lower unit oil question / problem

joho5

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 14, 2008
Messages
456
motor is a 1992 Johnson 25hp

before the winter I installed a complete lower unit seal kit because it was leaking out around the prop. So I bought the kit and installed the whole thing, obviously including the two back to back seals by the prop.

Well my motor has been sitting in the upright position (tilted up like when trailering), well I pull down to the ramp yesterday and when I lowered my motor down to the normal tilt for running, lower unit oil immediately started leaking out.

I dont think it was leaking directly from inside the gear case, because It all leaked real fast and then stopped. I think it was pooled up and when I tilted it down...it all came out.

Anyways, where could my leak be? There is 2 brand new seals there back to back. Anyways I ran the motor for like 3-4 minutes and then fished on the trolling motor for about 2 hours. I did this mainly because I wanted to see if and how much water was getting in the gear case.

Well when I drained it when I got home, quite a bit still came out and it was cloudy, but golden cloudy, not coffee colored. I didnt know if it stays completely clear even right after being ran if not water gets in there, or there are always some cloudyness just from the disturbance. It was still the golden color, but it was not see through.

I just wanted some opinions on where this oil might be coming out from, and why there isnt a big intrusion of water.

Any help or opionions will be greatly appreciated.

thanks
 

Chris1956

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 25, 2004
Messages
28,074
Re: lower unit oil question / problem

Pull the prop and look at the gearcase housing. Sometimes water will get in there freeze and crack the housing. It is best to leave the motor down in the running position.
 

joho5

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 14, 2008
Messages
456
Re: lower unit oil question / problem

Thanks Chris, I will definately check this when I get home. Seems like I would have seen that, but maybe not.

If this is the case, is there a fix for it?

thanks
 

Auxlarry

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 21, 2010
Messages
304
Re: lower unit oil question / problem

joho5,
When you tilted the motor back down was the oil that came out the same golden color as what you have in the lower unit? If it was a blackish color it could just be accumulated unburnt oil from the engine.

Larry
 

joho5

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 14, 2008
Messages
456
Re: lower unit oil question / problem

No, its oil...its golden and has the smell.
 

joho5

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 14, 2008
Messages
456
Re: lower unit oil question / problem

Well I lowered the motor down and refilled the gearcase, new gaskets for the drain and vent. Its been sitting for like 4 days now without anything leaking out at all.

Weird, but ill take it...
 

Mi duckdown

Commander
Joined
Apr 14, 2007
Messages
2,575
Re: lower unit oil question / problem

Your propshaft is not bent, is it? Next time out I would recheck the lowerend fluid, when you get home. Just be on the safe side.
Better yet I would pressure and vacuum check the lowerend.
 
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