lower unit question

[mattttt25]

1998 johnson 150 hp oceanrunner.<br /><br />i drained the lower unit oil and dropped the lower unit per my manual. replaced the entire water pump assembly, and then reassembled. put new oil in. on the muffs, engine ran fine, but i noticed water coming out from the seal between the upper and lower unit. is this normal? there wasn't a gasket to install, but i don't see where the water is coming from if i got the water tube installed correctly. i went ahead and launched the boat and ran it. no problems at all, ran great, no overheating- so the water pump i installed seems to be working. but still concerned about the water i see entering and exiting between the units. normal? also, the lower oil was a "little" milky. am i in trouble? again, the sea trial went great, so i'm hoping all is fine.

 

[tgodiver]

Re: lower unit question

you may not have sealed the water pump correctly?

 

[boatingfool]

Re: lower unit question

Did you check the lower unit for water in the gear oil after you took it out on the water??<br /><br />If none I think you are all right.

 

[mattttt25]

Re: lower unit question

good point, i'll check the oil tomorrow for water. would it show up that fast if i have intrusion somewhere?<br /><br />i could have screwed up the the water pump, but i followed the manual to the t. i had a strong flow from the telltale and i ran up and down the rpm's for atleast an hour with no problem/overheating. i think i got the pump in right.<br /><br />knowing what a pain in the ass it was to lift up the lower unit, while trying to get the exhaust housing and shift rod to line up, i'm thinking maybe the water tube didn't seal. could this be where the water is coming from? the seal between upper and lower units doesn't seem tight to begin with.

 

[boatingfool]

Re: lower unit question

would it show up that fast if i have intrusion somewhere?<br />

Yes it would.

 

[Walker]

Re: lower unit question

I think on your motor there is a short exhaust bell with a gasket above in your mid-section and below that fits into your lower unit. That is most likely where the water is coming from. Should'nt be a worry unless you just don't like it.

 

[mattttt25]

Re: lower unit question

walker- yes, do have the exhaust housing and it was a real pain to align and keep the gaskets straight. but i don't understand the water between the halves. if i run water on the muffs, where does it go in my lower unit? just to the water pump correct? the question is should it bleed out of the seems between the upper and lower units???

 

[ob]

Re: lower unit question

matttt25,The cavity between the middle leg of your motor and the horizontal joint of the lower unit where the pump is mounted is engulfed with water when running.There is a cavity drain for leakoff which you can observe discharging water while running on hose.As far as it leaking from the joint when flushing,if it wasn't doing it before,may be the result of the joint not being drawn up evenly or a burr or foreign slag between the joint when bolting up.It doesn't take much.

 

[Al Santamaria]

Re: lower unit question

I had water intrusion in my lower unit, and before I knew it, $2500.00 bucks flew out of my pocket. If you want info on what's new in technology for outboards call C.D.I elec toll free 877 445 7926 you wont be sorry.

 

[Solittle]

Re: lower unit question

Matt - There is not supposed to be a seal there. Water will appear to "leak out" all over the place. All normal if you reassembled things correctly.

 

[mattttt25]

Re: lower unit question

thanks for the replies fellas. i took it for a spin again on sunday and it ran great, no overheating and plenty of water from the tell tale. i'm convinced i atleast installed the water pump correctly.<br /><br />it makes me feel better to know water should be able to get in and out of the seal between the lower unit and rest of the outboard. i didn't think it should be a tight seal. but one more question for clarification- if i run on muffs, water is being introduced into my water inlets. water then goes through the water pump and up the water tube. don't know the water flow from there except up into the engine and tell tale. where else does the water go that would result in water seeping from the seal on top of the lower unit???

 

[ledgefinder]

Re: lower unit question

The exhaust tube is surrounded by a water jacket when the motor is running. The water jacket quiets and cools the exhaust (so you don't toast your lower unit). I'm not sure if the exhaust housing is full of solid water, or just has a heavy spray travelling through it. If you run on the muffs, the drain 'ob' is talking about will have water coming out of it for 30 seconds or so after you shut off, draining the exhaust housing.<br /><br />You can dab some gasket sealer on the mating surfaces of the lower unit & exhaust housing (mid-section) next time you're in there, if it bothers you. Sounds like, as long as the lower unit fluid isn't milky, you're OK.

 

[ledgefinder]

Re: lower unit question

The exhaust tube is surrounded by a water jacket when the motor is running. The water jacket quiets and cools the exhaust (so you don't toast your lower unit). I'm not sure if the exhaust housing is full of solid water, or just has a heavy spray travelling through it. If you run on the muffs, the drain 'ob' is talking about will have water coming out of it for 30 seconds or so after you shut off, draining the exhaust housing.<br /><br />You can dab some gasket sealer on the mating surfaces of the lower unit & exhaust housing (mid-section) next time you're in there, if it bothers you. Sounds like, as long as the lower unit fluid isn't milky, you're OK.

 

[mattttt25]

Re: lower unit question

ledgefinder- ok, so water does surround the exhaust housing. then it drains from the seam between the lower unit and rest of the outboard, right?<br /><br />but how does the water get there when running on the muffs (not in the water). the muffs provide water to 2 inlets and i thought those traveled straigth to the water pump and up. am i wrong? does the water branch off to fill this water jacket somehow?<br /><br />thanks-

 

[ledgefinder]

Re: lower unit question

I think the exhaust housing gets filled by the cooling systm 'on purpose' (not coincidently), and this happens the same way whether your running on the muffs, or with the LU submerged. I don't have manuals here, so not sure.

 

[mattttt25]

Re: lower unit question

thanks ledgefinder. anyone else????

 

[janichol]

Re: lower unit question

Well, this is what I think happens on my J30 and J200 Oceanrunner..... excess water pumped to the engine 'spills' out into this cavity to help cooling and keep seals from blowing from overpressure. The impeller will pump more water than is needed, the extra has to go somewhere, so into the cavity and out the bottom. My OceanRunner also leaks and dribbles water out the seam between the lower unit and mid-housing. I know it's ok, the shop wouldn't have let anything out of the ordinary go since they had to eat the cost on the first lower unit they put in for me.

 

[mattttt25]

Re: lower unit question

thanks scudrunner, you explained it great. this was just a situtaion in which i didn't pay attention before and after my own work, i was worried i screwed up. sounds like i got it right and it's a normal thing.