Lower Unit Leak??? Doint know if I have a leak

jeff7599

Cadet
Joined
Mar 25, 2003
Messages
19
Hello,<br /> I have a '96 Evinrude 88hp. I just changed the lower unit oil yestarday. It was a brown cream color ( dont know what oil was used). After I changed the oil, I hit something underwater, and damged one blade on the prop ( I think it was a submerged plastic patio chair). I didnt know this until after I got home. So basically I ran the motor at about 4500 rpm for about 5 minutes. Then 1000 rpm for about 20 minutes. It was not vibrating alot, and the shaft does not appear to be bent. I pulled the prop, and drained the oil. Now the oil is a creamy dark mustard color. Im using OMC high vis. oil (whatever the book says to use). So now Im wondering:<br /><br />Am I getting water into the lower unit? (dark mustard cream color)<br /><br />I kept both oils (new / old) in a clear tupperware container. Its been over 24 hours, and they look the same. I dont see any separtion of water from oil. So I dont really know if I even have water in the lower unit. Wouldnt the water and oil separate eventually????
 
D

DJ

Guest
Re: Lower Unit Leak??? Doint know if I have a leak

Jeff,<br /><br />If you have water mixed in, it will be very white/creamy.<br /><br />The most common place for water intrusion is the fill/drain plug seals/o'rings. Did you change those?<br /><br />Hi Vis is the right stuff.
 

jeff7599

Cadet
Joined
Mar 25, 2003
Messages
19
Re: Lower Unit Leak??? Doint know if I have a leak

Creamy?? I want to make sure I have the right definition for "creamy". Are we talking its thicker, or just a different color. My oil definitely is no longer "clear". I changed the unit oil, and ran it for about an hour. Drained it, and now it has the same color, but looks like paint now. It literally looks like honey mustard sauce or something. Its viscosity is the same, and I see no visible water, even after it sat overnight.
 

whosmatt

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 7, 2002
Messages
145
Re: Lower Unit Leak??? Doint know if I have a leak

yes you have water intrusion. after ony a few hours of use, your oil should look just like it did when you put it in. the reason you don't actually see any water is that the oil is designed to emulsify water (to hold it in suspension instead of it separating out like oil and water normally do). this helps the oil do its job better if a little water gets in, and it's also what makes it look milky.
 
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