Gear oil leak, but from where?

[Drcoffee]

I have had the boat for 3 years, 1995 Rinker 212 captiva, mercruiser alpha 1 gen 2. The first winter I replaced the sea water pump and everything went well, no problems. Last winter I removed the out drive and stored it in my garage. Bought new quick silver gasket set and reinstalled it this Spring. Seemed to go together correctly after following Chris’ video. Torqued it to spec. Took it out for the 4th time this year and when I lowered the out drive down in my driveway before heading out, gear oil drained out of the raw water intake on the lower unit, where muffs get installed. Id say less than an ounce. I checked the oil level at the top screw and clear oil drained out. The reservoir was down about 1/2” from the line. What did I miss when I reinstalled the outdrive? Where would this oil be coming from? Should I be concerned water is getting in The baffle of the driveshaft? The gear oil connection should be sealed with the gasket. Should I have coated the gasket with permatex aviation paste?

 

[IanFS]

I have had the boat for 3 years, 1995 Rinker 212 captiva, mercruiser alpha 1 gen 2. The first winter I replaced the sea water pump and everything went well, no problems. Last winter I removed the out drive and stored it in my garage. Bought new quick silver gasket set and reinstalled it this Spring. Seemed to go together correctly after following Chris’ video. Torqued it to spec. Took it out for the 4th time this year and when I lowered the out drive down in my driveway before heading out, gear oil drained out of the raw water intake on the lower unit, where muffs get installed. Id say less than an ounce. I checked the oil level at the top screw and clear oil drained out. The reservoir was down about 1/2” from the line. What did I miss when I reinstalled the outdrive? Where would this oil be coming from? Should I be concerned water is getting in The baffle of the driveshaft? The gear oil connection should be sealed with the gasket. Should I have coated the gasket with permatex aviation paste?

I've got a similar problem but with an oil dribble in the prop, the guys on here have been so helpful.
However in your case if its coming out of the water intake, it could be the water pump seal leaking but thats been replaced or it could be the upper drive shift seal leaking and dribbling down the drive shaft round the pump and into the intake.
In my case the main suggestion was to pressure test to 10lbs psi and see if it holds.

 

[Drcoffee]

Thats a good thought. When I did the pump I did not replace the seal below the pump. Thats probably be where its coming from. Any other place would come out the exhaust or prop area

 

[stresspoint]

take it apart and check the check valve seal .

 

[mvn]

Also check the shift shaft and shift shaft seal. If the shift shaft was not in the proper position when reassembling, the shaft may have been tweaked causing a leak.

Mark

 

[Drcoffee]

Also check the shift shaft and shift shaft seal. If the shift shaft was not in the proper position when reassembling, the shaft may have been tweaked causing a leak.

Mark

*I forgot to mention, the boat was parked on the trailer for 3 weeks so its a slow leak.
I dont think the shift shaft has access to below the pump. Any leak there would not drain to the water inlet. BTW I changed the shift shaft seal and speedo connection too with the pump service.

 

[stresspoint]

i mean the check valve for the gear oil reservoir.it has a rubber seal.
also i don't trust quicksilver gaskets , although they pass them as being OEM , yea right !

 

[IanFS]

Thats a good thought. When I did the pump I did not replace the seal below the pump. Thats probably be where its coming from. Any other place would come out the exhaust or prop area

Mine, Alpha One, has another housing onto which the impeller housing sits, whereas a Gen 2 the seal is the cone below the impeller housing, usually yellow. Sounds as if that's the problem if not replaced Let's hope that's the culprit eh?