Omc Cobra 3.0 Liter Lower Unit Oil Specifications
The 3.0L Cobra inboard/outboard appeared in OMC boat and outboard motor dealers' showrooms in 1986, replacing the Stringer drive that was built by OMC from 1964 to 1986. The Stringer stern drive had strict lubrication requirements not applicable to the Cobra's drive. The Cobra drive was, in fact, the lower unit -- the gear case that housing the gears, water pump, propeller shaft and propeller -- newly developed for the 1986 Evinrude outboard motor.
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The Lower Unit
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Outboard Motor Corporation, or OMC, was bought out of bankruptcy in 2001 by Bombardier Recreational Products. Before that, OMC made moves aimed at standardization between its two outboard brands, Johnson and Evinrude. Part of that effort included redesign of the lower unit for both outboard motors, so that a Johnson lower unit would fit on an Evinrude motor. The changes, completed in 1980, meant that all OMC lower units could use non-proprietary lower-unit oil. The new lower unit was also used to replace the older Stringer lower unit on OMC's inboard/outboard drives. Since that time, the OMC brand Johnson has ceased production, OMC has been dissolved and Evinrude is BRP's flagship outboard brand.
Older Units
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The oil for older Stringer lower units, those built prior to 1980, was called Premium C. It was the only oil that would work in the pre-1980 OMC lower unit, which was equipped with exposed electrical connections and primitive solenoids; the oil was formulated so that it didn't cause sparks and send the solenoids off line. Premium C is no longer available, having been replaced by Evinrude Hi-VIS and Evinrude Ultra-HPF, available through the Evinrude dealer network, and recommended for use in pre-1980 lower units.
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The Manufacturer's Proprietary Lubricant
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The lower unit of the 3.0L Cobra inboard engine is the same as the heavy duty lower unit used on Evinrude/Johnson two-stroke outboard motors, modified to accept a horizontal driveshaft adapter for use as an outdrive for an inboard/outboard motor. The lower unit oil provides lubrication not only for the gear case, but for the horizontal drive as well. Although both the Hi-VIS and Ultra HPF oils are available, Evinrude's current gear case oils are HPF Pro Gearcase Lubricant and HPF XR Gearcase Lubricant.
Substitutions
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The OMC Cobra 3.0L engine and drive, including the King Cobra drive that appeared for the 1991 model year only, were built between 1986 and 1993, when the Alpha 1 stern drives went into production. Since conductivity issues don't exist in models built after 1980, the constraint to use only OMC lower unit oil doesn't apply. You can use any 80W-90 lower unit gear oil and your gear case will operate safely.
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