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Posts: 2378
| I found this when I trimmed my motor down in the shed tonight. Not a great pic, but I have oil leaking from right behind the prop.
Do I have a bad lower unit seal? Or is this just some unburned oil coming out the exhaust? I have never seen it do this before. The motor is a 96 Merc 200, for reference.
I plan to drain the lower unit and see what it looks like, but I have not gotten to that yet.
Leaving for LOTW two weeks from tomorrow, and this is not what I needed to see tonight.
Edited by BALDY 7/31/2014 8:58 PM
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 20140731_201749.jpg (133KB - 198 downloads)
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Posts: 208
Location: Sun Prairie, WI | Pull the prop off and see if its coming from the oil seal around the shaft. Also smell it. Lower unit oil has a very distinct smell. |
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Posts: 3508
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya
If the seal was bad, I don't believe the oil will be black, which is what the picture looks like. My gut instinct says it will be carbon build up that is draining out the through hub exhaust, but coming out between the prop and the lower unit itself.
Never hurts to do a thorough check of things, though...
Have you been trolling a bit as of late?
Steve |
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Posts: 32934
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Looms like carbon/unburned fuel-oil mix to me too, but the picture is kinds tough. |
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Posts: 1168
| If it was a seal the oil would be milky and like someone else said, lower unit oil has a very distinct smell to it. Since what you are seeing is black it more than likely isn't this.
When you change your lower unit oil put new plugs in it just to be sure. My lower unit oil had a touch of milkiness to it the last time I changed it and thought my seals were bad. On a whim I picked up a new set of plugs, replaced the oil, and ran it for a day...then dropped the oil and it was fine....seals are still good. Took a load off of my mind with such a simple solution. |
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Posts: 2378
| VMS - 7/31/2014 10:27 PM
Hiya
If the seal was bad, I don't believe the oil will be black, which is what the picture looks like. My gut instinct says it will be carbon build up that is draining out the through hub exhaust, but coming out between the prop and the lower unit itself.
Never hurts to do a thorough check of things, though...
Have you been trolling a bit as of late?
Steve
That was my first thought, but I want to be sure.
Last time I used it was just out slow cruising with the family, so that makes sense.
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Posts: 2378
| Drained and refilled the lower unit last night. Everything looked good.
Also took the prop off and verified no leaks coming from around the shaft.
Looks like I am good to go...but, boy that made me nervous for a few minutes. |
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Posts: 3508
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | I bet... Especially with a trip coming up!! Glad to here it is all set to go!! Now go catch a 50 up there!!
Steve |
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