Curious about oil in bilge

[dleague]

I am new to boating. I just recently purchased a boat in August 2011. Its a 1990 Bayliner Capri 1850 with a 3.0 litre Mercruiser 120hp i/o with a Alpha 1 drive. I have had this boat out a few times already this year (10 times or more). No problems at all. Well this last week I came home from work and noticed a pool of oil/lube on the ground below my drain plug port. I have looked inside to find out where this is coming from and havent had any luck. I checked the dipstick and it is fine. I smelt the lube and it doesnt smell like motor oil. I brought a sample to a friend who is an experienced boater. He informed me it is lower unit lube. He said the reservoir is probably not sealed all the way or a hose not attached. Well I put the drain plug back in to prevent any lube from going all over the driveway. Now I came home and the bilge has more than a 20 oz bottle of it in the bottom! I am stuck and not sure what to do or even where to look at. I havent been able to find any reservoir. I did notice a puddle of fluid in a small pocket under where the exhaust mounts to the transom, but dont see anything there either unless the reservoir is somehow under the mount. Doubtful because it doesnt look deep enough. I am stumped and hope this isnt too expensive of a fix. Any help would be appreciated.


***update. I went out today and cleaned all the oil out of the bilge. I also cleaned under the exhaust where it mounts to the transom (did so with a water hose, only way to reach it). Well Im wondering now if the trim/tilt lines are loose. It looks like they run under the exhaust but not really sure. I do know the lines run back to a reservoir by the battery and in that reservoir is a white milky cream looking fluid. So not sure if it is supposed to be that or what. Just confused over the whole thing. The marina wants 100 bucks to look at it and tell me whats wrong. So hopefully I can get some help here. Im getting ready to winterize in a few weeks or less anyways.

 

[John_S]

Re: Curious about oil in bilge

Welcome to iBoats.

20oz would be more than the res bottle holds. Not sure if the res bottle came on that year/model. Drain a little out of the outdrive and compare. Gear oil has a unique smell. If what you drain out is milky, drain it all. Pull drive and have it leak tested. Given this did not have a res, than there is a good likelyhood the front seal on input shaft is gone. This may have been caused by leaking bellows. You will be able to inspect once the drive is pulled.

Hyd trim oil is usually a clearish yellow. If milky, water is getting into it, but its hard to mistake as gear oil. May have two issues.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Curious about oil in bilge

the trim lines exit underneath the exhaust, so you can check there. trim fluid would be hydraulic fluid, different than oil

the outdrive oil reservoir is sometimes mounted on the engine, but for your year (1990), it would be mounted on the transom. the supply line connects to the transom plate in the same area where the water intake hose is mounted. of course, with 20 oz. of fluid, either the trim reservoir is going to be empty or the gear lube reservoir is going to be empty.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Curious about oil in bilge

trim fluid would be hydraulic fluid, different than oil

Not necessarily. People use all kinds of different fluids in trim systems - from typical clear power steering fluid... to transmission fluid.... to motor oil.

Since the trim fluid is milky, that means water is getting in, which would also explain why it is not empty yet. You need to trace the trim lines and check all the connections - inside and out - and even the condition of the hoses themselves.

 

[dleague]

Re: Curious about oil in bilge

update: Well I got home today and tried to attempt to figure out what is going on. I unscrewed the oil vent cap on the drive and it smelt just like the oil that I found in the bilge. So I removed a small square cap on top the drive above the vent to see if I can see anything. Well I noticed water droplets in there when I removed the cap. SO i attempted to remove the drive and removed the 6 bolts holding it onto the stud and removed the trim cylinders. Well I couldnt pull the drive off. I have it opened at the seam and water came out of it and no oil at all. SO I assume now I have a water problem. I inspected the bellows. The exhaust bellow has a large sliced crack in it. Im assuming from dry rot. The other bellow looks good though. SO now what am I to do? Should I pull the drive and see what is going on? If so how do I pull it? Or should I replace the bottom exhaust bellow and then refill with oil and let it go? I plan on getting it winterized within the next week or 2. SO will they flush the water out or what? Im just at a loss on what to do. Thank you for all the help so far and hopefully I can get this fixed before I put it away for the winter.

Also is there an easy way to get to the trim lines inside under the exhaust without pulling the motor? I dont really have a way to pull it and I cant really get to where the exhaust mounts to the transom.

 

[John_S]

Re: Curious about oil in bilge

Drain the oil out of the drive (bottom plug) and inspect.

I assume you have an alpha gen1. I have gen II, but suspect it is near same.

- Remove speedo tube if there is one
- Put in forward gear (this is probably keeping the drive on)
- Or it hasn't been off in a long time, and needs a little encouragement

Carefully inspect the inside of the u-joint bellows, input shaft, and u-joints. If they are rusting, you probably have found the main issue.


PS: Did you find an oil res?

PSS: You should get the service manual for your drive and engine.

 

[dleague]

Re: Curious about oil in bilge

Ok sounds like I need a manual for the drive. I have one for the motor itself. Any idea what the service manual is for the drive? YOur right John. I do have an Alpha 1 drive. Im not sure what bottom plug ur referring to though to drain the oil. I really wish I could get the drive out of the way to remove the bellows. I can see it but cant really get to the clamps that hold it on.

I didnt find an oil reservoir. STill not even sure if it has one. Everyone I have talked with is under the same impression. It could or could not have one.

 

[John_S]

Re: Curious about oil in bilge

Follow the prop shaft to the front nose. It will be toward one side (can't remember which right now), slightly angled down.

 

[svxtech]

Re: Curious about oil in bilge

Follow the prop shaft to the front nose. It will be toward one side (can't remember which right now), slightly angled down.

Port- If water came out, you probably have leaking u-joint bellows. The alphas are somewhat self draining so when you lowered it not much water should pour out when you pull the drive. Insure that the drive is in forward first, if not i suspect you might have to get some purchase on her due to the input shaft maybe being rusted to the gimbal bearing.


(with the trim pistons tilted slightly up, remove the rod holding them to the outdrive [stern side] replace the pin in the outdrive only-lift and drop onto the pistons to help free her up)