Oil from weep hole...

[pontoon guy]

Hello all and thank you in advance for all your suggestions. Anyways my brother has a pontoon boat with a 90HP Mercury Outboard. Now since im a mechanic by trade ive been volunteered to be his personal fixer. The problem is I dont know the first thing about boat engines. I'm not even sure if this is a problem however I suspect it may be. Ok right above the prop (I think they call it the lower unit) there is what looks like a weep hole. Oh by the way the boat is drydocked and will remain that way until this issue is resolved. So now after the long winter I see a small amount of oil under the outboard and im sure its coming out of that weep hole. Is this a leaky seal? What should I order to resolve this? Any suggestions?

 

[thefairlaneman]

Re: Oil from weep hole...

Remove the foot and pressure check it. Also be sure the oil level is right . Look for water in it. This is what to do .................now instructions on how to do it is another matter.

 

[gjblanchard]

Re: Oil from weep hole...

A picture would help, but if I understand correctly, this could possibly be oil residue from the exhaust leaking out of the lower unit over time. I have this happen all the time on my 6 HP Johnson.

Good luck,

Gary

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Oil from weep hole...

Sniff the oil residue. If it stinks, it is gear lube and you have bad waterpump seals and/or gaskets. If it smells like gas or regular oil it is residue from the fuel and is normal.