grey sludge

[ejsnead]

1995 55 Yamaha. 2 stroke, 2 cylinder, C55TLRT model number
I replaced my water pump and thermostat last week. It ran well but kinda pee'd strange. almost too strong of a high pressure stream/spray instead of the normal stream it had before. I figured it was from the new impeller so I left well enough alone. Today I fire it up to get my Tach wired in right and all that jazz, NO PEE. but there is a small dribble out the tale tell and when i shut it down i can hear the water draining out of the power head. I pull the lower unit and to my surprise I find this grey sludge stuff. I first found it under the trim tab/anode/what ever you want to call it when i went to remove the 5th bolt. I then discovered it on top of the lower unit and up inside the "middle unit" (don't know what to call it, area between power head and lower unit) Attached are the pictures as things came off. I'll attempt to address the water pump issue as well.

And it wont let me add pictures

 

[robert graham]

Re: grey sludge

When oils mix with water in and around an outboard motor it usually turns to grey or tan sludge or milk-shake type stuff. All you gotta figure out now is where the oil is coming from. If the driveshaft seal on top of the lower unit goes bad it can cause the water pump to suck that lower unit oil up and into the water pump and into the powerhead. Check your lower unit oil for proper level and/or water in the oil. Photos will be helpful. Good Luck!

 

[99yam40]

Re: grey sludge

Sounds like your tell tale has some plugging, run a piece of weed wacker line or heavy mono into it while running or blow into it with compressed air to clear to see if that will get it flowing again. Mineral or salt deposits from the cooling passages will break loose from time to time and restrict the flow and cause it to spray or even stop.

Hard to say what the oil problem is, but maybe just unburned fuel/oil mix mixing with water in the exhaust. Check to make sure fuel pump is not leaking into the crankcase.
lower unit oil smells a lot different than 2 stroke fuel/oil mix, so have a sniff to see what it smells like

 

[ejsnead]

Re: grey sludge



sorry guys trying to figure out how to load pics.

Also, checked the LU oil, looks full to me. I opened the screw on the top and a little ran out so I presume it's full. And I pulled the hose off the tale tell and ran a small piece of insulated wire in it again and THIS TIME I got a big 'ole chunk of sand out of it, so the pee problem is solved. I smelled the milk shake looking stuff and it kinda smells like fuel/oil mix. Also how would I be able to tell if the fuel pump is leaking into the crankcase as 99yam suggested? I just put a new fuel pump on it when I did the waterpump and thermostat. thanks for all the help guys

 

[ejsnead]

Re: grey sludge

any new ideas since the pics are up?

 

[99yam40]

Re: grey sludge

I have never seen anything like that before, so I am at a loss.

 

[Inducted]

Re: grey sludge

It looks like oil/gas sludge in your exhaust. Engine running too cold? Too much idling and low rpms? Try running it hard! If you loosen up the bolt holding the fuel pump so you can remove the fuel pump enough to see behind it, then pump up your primer ball and see if fuel is leaking from behind the pump. It should not be leaking. Good luck.

 

[ejsnead]

Re: grey sludge

I have no idea if its running too cold. I've only been able to run it on the muffs in the driveway right now. I've got to get it prop'ed before I can get it out on the water. I just rebuilt the carbs and put a new fuel pump on and all the other neglected maintenance from the previous owner. I didn't really rev on it as the neighbors don't appreciate boats/ fishing as I do and they like to get pissy. I did run it about 5 minutes after I got my tach wired (thanks for the answers there inducted and 99yam) and the anode was still off. I didn't see any more of the milkshake running out from where the anode goes like it was in the pictures so I dunno. I'm thinking that "Try running it hard!" is about the only thing left to do, unless some other advice comes up. I guess I'll let yall know what happens, besides angering the neighbors thanks again guys

 

[ejsnead]

Re: grey sludge

would the o-ring looking thing in picture #3 that looks like its falling out have anything to do with it? I haven't touched it, neither pulling it out or attempting to reinstall