What's this hole for?

[GordonL]

1969 Johnson 40 HP manual shift<br />There is a small hole in the starboard side of the lower unit. It is above the propeller shaft and drain plug but below the full level plug.It is lower than the oil level. Is it a vent? Should it leak oil? What stops the oil from coming out of it? Thanks for any help!

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: What's this hole for?

It's a vent. It opens into the lowest point of the exhaust cavity to drain water that would otherwise pool there. So it's perfectly normal to see unburnt fuel/oil dripping out of it.<br /><br />Take a pinch of the black stuff, take a whiff of it it and you'll see (well, smell I suppose) that it's got the scent of fuel rather than the stench of lower unit oil.

 

[GordonL]

Re: What's this hole for?

Thanks Paul! I had some gooey stuff oozing out of that hole the last time I was out. I changed the lower unit oil thinking I had a water intrusion problem, than I remembered that I mixed a whole quart of oil in my 6 gal. fuel tank (wasn't thinking). I guess thats what it was, had it out today and no ooze. Thanks again!