Did I hurt my motor?

[MNpurple]

I have a 2001 25 hp merc. Last fall I drained the lower unit and filled with new gear lube. Sunday was the first day out with it, and after about a half hour of bowfishing I looked back and saw an oil slick on the water. I realized I was loosing gear lube from the lowest drain bolt on the lower unit. I put the motor back into the water and motored back to shore and loaded it up. When I got home I noticed I had yellow fluid leaking from the lower unit, so obviously water got into it. So right away I got some new gear lube and completely drained the lower unit and then pumped it full of some new lower unit gear lube. I also replaced the sealing washer which turned out to be the leaky culprit. Anyway, because I noticed it right away and drained the the watery fluid and put new fluid in, do you think I did any damage to my lower?

[96trigger]

I may be way off here, because I am no mechanic, but I would invest in a cheap pair of dog ears to run my motor out of the water, I'd check everything there first,. this may have helped you the first time in finding the leak. If everything seemed OK, I'd then go to open water and try it. If it were my lower unit, I'd try it and see how it plays out, if you did damage it, I don't think it will hurt it anymore taking it for a test run. I'm not an expert, thats just what I would do, I don't have a new boat or motor and fixing the lower unit would probably cost 1/2 of what my boat is worth. It all depends on how comfortable you might feel. That said, you might just want to take it into a shop and see what they say, it might save you in the long run.

[Valv]

No, you did not damage it at all, they are tougher than what you think.

If water was mixed with oil it was no problem, you can used it this way few times.

I don't think you were out of oil, but for a short run it will not be a problem.

[musky hunter]

Valve is correct. Water and oil will work quite satisfactory, although it is not recomended. You took the correct action and no harm should have resulted.