Trickle of oil coming out unkown bottom end casting hole??

[Pheobe]

Could you please help me, I have just purchased a 1977 Evenrude 25hp. Above and below the water intake stainless plate there is a hole that is part of the bottom end gearbox casting. I have started the motor once in a bucket and run it down the local river. Just recently i have noticed a small trickle of oil out the hole below the stainless intake plate.<br />Can you please tell me what these two holes do?<br />They both have no thread and i am unsure what they do or if it is normal for the oil to drip out? I have checked the gear oil and have found no trace of water but the oil is a carmely color and i know the gear box was apparently rebuilt in 2001.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Trickle of oil coming out unkown bottom end casting hole??

John<br />Welcome to the board. I not sure but I think the whole you are talking about is a water drain hole. It's main function is to allow water to drain out of the houseing so it will not freeze and crack the lower unit houseing. My 1975 15 hp Johnson has the same hole and when I have been doing a lot of trolling I get black unburned 2 stroke oil mixed with exhaust smoke that drain out that hole. If get worse in cold water or weather. This is very normal. May also see some oil come out behind the prop and this is also normal. When have been running high speed with motor see less oil as oil gets burned up but low speed or trolling does not burn up as much oil so it collects and slowly seaps out.

 

[Pheobe]

Re: Trickle of oil coming out unkown bottom end casting hole??

thankyou very much for the reply,up until now ive had a segul that gave me know problems.<br />I have seen another case the same as mine and it gives me releif to see it isnt a major fault hopefuly.