Help Oil leaking

[Bassboy81]

I have a 1964 Johnson 18hp motor. After running the motor for a while I have a creamy white what looks like oil dripping from the hole above the exhaust. Its drips a lot after I pull it out of the water, but then it only drips a little and becomes darker. I pulled my oil plugs and checked to see if there was water in the oil, but it came out blackish and no signs of water. I am not sure if i need to have the seals replaced in my lower unit or if it extra oil. I am mixing 50:1, but I just found somewhere that the older engines are 24:1. Please I need some help ASAP I want to fish all weekend

 

[archcycle]

Re: Help Oil leaking

If I read your post right you pulled the drain plug on the lower unit and the lube came out black. That's old and burned. It should not be black. Drain it and put new lube in.

White indicates water in the oil after it's been well mixed (like by fast moving gears).

 

[hidef]

Re: Help Oil leaking

Smell it does it smell like gasoline and burnt oil? If it does it is normal it probably appears milky at first due to the cooling water and exhaust mixing in the leg and then turns darker as the unburnt oil and gas drains from the powerhead.

You should check the lower unit to make sure the oil is clean and there is no water in it also. Your correct oil mix is 50:1 although running 24:1 won't hurt your engine any just make sure you use a TC-W3 rated oil.

 

[Bassboy81]

Re: Help Oil leaking

Yes when I drained the lower unit oil it was black, not milky white, so put new oil in it. It does not appear to have any oil in the lower unit. The milky white oil is from the exhaust above the prop. It is real water then i first pull it out of the water and then by the time i get it home in my garage is drips a very small amount and its dark, looks nothing like it did when i Pulled it out of the water. When i pull it out is a good amount, but most of it looks like water. Also looked at the amount of oil that drained from the lower unit and it looked to be about as much as i used to fill it. So it didnt look like i was losing much from there. Where leads me to believe that is my gas oil mix is too strong and the leak if from the excess. I guess I am push for it cause i dont want to pay someone to replace all the seals in the lower unit. Does that sound like it could be the cause?

 

[nwcove]

Re: Help Oil leaking

my 57 johnson 5.5 does the exact same thing, im mixing 16:1 tho. the small hole ....maybe 1/8" above the water/ upper exaust outlet, oozes oil/water mixed. gearcase doesnt leak, motor works perfect. after hanging on the rack for a bit, the oil gets darker. i fully agree with hidef......its a normal thing to see. id be more concerned if i saw no mess dripping from it! mix it 24:1 , and use it.

 

[hidef]

Re: Help Oil leaking

Your lower unit is fine if it leaks you would have had water in it. If the oil can get out water will get in it and it will look like a milk shake. Sounds like your outboard is running the way it should. Remember when that was built no one was concerned with pollution.

 

[boobie]

Re: Help Oil leaking

If you're really concerned about it have the g/c pressure tested. But, what I think you are seeing is unburned fuel/oil from the p/h which was common on those mtrs.

 

[Bassboy81]

Re: Help Oil leaking

Thanks for the help you guys save me $125 in repairs that were not needed. Where mine leaks is actually below the water line, but from what everyone is saying is its normal. One more question Where does the oil come from and is it something i should be monitoring often?

 

[nwcove]

Re: Help Oil leaking

its exactly what boobie said, just unburnt fuel/oil, very normal for those vintage motors , built in an era when pollution and fuel economy werent thought of as an issue.
this is not related to what you are concerned about, but change your gearcase oil again after a couple of runs, just to keep an eye on things .

 

[Bassboy81]

Re: Help Oil leaking

Thanks I will do that, I bought this motor, boat, and trailer for $200, they lady wanted $1000 but i talked her way down since I couldnt see it running. I took the carb apart, cleaned it, replace the sparkplug and the motor now runs great. I have changed the oil in the lower unit 3 times and have only had it running for 10 hours total. Is there anything else u guy might suggest i do to maintance this motor. I would like to keep it running as long as possible, i spent all winter building the fishing decks and it is now perfect for catching the big ones

 

[hidef]

Re: Help Oil leaking

You have two places where there is oil, the lower unit and the gas tank. When your outboard runs the engine is lubricated by the oil in the tank. The oil that isn't burnt off during the combustion process gets blown out through the exhaust along with any gas that wasn't burnt. The oil in your lower unit should stay clean and water free if the seals are good. It should be checked a couple of times during the season to make sure the only thing in there is 90w oil.

The only other thing I would do is make sure all the fuel lines are new. Old lines can break down and plug up your carb.

 

[jsimmons1970]

Re: Help Oil leaking

Change the impellar since you don't know when it was last changed!

 

[nwcove]

Re: Help Oil leaking

i agree with hidef and jsimmons, probably even put an inline filter as close to the fuel line connect as possible . seafoam seems to be a good product as well, i was a bit sceptical about those types of additives, and didnt add as much as recommended, but it seemed to work as advertized. my lil 5.5 went from spittin and sputterin to running like a top with just a half hour run in a barrel. ( might have done that anyways, but for 10 bucks, and i still have most of the container left...im happy)