Oil and water in bellows

[skipdave]

-1984 Century Mustang 195, 4 cylinder 140 hp Mercruiser engine
-Starter bolt snapped and starter fell off last week
-Mechanic pulled engine to get broken bolt out, found that it had the wrong starter on it, installed another starter (rebuilt- $90)
-Mechanic says that he also found oil and water in the bellows and that the seals need to be replace (estimate of $350)

The mechanic says that I can still use the boat for the rest of the season and have the seals replaced later. I just want to make sure I won't be doing more harm by running the boat and I also want to better understand what is happening/causing this problem.

Some information that might be helpful- the guy I bought the boat from told me he hit rocks with the propeller- it was jagged and had chunks missing out of all 3 blades. I replaced the propeller with a new one and noticed that there was slightly cloudy water inside the shaft where the propeller comes off. I thought water was supposed to get in there and that it had just mixed with the grease on the propeller shaft which is a silver color. I checked the oil on the dipstick before I bought the boat and after buying it and using it twice and it was at the right level and looked like it should (a clear light brown).

Also, I plan on using the boat for day trips and tubing for the rest of the season and want to make sure that won't worsen the problem or create new problems.

Finally, is there anything I should ask the mechanic or confirm when I pick the boat up tomorrow morning to ensure that it is OK to keep using the boat for another month and a half.

Thanks,

Dave

 

[oops!]

Re: Oil and water in bellows

that should be grease in the bellows....not oil.

do you mean having the drive re sealed?

hmmm

water in there usually means a gymbal berring is in your future

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Oil and water in bellows

If there was oil, you do have an upper seal or yoke that is bad and leaking oil. Failure to maintain the correct oil level will destroy the upper unit. you may want to replace the U joints and gimbal bearing .Water there also leads to failure.

 

[skipdave]

Re: Oil and water in bellows

that should be grease in the bellows....not oil.

do you mean having the drive re sealed?

hmmm

water in there usually means a gymbal berring is in your future

Not sure. This is my first boat and I'm still learning. When I bought it I just knew that it looked good (aside from the propeller), floated, and seemed to run reasonably well. I also checked the dipstick and the oil looked fine. The mechanic said there was oil and water in the bellows, but that it would be OK to run it for the rest of the season as long as it wasn't "at full throttle 24/7" I'll be using it for tubing and cruising probably 2-4 times a week until October. I just want to know if that is fine, or if it will make things worse.

 

[skipdave]

Re: Oil and water in bellows

If there was oil, you do have an upper seal or yoke that is bad and leaking oil. Failure to maintain the correct oil level will destroy the upper unit. you may want to replace the U joints and gimbal bearing .Water there also leads to failure.

He did say oil and water and that seals (not sure which) would need to be replaced at some point. What I don't understand is that the boat does not take on water and the oil level on the dipstick does not show that it is losing oil.

 

[Don S]

Re: Oil and water in bellows

What I don't understand is that the boat does not take on water and the oil level on the dipstick does not show that it is losing oil.

I think I see your problem. The oil in the bellows comes from the oil in the outdrive, not the engine.
As far as not seeing water in the bilge, grease and dirt in the bleed hole, and grease in the bearing could stop water coming in. Plus, when on plain the bellows would drain.
Since the oil is from the drive and not the engine, you wouldn't notice anything on the engines dipstick.
Check the gear lube in the drive. It's milky.