Reddish liquid seeping out of lower unit

[BTF112989]

I went down and looked at my 2001 Yamaha 150 hp HPDI longshaft outboard and noticed a red or purple liquid pooled up on the edge of the cavitation plate. The trail looked as if it was coming out of the place on the lower unit where there is that grill that you can see all the way through the lower unit. I thought maybe lower unit oil at first then gasoline then maybe even hydraulic fluid from the tilt/trim. What is this fluid and should I be worried about it or not? It doesn't look to be enough to be worried about but I just want to know what fluid is leaking out.<br /> Thanks,<br /> Ben Fredericks

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Reddish liquid seeping out of lower unit

smell it, that will tell the story, gear oil wont leak upwards very well. if the grate you are refering to is plastic its the water intake and can indicate a drive shaft seal failure, if your refering to the 3 vertical grates above the cavitation plate near the aft/lower end of the midsection I would start looking for blown diaphrams on the low pressure pumps or other causes of a rich mixture.<br /> also be aware that at an idle in netural the notor only fires on 4 cylinders but oils on all six and excessive idling on a flusher can cause excessive oil to run down the exhaust.

 

[BTF112989]

Re: Reddish liquid seeping out of lower unit

The only thing I can think of it as smelling like is: 40 year old highschool yearbooks. It is coming out of the midsectionvertical grates that you can see all the way through the motor out of. I had the motor tilted up in 25 degree weather outside then we backed it into the garage and let the motor back down to a level position then about 3 hours later I noticed the fluid. It has stopped leaking and only about 1/2 an ounce leaked out. Do you think it is a serious problem. We are in the process of fixing some leaks in the boat before we take it down to Florida for spring break and I don't need any major motor problems out in the ocean. Is this something to be that concerned about.<br /><br /> Thanks,<br /> Ben Fredericks

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Reddish liquid seeping out of lower unit

what brand engine oil are you using and what color is it?

 

[BTF112989]

Re: Reddish liquid seeping out of lower unit

I use Yamalube 2-stroke oil. It is black. I had the engine put on a year ago and it was a left over from 2001 that hadn't been used yet so I don't have enough hours on it yet to change the lower unit oil. But most lower unit oil is the usual oil color. I assume you mean the oil that mixes with the gas so it is yamalube and is black.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Reddish liquid seeping out of lower unit

yama lube is blue, dont know anything about black,<br /> but the leakage you describe is normally unburned fuel/oil mixed with carbon in the exhaust, have you run it on the flusher in nuetral much ?

 

[BTF112989]

Re: Reddish liquid seeping out of lower unit

I have not run it in the flusher in neutral in probably 8 months. I run it in fresh water every weekend so I have no need to really run it in the flusher. So gas, oil, and carbon can give a red color?