Something's leaking from the prop

[crabbie]

First off, I'm a first-time poster. I would have registered a couple years ago, but I swear, every single time I've run into a problem I've wanted to ask about, I would run a search first... and find the answer. This forum is definitely an amazing resource!

Anyway, I recently got myself into a Merc 1500, 1976 or so, and twice now I've gone out to the parking pad to find a small puddle of black goo at the base of the tail fin (I drop the motor so it's upright when I park it, and the thing is so big it hits the ground). It happened today, so I followed the trail of goo, and it definitely seems to be coming from the prop, and not from above it.

And it's definitely NOT gear lube: I changed the gear lube today, and the old lube is quite different from the stuff I'm finding on the concrete, which is black black black, quite thick, and almost gritty.

As usual, I think I found the answer on the forum here, namely that this is actually just unburnt oil from the exhaust. The motor hasn't been run in a couple weeks, so this could well be the issue.

Does this make sense?

Thanks!

rodney

 

[Laddies]

Re: Something's leaking from the prop

Thats exactly what your seeing, it's unburned fuel from the carbs leaking when the motor is tipped up, it runs down the exhaust tube bringing the black goo with it. Sometimes if you run the fuel out of the carb before the trip home it will prevent the problem.

 

[crabbie]

Re: Something's leaking from the prop

I always run the motor dry after I pull it out of the water, but the last time I was having all manner of carb problems so it may have been an exception.

Regardless, I've certainly run the motor on land, since, and haven't been careful to run it dry each time. Guess I should do that...

Thanks! Good to know it's explainable... and not another thing to repair.

rodney

 

[ricksrster]

Re: Something's leaking from the prop

You shouldn't run your motor out of the water.

 

[diaric]

Re: Something's leaking from the prop

when u run it dry, do you mean you pull the gas line and run the carbs dry?

 

[crabbie]

Re: Something's leaking from the prop

ricksrster: Ummmm... why not? Put the muffs on and fire it up. I don't run up the throttle in gear, but otherwise...

diaric: I disconnect the fuel line and let the motor run until it stops; I assume the carbs are empty at that point.

rodney

 

[diaric]

Re: Something's leaking from the prop

thats all good.

 

[ricksrster]

Re: Something's leaking from the prop

ricksrster: Ummmm... why not? Put the muffs on and fire it up. I don't run up the throttle in gear, but otherwise...

diaric: I disconnect the fuel line and let the motor run until it stops; I assume the carbs are empty at that point.

rodney

You had me worried. Muffs is good