please can you help, i have a new to me, 1985 60hp evinrude, which has gear oil leaking from a small hole on the starboard side.
i havent had this in the water yet, only on muffs and thats when i noticed this.
is it a big problem?
If you're referring to that light streak just below the intake screen, that's not gear case lube. It's just the residue of unburned fuel that mixes in with the water circulated through the motor, and draining out that hole.
Smell it! Oil from the fuel will smell burnt, and probably of gasoline.
Gear oil can be recognised by its foul smell .. rotting cabbages or similar!
If in doubt check your gear case oil for signs of water ingress ... milkiness.
If it is gear oil it will be most likely the vertical drive shaft seals below the water pump that require replacement (also just possible that the seals on the shifter could be leaking)
