Gear Oil Everywhere

[Capt.Bud]

I have just bought 1984 16' Jon Boat with 1984 Evinrude 35 hp. i have the engine in test barrel. Before ever cranking it I replaced the water pump and gear oil (pennzoil 80-90W marine gear oil) after running it at no more than high idle for 10-15 min I will start getting a good bit of green looks like gear oil in the water and all over the first 2" of the lower unit and coming out water drainage hole on side. When I took the drive off the inside of the drive was coated. My thought was bad drive shaft seal, but there was no sign of oil inside the pump area???? and there is no oil
showing in the prop area or coming out two exhaust holes on upper exhaust housing. I made up
diy pressure tester and pressured the drive to 10# and put it under water no bubbles-no oil. HELP

 

[Vic.S]

Open and read this article this from the engine FAQs board

Oil leaking around lower unit, by IWombat Verified

Oil leaking around the lower unit So, you have oil leaking out of, or around the lower unit on your two-stroke outboard and you?re wondering what to make of it all. There?s only a few possibilities. Fortunately for you, most of the time it?s pretty benign. Reason #1 - Unburned 2-stroke oil...

forums.iboats.com

 

[Capt.Bud]

This is alot of oil, engine is running well.I don't think I put this much oil in the 4 gallons I mixed 50-1. This is not just a film, there are 2-3" blobs.

 

[F_R]

Yep, it's that time of year again. Everybody getting out the old outboard and getting ready for boating season. And yep get ready for the seasonal influx of forum posts complaining about gear oil in the barrel or bucket.

Likewise, get ready for the influx of replies advising y'all that it isn't gear oil. It is two-stroke oil that has done it's job and gone out the exhaust, where it has emulsified with cooling water, sometimes resulting in oil slick, sometimes resulting in globs of gook in the bucket.

Get it out of that bucket and on a boat where it was designed to run, and it will be much cleaner. But never totally free of a sheen on the water.

Bottom line: It is NORMAL. But there is a cure: Hurry down to your dealer and spring for a new 4-stroke.

 

[Capt.Bud]

I have owned outboards before, this is not normal. This is not a film it is thick like drive oil and in 2-3" globs. Wished I had money for New 4 stroke.

 

[oldboat1]

Does it smell like gas? Try taking off the foot, and hosing out both the foot and the leg up to the powerhead.

You may be running too rich (fuel to air) -- needle at top of carb.

 

[iggyw1]

I would suggest to drain the oil from the lower unit (if there is any left). If it is already drained, you have a problem. If oil is leaking out, that means water is able to leak in as well. If it is milky, you have a problem. If you have oil in the lower unit gear case, and it looks clean with no water in it, then the oil you are seeing is from the oil that you mixed with the fuel like the others are saying, but either way, drain your oil into a clen container and you will lern a lot. That's what my next step would be.

 

[Crosbyman]

when a new load of fuel enters the cyl on the piston down stroke the entering "pressurized" fuel & oil mix pushes the exhaust out the other side of the block . Unfortunately a portion of the new load of fuel and oil also makes it way out...hurting the reputation of 2 strokes and basically "what goes in a bucket stays in a bucket" If the gearcase checks out OK....go fishing

 

[F_R]

I have owned outboards before, this is not normal. This is not a film it is thick like drive oil and in 2-3" globs. Wished I had money for New 4 stroke.

Yep, that's normal also. You won't believe me. I spent 24 years in an outboard dealership's shop, and ran thousands of motors in a big commercial test tank and you won't believe me. Enjoy "fixing" it.

 

[racerone]

++++----on the above post.-----But perhaps look for a leaky fuel pump diaphragm too.

 

[Capt.Bud]

Yep, that's normal also. You won't believe me. I spent 24 years in an outboard dealership's shop, and ran thousands of motors in a big commercial test tank and you won't believe me. Enjoy "fixing" it.

sending photo, hope this is normal

 

[hardwater fisherman]

sending photo, hope this is normal

I have seen alot worse.. BTW if your running the motor at the level in the photo then it is not deep enough in the barrel.

 

[F_R]

Actually, Capt, I consider that to be pretty darn clean for a 35hp running 15 mins in such a small barrel. You should see what a 1960's motor would do in there, before EPA started cracking down in late '60s. BTW, I run a 1984 35hp on my own personal boat. I consider it the best motor I've ever owned.

Allow me to explain a bit more. Every drop of oil you put in the fuel tank passes through the engine. First it goes through the crankcase, where it lubricates all the bearings and piston skirts. Then it enters the cylinders where some of it burns (and makes smoke, which people also fuss about). Then, what's left after that goes out the exhaust, where it picks up particles of carbon, creating the black stuff in your picture. On the way out the exhaust, it mixes with the cooling water, creating the other emulsion you are looking at. All this is made worse because you are running at slow speed in neutral, in a barrel, and the motor never really gets warm enough to burn much of it off.

As I said, get it out of that barrel and onto a boat, on the lake, and you should be happy with it.

I apologize if I offended you with my earlier remarks.

 

[racerone]

Water level in that test bucket needs to be 10 " higher.------Pump impeller must submerged to work properly.

 

[cprodave]

Capt Bud, i lost sleep for a year over the black stuff that oozed out of my 2001 Johnson Oceanpro 90hp. My imagination concocted all manner of doom. Then eventually i saw the light and realized that these engines are DIRTY! It's just the nature of the beast, and maybe a main reason that California regulations were implemented leading (as many claim) to the downfall of OMC, then BRP outboard group, etc. So get out there on the water and enjoy...those mid-80's smaller OMC outboards are really simple and reliable.

 

[Capt.Bud]

Well finally found out if I increased pressure test to 13# , it would start pushing gear oil out the drive shaft seal. I guess the new water pump I installed was pulling it up. Anyway replaced drive shaft seals and no more gear oil. Thanks to everybody for your help.