Oil dripping from Prop, how bad?

[Les MacDougall]

2000 250 H.P OX66

ran the boat yesterday,
Oil dripping from the prop this morning.

How bad is it?

Les

 

[baiwan]

Re: Oil dripping from Prop, how bad?

Pretty bad. You'll have to remove the propeller and change the oil seal.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Oil dripping from Prop, how bad?

...or it could be a cracked gear housing or a bent prop shaft. Have you hit anything under water with the skeg or prop? It would be best if it was simply the oil seal- that is not uncommon, but when checking that out I would suggest inspecting it for the other things to eliminate a Murphy's Law moment.

 

[DJ]

Re: Oil dripping from Prop, how bad?

Are you sure it's not exhaust residue (black and smells like gas)?

 

[zzzzz]

Re: Oil dripping from Prop, how bad?

did you smell it to be sure it's gear oil ?...think of your midsection like a chimney - it can collect soot and the soot will let loose if the engine gets good and warm...happens a lot

 

[Les MacDougall]

Re: Oil dripping from Prop, how bad?

Thick black oil.
didn't hit anything.

made about a 6 inch puddle.

I'll have it looked at of course.
Just hoping it wasn't catastrophic.

Les

 

[Tinnydriver]

Re: Oil dripping from Prop, how bad?

If the fuel has not been over-oiled (resulting in excess exhaust residue) try removing the filler plug and (i) checking the level & (ii) this will release any vacuum behind the seal resulting in an even bigger puddle indicating that the seals are in poor condition.
In either case it ain't good to release this residue into the environment.
Cheers

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Oil dripping from Prop, how bad?

Thick black oil.....I'll have it looked at of course.........Just hoping it wasn't catastrophic

Probably not catastrophic. But if your lower unit is the source of that puddle, by the color description it's due for a change anyway

It sounds like a simple fix and a good time for PM- your boat told you it wanted attention It seems like a lot of us- even those who know better- neglect our lower unit. That goes for me too. The part-throttle whine I had last summer made me check the lower unit. No water in there, but nasty old and underfilled. Drained and refilled it and viola, no more whine.:redface:

Good luck with it- you probably caught it in plenty of time.

 

[Jake Windemere]

Re: Oil dripping from Prop, how bad?

Did you fog the engine? Excess fogging oil will drain out the exhaust and take the black sooty exhaust residue with it.