'96 15 horse evinrude lower unit leak

[mosabi]

Hello, I'm new here and hoping I can get some assistance. I have a '96 15 horse evinrude that I winterized by replacing the lower unit oil and fogged the cylinders. What I noticed this winter was a puddle of clean lower unit oil on the cement floor. I've owned the boat and motor several years now and this is the first time I've noticed it. I always winterize the motor.

A short time ago I pulled the prop off and it doesn't appear to be coming from the shaft sticking out. No fishing line in there either. There was a puddle of oil sitting in the housing almost strait down where the exhaust shoots down in the far inside. What exactly am I up against here? Is it the shaft seal perhaps? Is this something a novice like me can replace, if not how much would it approximately be to repair at a boat shop?

Note: the oil is not spent oil/gas. Its clean lower unit oil greenish blue in color. Not black.

Here is a picture, hope it helps. http://db.tt/Q6C50K57

Thanks for any advice.

 

[boobie]

Re: '96 15 horse evinrude lower unit leak

Looks like L/U oil. Could be the oring around the propshaft bearing carrier housing. Rather than guess, take the L/U in and have it pressure and vacuumed checked.

 

[mosabi]

Re: '96 15 horse evinrude lower unit leak

Looks like L/U oil. Could be the oring around the propshaft bearing carrier housing. Rather than guess, take the L/U in and have it pressure and vacuumed checked.

What type of expense am I looking at if you had to guess. Obviously it needs to be looked at but I'm just thinking ahead. Thanks!

 

[boobie]

Re: '96 15 horse evinrude lower unit leak

Call some dlrs in your area and get a quote for the P&V check. When you find out where it is and you have an OEM service manual and tools you could do it yourself. There's plenty of help on this site.