Gear oil leak, engine oil leak and fuel leak.........

[tomasz]

Hi Guys,

I was happy that I didn't have to post anything for a long time on this forum but during this season I came across few issues and I'm hoping you guys can help me out a bit or a lot just like in the pas. So like the title says I have gear oil leak, engine oil leak and fuel leak. I will break it down to 3 paragraphs.

1. Gear oil leak, so by engine bay was pretty much dry all the time except in rain when the boat was on the lake so that was a run off during this season I've noticed that I have more water than in the past plus milky/creamish sludge. I know for a fact that it is not the reservoir and not the house and none for the fittings in the engine bay area, it seems like the gear lube is being dumped from the out drive into the engine bay so I did some reading and my research points to the seal in the upper outdrive.... YES? NO? Also I must admit that I put on about 35 hours on the boat while having the conditions so what am I looking at....destroyed upper outdrive? If it is the seal should I talked the replacement by myself or remove the outdrive, separate lower from upper and just bring the upper to the shop??? I know I can buy that tool the help to remove the hub so I can get into the gears but does it make sense.... also my gear shift belows looks great so is the outdrive belows but the exhaust belows doesnt have any punctures but is in far worst shape than the other two..

2. Engine oil leak, I know 100% that I have engine oil leak b/c one day smart craft system shot down my engine and it would not start back until I added 1/2 quart of oil (that was right in the middle of the lake so it would be nice an pricey towing ) I was thinking maybe valve cover gaskets??? One day I went into the engine bay and I could not see where it was leaking from but I saw that it was dripping from the center point of the oil pan so I am assuming that the leak is somewhere higher and it drips down the engine, gets on the side of the oil pan where it runs down the oil pan and drips down into the bilge. Is my engine (see in signature spec info) prone to some kind of leaks, most common leak?

3. Gas leak, lastly I have a gas leak I know that too 100% that I have it b/c from time to time by bilge pump dumps water out and there is that rainbow, yelowish eye or whatever it is called. One time it had to be at leas a gallon (that's why I took my boat out for the season yesterday) seems too dangerous and I don't want to pollute water. My gas tank is plastic so I do not think tank is the culprit, it seems that from tank to fuel water separator/pump its all good and past the pump there are two stainless steel flexible houses that run under the engine into the right side of the engine but its so damn hard to inspect them....... You guys have any idea what could it be? Any of you had this before?

I know it is a long post and a lot of questions, I do appreciate any help and guidance.

Thank you in advance guys.

 

[wahlejim]

I am not convinced you have a gas leak, but its worth inspecting. The rainbow could be caused from your engine oil or gear oil in your bilge mixing with water and getting pumped out. But with gasoline, it is definitely worth inspecting. You should be able to smell gas if that is the cause. What is the source of water in the bilge? People coming in and out or other issue?

I would definitely look into the upper drive seal for the gear oil culprit. It may be time to pressure test and change all of the seals in the unit. Depending on any damage you caused while running it for 35 hours with milky oil, t could get extensive. If that is the case, replace with an SEI unit. I would change bellows at this time to. These are definitely items to change before a problem, not after.

Only way to even begin guessing on the oil leak is to get mirrors, cameras, anything you can to follow the trail. Could be any number of seals/gaskets or something as simple as the oil pressure sender.

 

[tomasz]

Thank you for your reply to my post wahlejim, I'm bit disappointed that there were no more takers. Anyway, today I took the drive off, drained the gear oil then separated lower from upper unit and no sign of water not even an oz. Oil like new, I've noticed that under the water impeller metal base the gaskets were in bad shape, edges were missing and they didn't even look like gaskets any more. Also the face seal that goes on top or shaft was cracked up-what is the purpose of that seal? So I've replaced the impeller, water pump gaskets and that face seal and put it back together. I removed the top cover on upper drive and all looks perfect, no sign of water, no rust on gears. So where is that gear oil leaking? Also can it leak from prop shaft out but not allowing water in?

Thank you

 

[Bt Doctur]

the face seal that goes on top or shaft was cracked up-what is the purpose of that seal? So

helps keep exaust gas from entering the water pump.
If you removed the drive and did not find water or oil in the bellow the drive is not leaking into the boat , water or oil.
You may be seeing contaminated trim fluid/trim oil.
Being a GEN II there should be a res bottle for the gear oil , it that dropping?

 

[tomasz]

the face seal that goes on top or shaft was cracked up-what is the purpose of that seal? So

helps keep exaust gas from entering the water pump.
If you removed the drive and did not find water or oil in the bellow the drive is not leaking into the boat , water or oil.
You may be seeing contaminated trim fluid/trim oil.
Being a GEN II there should be a res bottle for the gear oil , it that dropping?

Hi,

Yes, the gear oil reservoir would become almost emty after approx 90 min of running boat at 3800 rpm. I pulled boat out exacty 4 weeks ago and i had a chance to remove the outdrive today and there was no water nor gear oil in the bellows and I dont think it would dry up well maybe water could but gear oil residue would stay in bellows. It really amazes me that gear lube in outdrive was fine with no water at all.

 

[Bt Doctur]

then inspect the hose from the res bottle to the fitting, it can leak externally there , also the hose can be leaking outside the transom .

 

[tomasz]

What would be the best way to inspected? Have boat on muffs and put it in forward? I know the reservoir is fine, then there is hose then there is a fitting which is fine too and there is hose again that goes to fitting that goes thru transome which i replaced once in 2013 when i was replacing bellows and shift cable.