Oli Leak Continued

[schmitty66]

Here is my original post and thanks for all the feedback.

"1994-3.0 OMC Cobra
Last season i checked the oil in the lower unit and it looked good...not milky. I winterized the motor as in previous years and when i visited the cottage last weekend i found a puddle of clear oil under my lower drive. I felt around and found no cracks. The only spot i can see wet is on the back around the silver horseshoe(sorry not sure what it's called-see pic). Is there any spot right above that area that could have leaked? I'll pressure test it next visit in June but i was curious as to what i may be in for. The entire lower/upper was rebuilt 4 years ago."

Last weekend i pulled the stern drive and when it broke away from the mount, anitfreeze poured out. I'm going to get to pressure testing it but i need to know if it is normal for antifreeze to leak out and why is there antifreeze in the bellows. The 'u-joints- look fine(no rust and move freely) and there are no leaks in the bellows. Both gaskets appeared to be fine.

I'm stumped,
Thanks

 

[alldodge]

Not an OMC guru but no kind of water, antifreeze or the like should be in the bellows area. Think it antifreeze would have come from the exhaust, I know exhaust is below the bellows? Don't know where clear oil would have come from, are you sure it's oil? Do you keep the drive up or down during storage?

Pressure testing would be the first check of the system.

 

[schmitty66]

When i say clear, i mean new oil. The drive is in the down position during storage resting on a block of wood.

 

[bruceb58]

Yep, need to pressure test. My bet is the antifreeze was from the water inlet on the left side. If you poured anti-freeze into your thermostat housing, it likely flowed down to the drive with no where to go because the impeller blocks it from draining.

 

[schmitty66]

I did pour anitfreeze down the thermostat housing, but if it's 2 sealed systems(cooling and oil), did it spray into the bellows when i cracked it?

 

[bruceb58]

I did pour anitfreeze down the thermostat housing, but if it's 2 sealed systems(cooling and oil), did it spray into the bellows when i cracked it?

More than likely yes.

 

[Lou C]

Well I've filled mine with antifreeze every year and pulled the drive every year and never got antifreeze in the bellows. I bet you have water in the bellows and have to change it.
As far as the oil leak, if its leaking by the horseshoe zinc on the front of the lower unit, I bet it could be the seal for the shift rod which is right behind that or the gasket for the shift rod cover.