aq170 oil leak and other problems

[newt5005]

Prior posts were water in starter and trailering in very cold weather.Boat has not run since then.<br /> Recomendations were check exhaust bellows,check to see if water inside boat was high enough to enter bellhousing and check engine cover for possible dripping into bellhousing.<br /> Water did not enter bellhousing from inside boat,which leaves the bellows.The bellows was examined,found to be sound, pliable and was reinstalled. <br /> I then supplied water to the outdrive and started the engine.I let the engine warm up for 3-4 minutees while watching the guages, then checked the motor and found a rather healthy oil leak dripping from the bellhousing area.<br /> Before shutting down the motor I checked the bellows and found clear warm water dripping from that.I checked to see if it was running back from the exhaust port and it did not appear to be. I pulled the new starter and it has a coat of oil in it as does the flywheel.<br /> Now the questions.Do I have 2 problems as a result of the cold weather? Being as this is a 1973 is it as they say, done? If this is a rear main,approx how much for a marine mech to repair. Thanks! mike.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: aq170 oil leak and other problems

the exhaust bellows will alawys have water in it. its desined that way. if the waterlevel in the hull was high enough you could get water in the drive bellows, as well as a destroyed gimbal bearing assy.<br /> its possible to have a main seal leak. but I doubt cold weather would have anything to do with it.

 

[newt5005]

Re: aq170 oil leak and other problems

My concern was with the warm water dripping from the outside of the exhaust bellows.More importantly,the large oil leak coming from the bellhousing.The water level inside the boat has never been more than 2 inches, which puts it at least 4 inches below the level of the bottom of the bellhousing. Thanks for your quick reply! Mike

 

[Don S]

Re: aq170 oil leak and other problems

Before shutting down the motor I checked the bellows and found clear warm water dripping from that.

You could actually remove the exhaust bellows and run without it. The bellows may have a hole in it, but exhaust and WATER is what runs through the bellows.<br /><br />Your oil leak may be a bad oil seal on the back of the engine, or even the front seal of the outdrive. If the outdrive seal leaks bad enough, the oil from the OD will go through the intermediate bearing in the bellhousing and leak into the bellhousing. Pull the upper gear box and look in the bellows. If it's dry, pull the engine, you may have a bad rear seal, but till you look, you can't tell for sure.

 

[newt5005]

Re: aq170 oil leak and other problems

Thank you for your reply.I understand the function of the exhaust bellows.The reason for the info on the initial post was that I do not know if the warm water could be coming from another source i.e.damage from a freeze or a ruptured waterline elsewhere.<br /> I will, in the meantime check into the oil issue.<br /> As the out drive was never put into gear during this episode, could the O.D. oil been slung into the bellhousing anyway? Just a thought. Mike

 

[newt5005]

Re: aq170 oil leak and other problems

Upon re-inspection, I found a small pin hole in the valley of the exhaust bellows.Should have looked closer. Mike

 

[Don S]

Re: aq170 oil leak and other problems

The reason for the info on the initial post was that I do not know if the warm water could be coming from another source i.e.damage from a freeze or a ruptured waterline elsewhere.

Could be from another source, but you would have to pull the manifold and check it for cracks, as there is no way to actually determine if the water if from the normal water or a leak by just feeling warm water.<br />A freeze plug would leak externally.<br /><br />Regarding the oil leak, the input shaft to the drive and the upper gears are alway turning when the engine is running. The cone clutch in the upper gear box is what engages the lower unit.

 

[newt5005]

Re: aq170 oil leak and other problems

On the 270 outdrive, after removing the bolt securing the steering helmet, the upper bellows can be loosened on the aft end and pulled foreward far enough to expose the universal joint that it houses. After doing this, I found these joints to be dry.<br /> If this means that the problem is the engine rear seal and the motor must be removed then I must have someone else do the work as I do not have an engine hoist. Can any one tell me approx. the dollar amount that I would be looking at, and could the oil possibly coming from a differet or additional source?In other words ,what else might be broken? Mike.

 

[Don S]

Re: aq170 oil leak and other problems

It's impossible to give an estimate of cost if you don't even know where the problem lies.<br />It will take about 1 to 1.5 hours to remove the engine, after that, it's just a matter of looking and checking things to find the problem. That could be anywhere from a couple of minutes to hours..........

 

[newt5005]

Re: aq170 oil leak and other problems

Didnt know if there was 'book' time on this type of thing or not. Thanks for all your help though. It sounds like at three hour minimum plus parts and probally more like five before the whole thing iz done.Many thanks. With respect Mike

 

[Peter J Fraser]

Re: aq170 oil leak and other problems

Since you say that the drive coupling bellows is clean and dry then the oil must be coming from the crankshaft rear main oil seal.<br />Unfortunately that is an engine out job. All the way from the transom mount forward.<br />The exhaust bellows has a small drain hole in the bellows which must face down towards the keel to let water run out of it when the boat is out of the water.<br />Regards,<br />Peter