Lower unit Leaking

[drummer0901]

82 Merc 200, Low Water pickup. I notice a small puddle of gear oil under lower unit, and an oil trail that seems to come from behind the prop. Prop shaft oil seal? Should I have the whole unit resealed? How much should I be looking at $?

 

[MJ76]

Re: Lower unit Leaking

You are sure that it's gear oil and not just 2-stroke oil residue coming from the exhaust? If it is a prop shaft seal and it's leaking that badly, pull the prop off and you should be able to verify that it's coming from the prop shaft area.

 

[redjmp]

Re: Lower unit Leaking

Gear oil has an unmistakeable smell to it, quite different than motor oil.

 

[drummer0901]

Re: Lower unit Leaking

light brown in color, smells like gear oil to me

 

[MJ76]

Re: Lower unit Leaking

If it's been a while, I'd have the lower resealed and have a water pump put in while you're at it. It's pretty common to get a bunch of fishing line wound around behind the prop that eats through the prop shaft seal. The seal's pretty well shot if it's leaking out just sitting there.

 

[drummer0901]

Re: Lower unit Leaking

Took lower unit to local shop, the guy put a pressure test @15 lbs. for 4 hours, pressure never dropped. I guess it was exhaust that was leaking from behind the prop. Too bad he already ordered the seal kit. He did only charge me $25 labor for testing the foot out.

I guess if I had a pressure tester, I could have done that myself? Anybody know of a good source that isn't $115 for a pump?

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Lower unit Leaking

Drummer, Some folks pup up the LU with a bicycle pump and adapt the fitting from the pump you can use to fill the LU with gear oil. Should cost about $20.