Water getting in lower Unit oil...

[craazyboutbass]

Got out with Nickajack Angler and his dad today. Fishing sucked... only caught around 10, never really ran the motor a whole lot either. </p>

Anyways Im sure this has been brought up before. </p>

Once we loaded the boat up and got out of the water. I noticed a little oil in a milky color slowly dripping out of the hole on the side of the lower unit. Obviously water is getting in there. But how? The oil is new, changed it back in July. Just have never came apon this problem before, so I have no idea what in the world I need to do. Spencer says the seal might be busted. Have no idea where the seal is or how much one would cost LOL. </p>

But any tips or ideas would be appreciated! Thanks guys.</p>

 

[SNUFFY]

Ther`s a good chance there may be some line wrapped around the shaft behind the prop.....this can cause a seal to leak water by into the foot. If you saw it running down the foot from the screw hole where you drain the oil...there`s an even better chance the little o-ring seal on the drain screw is bad. Oil shouldn`t be coming from the drain or fill screw if the o-rings OK....

 

[craazyboutbass]

Drain holes are good. Its only coming out of a little hole that I think water goes through to keep the engine from getting too hot. Im not to sure, I can probably take a picture to clearify what it is if I need to. Thank you for the reply, I can check and see if there is fishing line wrapped around the shaft.

 

[SNUFFY]

there is a seal where shifter rod goes in the case on most engines.....if its coming out up high on the foot ...that may be it....
with fishing line around the propshaft the oil would usually show up below the propshaft...usually on the skeg
Take a pic and Wrenchin` can help you out I`m sure !!

 

[craazyboutbass]

Thanks again... I'm adding 3 pics... this is just a little hole above the shaft I guess. You can see where the oil was coming out, it was milky and bubbly when coming out. I know I will have to change the oil again... but will have to get the seal sealed up before putting new oil in of course. I guess all I need to know is what to do about a seal???? LOL I know nothing about it. Is it just something you can replace. You have to take the lower unit apart to do it? I'm not a motor man, but am learning alot along the way. Everytime something goes wrong, I can turn it into something positive... that is learning how to fix it I guess. Anyways here are the pics, just to show where exactly the oil is coming out. There is also another hole that a very small amount of oil is coming out as well. In the third pic I have an arrow pointed towards it. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[fischnrod]

How long since you had impeller replaced? When you have it serviced (annually) you can have all seals replaced along with the impeller and it don't cost a whole lot more because the foot is already off. I am guessing the small seal inside the foot is gone.

 

[craazyboutbass]

Never... have had the boat for around 2.5 years now. I just change the oil once a year. Nothing lasts for ever... motor is running fine, so Im sure its something that will be an easy fix once I figure out how to do whatever I need to do

 

[fischnrod]

YOU NEED TO HAVE THAT DONE AT LEAST EVERY OTHER YEAR IF NOT EVERY YEAR.

 

[craazyboutbass]

Just learning... have no clue what the seals look like. Just something I know nothing about. I will ask a few friends if they know anything about it... maybe they can help me fix this one. Sounds like its something easy to fix though atleast.

 

[wrechin2]

Both holes you are showing are water drains to allow water to drain out of empty cavities. The one on the back is near the shift shaft seal and oil will come out of that hole when it leaks. Need to check the lower unit fluid and see if it has water in it. To do this let it sit for a day or so so the water will seperate from the oil and go to the bottom. Remove the lower screw(drain) for a quick second and see if water runs out. If oil comes out first then you don't have much if any water in the case. If water comes out first you have issues. The oil you see leaking may be engine oil. If you are running chemicals like Seafoam or Berrymans, this could be the carbon that is breaking up.

That looks like a L3 or L4 engines (70 to 125 hp). If you are mechanically inclined, I have a manual on that will tell you all you need to know on it.

 

[craazyboutbass]

Thank you for clearing that up for me, James. reckon I will check the oil tomorrow night then. I have been mixing the gas with little amounts of seafoam when I get gas that is not ethanol free. Once I check the oil I will give y'all an update... really appreciate you guys.
BTW the motor is a 90HP Tracker... yep a tracker... always hear that they are not very good motors. Atleast I havent had hardly any trouble at all with mine.
Will let y'all know what the oil looks like. Hopefully no water. A big thanks again to y'all!

 

[Aries 181]

craazyboutbass - 11/22/2010 12:38 AM
BTW the motor is a 90HP Tracker... yep a tracker... always hear that they are not very good motors. Atleast I havent had hardly any trouble at all with mine.

You must be hearing that from people who don't know jack.... I've had my 95 "Tracker/Mercury" 90 HP since 2000 and never had a problem with it except having the carbs rebuilt because of varnish and the oil injection removed by
James "master tech" Perry.

My engine is 100% Mercury except for the gray paint job. If yours is the same, go tell the naysayers to pound sand.
If you happen to have one of the early 90's model "Tracker/Johnson" engines, I can't comment on them.

Bill

 

[wrechin2]

Trackers are Mercury engines and are very good engines. Tracker has deal that they put their name on the cowling. Sea Ray done that also on the Mercury outboards.

 

[craazyboutbass]

Just checked the oil on the bottom... didn't see any water at all. Oil was still nice and gooey. Thanks a bunch for the advice/help James, you are the man! Do have to ask about the seafoam. I mix tiny amounts with the gas when I get gas that is not ethanol free every single time. Never more than an ounce of it. Just hoping I'm not doing anything wrong LOL. Motor has been running perfectly fine, just only noticed what ever this was dripping out.

 

[wrechin2]

If the fluid is still "clear" and the fluid you are seeing is nasty black. That would be another indication. Does the engine seem to run normal? May have a carb issue lightly flooding it causing the unwanted oil. Just my .02

 

[craazyboutbass]

The fluid coming out of the little hole the other night when we got off the water was milky and bubbly. Let the oil sit for 2 days and checked it today... didnt notice any water. The oil was pretty gooey but a little black. Didn't think it was anything out of the ordinary.

 

[wrechin2]

More thatn likely just some oil from the engine. keep a eye on the fluild. Mya want to check the level. Do it the same way as you fill it just dont' drain it. Install the pump on the bottom firest and remove the top screw and see how many pumps it takes to run out of the top. If just 1 or 2 then you are good. Hope this helps!