NEED HELP FAST - 98 Evinrude

Hello all, I'm new to the forum and have a quick question. All help or any advice would be wonderful!

I'm heading on vacation this weekend for 2 weeks and I started my boat today with the suction cup things you use with a hose (i call them ear muffs), and while the engine was running, around the prop there was a whiteish/gray liquid coming out while the engine was running. It was clearly an oil or some sort of lube because it was not mixing with the water that was already on the ground.

If anyone could help me out and let me know what this is or if it anything to worry about I would appreciate it.

Thanks.

Re: NEED HELP FAST - 98 Evinrude

You have nothing to worry about. Your engine exhaust contains a tad bit of unburned oil and fuel and when stirred up with water makes the mixture you see. Go boating and have fun.

Re: NEED HELP FAST - 98 Evinrude

Seems like we should pick one of these with a good title and just make it sticky. Lots of panic about "oil leaks" around this time of year.

Maybe I'll write up a FAQ.

Re: NEED HELP FAST - 98 Evinrude

Silvertip said:

You have nothing to worry about. Your engine exhaust contains a tad bit of unburned oil and fuel and when stirred up with water makes the mixture you see. Go boating and have fun.

Click to expand...

What exactly do you consider a tad bit? It was coming out quite fast & a decent amount and was expelled the entire time the engine was on. This was the first time the engine had been run since last July, and it is stored outside all winter.

I'm hoping that there isn't a crack somewhere in the lower unit. One thing I read online was that when there seems to be a milky colored liquid, it is water getting into the gear box and mixing with the lubricant. So after reading that, I called a marina to ask them and they said it might be a cracked gear box.

God I hope not.

I must apologize if it seems like I'm freaking out, but with such short notice before I leave this Saturday, it's rather nerve racking.

Re: NEED HELP FAST - 98 Evinrude

How much exhaust sludge is too much?

Re: NEED HELP FAST - 98 Evinrude

It's pretty common for a lot of lube in the powerhead to pool up over storage and come rushing out. Especially if your engine was properly winterized with lots of fogging liquid. Take out the bottom drain plug on your lower unit (w/o removing the top) and let some of the lube drain out.

IF you have no water coming out, AND the lube isn't all milky you have nothing to worry about. If the condition above is not met, we've all got more posting to do.