87 4.3 OMC oil leak @ water intake

[blakelygrace]

I have a oil leak(black brown in color) at the water intake on the lower unit. Purchased boat with this leak. Its a 1987 sea ray seville 4.3 OMC. Does anyone have a place to start troubleshooting. Thanks

 

[Don S]

Re: 87 4.3 OMC oil leak @ water intake

First thing is to drain the gear lube and see what it looks like, milky, black, brown, what. If milky, once you get it drained, do a pressure and vacuum check of the drive.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: 87 4.3 OMC oil leak @ water intake

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=255152

Hope this is of some help.

 

[blakelygrace]

Re: 87 4.3 OMC oil leak @ water intake

Well first appricate your reply. I removed the small drain screw and green fluid came out(not milky). I noticed a very small amount of tiny metal shavings? I have a OMC manual. Where would you start. Lower housing, upper housing? Is this a common repair sign? Thanks

 

[chiefalen]

Re: 87 4.3 OMC oil leak @ water intake

On the magnet ?

 

[blakelygrace]

Re: 87 4.3 OMC oil leak @ water intake

Not sure what or where the magnet is. The screw had the most shavings. Previous owner had boat service regularly. I'm looking in manual for this problem. If you have any ideas please throw the my way. thanks

 

[chiefalen]

Re: 87 4.3 OMC oil leak @ water intake

Screw is a magnet, ok pressure test it 10 lbs and see how long it stays at 10 lbs. No more than 10 lbs,

Post the result.

 

[blakelygrace]

Re: 87 4.3 OMC oil leak @ water intake

Ok about to try this test is there any specific area I should be looking at. How will I tell weak if any is there a leak?

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: 87 4.3 OMC oil leak @ water intake

It's best to seperate upper and lower gear casees and test independently so the intermediate shaft will be exposed, other than that youll pray the whole thing with a mixture of soap and water bubbles and look close at anything that has a seal or gasket.
if presure test passes then you go one more step and vacuum test it using a hand held vac pump, I guess some seals can leak under vacuum that under pressure may not. By the book.
forgot to mention once gear cases are seperated you'll need to plug the intermediate shaft holes with a plug, Now i'm thinking leaving the whole unit together would probably be your best route, then go from there if you have a leak

 

[sdoomaha]

Re: 87 4.3 OMC oil leak @ water intake

I have no where near the knowledge of others on the forum, but I experienced a similar problem with mine. The lower unit gear lube never really took on a milky appearance, but a small bit of gear lube would leak out the water pickup and it was always milky. Turned out to be the gasket for the water pump assembly where the impeller was located. No idea why it leaked gear lube as it sat, but never seemed to deposit much water in the lower unit. You figure it would leak both ways. Maybe the volume of gear lube hid the fact that just a little water was making it in.

Once again....sorry if the info is of no use...but seemed to correct the problem for me.

Take care all,

Steve O

 

[chiefalen]

Re: 87 4.3 OMC oil leak @ water intake

See how long it holds the air 10 lbs no more.

Post the result we will go from there.

Understand ?

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: 87 4.3 OMC oil leak @ water intake

Chiefalan, I'll be performing a pressure test real soon, I have the Cobra unit in my basement (-4* brrr) anyhow I've been reading over the proceedure my OMC manual indicates 15-18#.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: 87 4.3 OMC oil leak @ water intake

You just want to see if it's leaking and not blowing out the seals.

10 is more than enough, you think the inside of a gear case ever sees 18 pounds of pressure ?

Your boat do what you want to do.