Oil leaking from my 9.9 honda 4-stroke

[notimetofish]

Hi all,I'm new here and new to honda outboards and would greatly appreciate your input. Here's the problem...I bought a used 2003 honda 9.9 hp 4-stroke that just got its 20 hr service. After a one-hour transport on it side, I affixed it in an upright position to a latter. The next morning, there was about 2-3 ounces of oil on the floor that drained from the small water drain hole near the bottom. Seems to run good and there was very little smoke at startup. According to the manual, it is OK to store it on its side (handle on the up side). The only thing I can think of is that when I transported it, the prop/lower end was slightly elevated. Does that sound like justification for such a large leak??? I plan to go places and transport the engine on its side but I am fearing an oil slick that I may have to deal with on every trip. That does not sound like fun. Your input is greatly appreciated!Thanks in advance,notimetofish

[rodbolt]

hello check that all filters and gaskets are tight. but if the lower goes higher than the powerhead expect leaks. the motror has to be vented someplace. and it may have been some oil was spilled in the cowl at service time. try laying it down again on the floor for a day then hanging it upright again. see if you can make the problem reoccur. good luck and keep posting

[notimetofish]

Thanks Rodbolt,one more question/concern: I ran the motor for about 20-25 minutes yesterday with very minmal smoke and only at high rpms. This morning I started the motor and a good amount of white smoke followed and soon cleared up. Could this be because there is still oil in the intake or somewhere? Does this sound like there is a problem?(i.e. needs ring job?) Also, under your advice, I will lay it on it's side again and check for leaks & make sure everything looks tight. One more thing...it seems to hesitate when I give it a quick trottle from an idle. Infact, it will stall if I do this when it is in gear at low RPMs. I cleaned the plugs and the fuel is ok. What do you think? Thanks again for your input and I will post a follow up.

[rodbolt]

hello stalling on acceleration is normally a fuel enrichment or accelerator pump problem. when you rapidly open the trottles on a 4 stroke the vacum drop is instantaneous. the accelerator or enrichment pump adds a small burst of extra fuel to prevent a backfire or stall.the smoke may be from the way you store the motor. if the cyl head end is lower than the crankshft end the cylinder will drain oil past the rings and smoke for a bit on start up.good luck and keep posting about the oil

[sloopy]

Did you check your oil level? The prop should also not be elevated, that most likely was your problem.

[notimetofish]

Rodbolt,sloopy,and anyone else interested:Okay, I laid the motor on it side for a few hours (flat on the ground, which is approved storage or transport position per honda) and then I set it in an upright position for about 4 hours. No leaky oil slick on the ground this time...yay! When I started it up, I had a bit of smoke (white) for about 1 - 1.5 minutes but then it cleared up. I take it that this would be normal since the oil would seep past the rings assuming that the level of oil, while on its side, is up to the piston rings. Sound right? And yes, the oil level is just below the full mark. Now the only other concern is the hesitation on a quick throttle twist while in gear. I'll get new plugs even though I cleaned and lightly sanded the contact points. Remember, the motor just got it's 20hr service. Do you think that the carb may be a bit gummed up from the oil that was ran through it? Also, it is a bit hard to start and get going when it is cold. Not the one to two cold start engine I was hoping for.Thanks again for helping this newbie. By the way, this motor will go on my Mercury 8'9" inflatable that I throw in the back of my truck. It should go about 20-25 mph which should feel like 50 in that micro boat. Cant wait to try it out next weekend.