Leak On Top Of Drive

[mckinneyboat]

Ok just got this boat back from the shop for a third time. I have a 1989 four winns 4.3 OMC. This time it was leaking gear oil from prop. Shop says they fixed the leak. Took it out Saturday and it ran fine. Parked in the drive left it overnight. Didnt leak. Came back yesterday from the movies and the thing had started leaking while gone for the afternoon. The leak is coming from the top of the drive where the dip stick cover is. Question 1. I had the boat on more of an incline than normal I lowered the front and it quit leaking. Should it leak even with the motor up and the boat back at any slant. 2. The oil is a lime green color. Is this gear oil. 3. It was pretty warm 100 degrees yesterday could this have anything to do with it. I would take it back to the shop however its an hour and a half drive there.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Leak On Top Of Drive

The green lube is the Merc High Performance lube.Good stuff.
There is a gasket on that dipstick plug that needs replaced.
Also the cover that is held by 4 bolts that the dipstick screws into has a large rubber O-ring under the cover that may be leaking.
Also if it was leaking oil out then it may have leaked water in...

 

[mckinneyboat]

Re: Leak On Top Of Drive

Thanks for the info. I have never worked on a boat before so it will be a first. Is it hard to replace the gasket and the o ring. Any special tools needed. Looks taking the plate off the top is fairly simple. My book shows a ring under the plate is this the o ring. Do i just drain the old oil out and refill?