oil leak

[baylinerbuddy]

Posting this question for my father-in-law.<br /><br />I hope I can provide enough details for you, as the motor is at his house and I don't have access to serial numbers and the like.<br /><br />Today we noticed gear oil leaking from around the prop. Took the prop off and the oil is pooling at the bottom of the exhaust, leaking down the skeg and ripping on the driveway. The boat has been in the water once this year, ran fine, and didn't notice the leak until today (two weeks since its run).<br /><br />I told him I think his seals have gone, but I am no expert. He is unconcerned about the problem, and plans to continue running the motor, despite the leak.<br /><br />I told him this was a bad idea.<br /><br />The motor is an '82 Johnson, 70 hp. It's had little to no maintenance in the four years he has owned the boat.<br /><br />What kind of things can my father-in-law look forward to if this problem perists without being fixed?<br /><br />Thanks in advance.

 

[marinemech1]

Re: oil leak

it may be just unburned oil coming from exhaust-normal<br />check gear oil level if its up high enough should be ok if oil low reseal gearcase

 

[baylinerbuddy]

Re: oil leak

i though that too, but there was eough oil in the exhaust for me to (literally) scoop out with the end of my fingers...is this normal?

 

[marinemech1]

Re: oil leak

its hard to say if it were mine i would drain geroil out and pressure and vacuum check gearcase to be sure its not leaking<br />because unit has not been serviced the gear oil is most likley back exhaust oil is black so you can,t tell.<br />if gear oil is leaking upper bearing usually first to go then drive shaft then gears it can get VERY EXPENSIVE a gearcase pressure and vacuum check is cheap insurance probably $50-$100

 

[baylinerbuddy]

Re: oil leak

thanks for the answers...it's unlikely he will put money into a vaccum test...i just hope i'm not with him when the lower unit decides to explode....

 

[marinemech1]

Re: oil leak

its really a shame when a minor thing causes a major problem<br />and then its always the motors fault

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: oil leak

What does the oil look like and smell like? Have you drained the L/U to see what the oil in there looks like? Old 2 strokes put out a lot of residual oily crap from the exhaust.

 

[baylinerbuddy]

Re: oil leak

oil is black and smells like, well, oil. It is not milky in anyway. The oil was changed last season, but like I said the motor has run since then and we saw no leakage. In fact, never seen this kind of "residual oily crap" coming out of the exhaust before.

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: oil leak

Ususally the black stuff is residual oily crap, not gear oil. Gear oil smells a lot stronger than regular oil. For me, it's a smell that's hard to get rid of, where regular "oil smell" is pretty much nothing. It's quick and easy to drain and examine the gear oil (make sure you have some fresh on hand). Then you'd know for sure. From my place in cyberspace, I'm betting "residual oily crap", let us know what comes of it.

 

[baylinerbuddy]

Re: oil leak

thanks d...we're going fishing friday....i'll let you know if we motored back to shore - or paddled.