Merc 4.3 1997 Help Finding oil leak

[samm835]

So I have had my boat on the lake twice this year, she has ran great. New fuel filter, regular maintenance prior to going out and all is good. We were on the lake for around 6hours, put the boat in the garage, and last night I was just cleaning the inside out and noticed about two or three table spoons of oil in the bilge. I checked the oil and was well within the area it should be, but I can't find where this leak is coming from. Any ideas on known places to look? The boat has around 800hours, and in good shape. Thanks

 

[achris]

Run your hand around on the oil pan. When you find oil, follow it up until it stops, that's where your leak will be.

Chris.....

 

[samm835]

Thanks Chris......I did all the "common sense" things and didn't come up with anything. There was a bit of oil residue around the oil pan, but nothing big or major to see or show where its coming from. I didn't think there would be to much feed back on this, just looking for someone who might say YUP they seem to always leak on X spot or close to an X spot. Thanks for the efforts.

 

[achris]

General not an oil leaky engine. The usual suspects are of course, main and front crank seals, head gaskets, rocker cover gaskets and intake gaskets.

 

[Fun Times]

I was just cleaning the inside out and noticed about two or three table spoons of oil in the bilge.

There was a bit of oil residue around the oil pan, but nothing big or major to see or show where its coming from.

Small leaks are hard to find and most times it seems you have to have the engine running good and hot to find an oil leak higher up than the oil pan area.

What side did you find the oil drops and residue? Front, rear, or side?

As I'm sure you've done by now, clean everything up the best you can and keep an eye on it both while sitting and on your next trip out.

 

[1979 Quartermasters]

Does that engine have the same composite timing cover as the 5.7? If so, it took me three engine pull to correct that problem. I finally put a metal cover on and no more leaking.

 

[achris]

Does that engine have the same composite timing cover as the 5.7? If so, it took me three engine pull to correct that problem. I finally put a metal cover on and no more leaking.

:facepalm: My V6 has the POS cover, but no metal option. Took me about 10 or 11 pulls and the replacement of the oil pan, 5 new covers and about a dozen oil pan gaskets.

And yes, the '97 V6 does have the composite cover.... and it's unique to the V6, no tin equivalent...