but like I said, it ran fine. I didn't see any debris. Thats the thing with used boats, you don't know who did what to them.

[skyskier]

It does not seem likely that a mechanic would drain out 30wt and refill with ATF. It is more likely that someone just topped off with ATF sometime after the fluid change was done.