What should I be checking, for maintance?? Cloudy transom water and dirty oily plug?

[dkorzun21]

Im a new boat owner have a i/o I have only had it out a 8 times this year but have noticed that the transom water is a little dirty like poluted looking and when I take out the drain plug there like a oil dirt film on there. Is this normal for a 20 year boat since like the ski locker and stuff is kinda dirty and the water somtimes gets up there? When i pull the plug water doesnt look like there is oil (rainbow) or anything. I check the oil and its fine.

Is there any other fluid I should be checking I have a merc. Let me know what you guys think. Thanks
Dave

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: What should I be checking, for maintance?? Cloudy transom water and dirty oily pl

Pretty normal for that old of a boat, more important question may be how much water are you taking on each time out? If its more that just swimmers/skiiers dripping in the boat than you should investigate the problem. My last boat (84 Wellcraft) I could be on the lake for a week or more at a time and pull the plug and not a drop. You also need to check the outdrive lube, power steering fluid(if equipped) to make sure they might not have a bit of a leak. Simple green works well to clean/degrease the bilge sprat in there let sit for a bit scrub well with a brush rinse with a hose(with plug out) try to find the water leak though.

 

[dkorzun21]

Re: What should I be checking, for maintance?? Cloudy transom water and dirty oily pl

Pretty normal for that old of a boat, more important question may be how much water are you taking on each time out? If its more that just swimmers/skiiers dripping in the boat than you should investigate the problem. My last boat (84 Wellcraft) I could be on the lake for a week or more at a time and pull the plug and not a drop. You also need to check the outdrive lube, power steering fluid(if equipped) to make sure they might not have a bit of a leak. Simple green works well to clean/degrease the bilge sprat in there let sit for a bit scrub well with a brush rinse with a hose(with plug out) try to find the water leak though.

ok, thanks yeah it does get more water in it then normal due to a small missing screw in the top of the swim plat form. Doesnt effect it much only when there is like 7 ppl on board. But the transom on average probably has about a gallon of water in there. not much at all the pump wont even get rid of it. I will have to check all fluids cuz i only check oil. Any idea of where the powerstering pump is? Should I take a pic.

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: What should I be checking, for maintance?? Cloudy transom water and dirty oily pl

Usually the pump(if equipped) is on the front port side of the engine, it has to be driven by a belt so that should help find it if you have one. round cap with a short dipstick on it. The drive lube might be a bit more difficult as I'm not sure if that old of a boat had a resivor or not if it does it's toward the rear of the engine on port side up a bit higher, square container with green/blue fluid in it. If it doesn't have a resivor and you don't know the last time the drive lube was changed I would highly reccomend doing it. It isn't hard to do yourself all of the info on how to is right here on these forums.

 

[dkorzun21]

Re: What should I be checking, for maintance?? Cloudy transom water and dirty oily pl

Usually the pump(if equipped) is on the front port side of the engine, it has to be driven by a belt so that should help find it if you have one. round cap with a short dipstick on it. The drive lube might be a bit more difficult as I'm not sure if that old of a boat had a resivor or not if it does it's toward the rear of the engine on port side up a bit higher, square container with green/blue fluid in it. If it doesn't have a resivor and you don't know the last time the drive lube was changed I would highly reccomend doing it. It isn't hard to do yourself all of the info on how to is right here on these forums.

Looked for it cant find it can I take some pics and can you let me know where it is. I think I did have it changed though because i paid 300 bucks to have all fluids changed. also how often should i be checking this? everytime I go out.

Kinda looking for what fluids I should check to make sure my boats gunna run strong and have no problems