89 3.0 Merc lots of oil in bilge while parked.

[toneybrown]

Sheesh, it is one thing after another with this boat! I have another active thread about the engine running strangely intermittently, but this issue is way more concerning.

The boat has been in my drive way since Friday. After taking the boat out of the water Friday morning removed the drain plug and just a trickle of water came out. Parked the boat and walked by today Sunday and noticed oil under the back of the boat. I hop in and pull the dip stick and not a bit of oil on it. The bilge was full! I have searched for causes and see it could be a number of things, timing cover, oil pan, rear main.

What is most likely the cause of something like this to happen while the boat is parked? Before we took it out last week the oil level was perfect.

What is the best way to check the possible causes? I have put oil back in it to see if I can see something dripping, but so far nothing. About to go watch some more.........

Thanks for any help.

Toney

 

[alldodge]

My guess is the oil pan rusted thru

 

[toneybrown]

My guess is the oil pan rusted thru

I have filled the pan back up with oil. Shouldn't I be seeing it drip? I'm about to put some cardboard under the engine to see if I can figure out where the oil is coming from. Front or back.

 

[alldodge]

I'm just guessing based on no oil on the dipstick. So it would either be the pan or the drain plug, nothing else is low enough to drain oil sitting

 

[toneybrown]

I'm just guessing based on no oil on the dipstick. So it would either be the pan or the drain plug, nothing else is low enough to drain oil sitting

I figured it would be something low since it was almost bone dry. I have the cardboard under to see what comes out where. If nothing drips I guess there is a possibility it only leaks while running. But that doesn't make sense since there was only water in the bilge after I trailered it on Friday.

 

[toneybrown]

I guess it is possible that my one way drain plug was clogged with gunk and it wouldn't let the oil drain. I'm still not seeing anything dripping. I'm going to crank it up in a bit and see if I can figure out where the oil is coming from.

 

[Bt Doctur]

just feel under the oil pan for any rust spots
"one way drain plug" usually are solid brass?

 

[toneybrown]

just feel under the oil pan for any rust spots
"one way drain plug" usually are solid brass?

I found the leak. I guess I was losing oil while I was running it in the water. Luckily I don't think I ran it long that way because oil was GUSHING from below the oil filter!

I haven't pulled it off yet to see what is going on, but it felt tight.

Is there something just below the filter that could have sprung a leak?

Oh, btw the drain is hole has a little plastic ball that moves forward if you put the boat in the water without the plug. Basically insuring no matter how drunk you are you don't sink your boat.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Nothing under the filter, could the oil filter have rusted thru

 

[Bt Doctur]

A lovely idea, not knowing your taking on water until your feet get wet. Install a proper brass plug

 

[toneybrown]

Nothing under the filter, could the oil filter have rusted thru

It is a Fram, so maybe I'm about to put the oil drain pan back under the drain plug and pull the filter off to see what is going on.

 

[toneybrown]

A lovely idea, not knowing your taking on water until your feet get wet. Install a proper brass plug and threaded fitting

It does have a threaded brass plug I always use! Trust me I don't rely on the little plastic ball. When I bought the boat the old drain was loose and I decided to pay an extra buck or two for piece of mind.

It is one of these

 

[toneybrown]

So, turns out a hose clamp from the power steering pump rubbed a hole in the oil filter! Wth kind of crazy is that! Easiest fix I've ever had though.