Gearcase oil leak

[martysauer]

I see a very small amount of gear lube coming out of the prop - outboard, 35hp 'rude

Any ideas on what normally leaks?

 

[wbeaton]

Re: Gearcase oil leak

Is this a thru-hub exhaust 35 hp? Are you sure its gear oil coming out the prop seal and not unspent oil from the exhaust? If its gear oil you have a bad seal. There shouldn't be any oil leaking. Check to see if you have any water in the lower unit oil.

 

[martysauer]

Re: Gearcase oil leak

No, it's not a thru-hub exhaust. It throughs around the generic term "seal" in my manual also, so could you please enlighten me as to what is meant by seal?

 

[samo_ott]

Re: Gearcase oil leak

What year and model 35 is it?

You say oil is coming 'out of' the prop yet it is not a thru prop exhaust? Huh? Are you sure it's not coming out along the prop shaft? And are you doublely sure that it's not unspent gas/oil mix like Wayne suggested?

 

[martysauer]

Re: Gearcase oil leak

Positive, gear oil and gas have very different smells/textures. Not much is coming out, and yes it could be coming on the prop shaft, perhaps when I wrote that it is coming out of the prop, that was poorly worded. I should say that I've seen a drip of gear oil on my garage floor, and I noticed that is was coming generally from the area of the prop - I didn't want to confuse anyone into thinking that it was just the fill/drain plugs.

I don't have the model handy right now, but it is a 1978 35hp evinrude.

 

[wbeaton]

Re: Gearcase oil leak

If its a 1978 then it is thru-hub exhaust. Check your lower unit oil. If there is no oil you may be able to go a little while before you have to replace the seals. Just keep an eye on it after every outing.