lower unit gear oil??? seal?? anybody know much about boats?

[baitfish]

I was getting my motor ready after winterizing it. I turned over the engine a couple times to clean out the fogging oil from the spark plug areas. I liked down and noticed some oil dripping from behind the prop, I noticed that there wasn't any dripping were I stored it...

Anybody experience this?? Could it be the lower unit seal? And can I fix this my self?

[Wallyboss]

It's probably some fogging oil coming out of the exhaust

[scarkner]

It's probably some fogging oil coming out of the exhaust

X2

Pretty easy to tell, if the oil is black as tar it's exhaust related.

Same thing happened to me this year, I replaced the lower unit oil with nice fresh stuff. The small puddle on the floor didn't look at all like what was in the gear case. The drips stopped after a day or two.

[baitfish]

Thanks for the response.... it was clear oil and stopped after a day or two, so I am assuming you guys are right...cause it shouldn't of stopped if it was the gear oil.

[smitty55]

Hmmm

Pretty easy to tell, if the oil is black as tar it's exhaust related.

it was clear oil and stopped after a day or two

So if it's clear oil it's not likely exhaust related. I'd be tempted to pull the prop, clean it up well and check it out further. I assume you replaced the lower unit oil last fall. Was there any evidence of water ingress at all?

Cheers

[baitfish]

The oil was crystal clear and had no water in it...I pulled the prop off and observed the oil to be coming from beind the prop area....it stopped dripping....and it only came out when I turned over the motor without the spark plugs to rid the fogging oil....I did replace the gear oil before storing it and no water present in the gear oil and no drips or leaks present during the time it was stored over the winter, motor was stored on boat and in the vertical position

[smitty55]

I'd try turning it over again then and see if it happens again. If so, your seals are done and need replacing. better safe than sorry.

Cheers