Oil Leaking from water intake.

[agood1]

My 78 Black Max 150 has oil leaking from the water intakes on the lower foot. I think it is gear oil from the lower unit but not sure how it is getting out the water pickup. Any ideas?

Thanks

 

[gchildre]

Drop the lower unit...

The only way I can see gear oil coming out of the water pickup is either a bad downshaft seal or a leak/crack in your lower unit housing. The gear oil has a distinctive odor to it, it smells like gear oil in a rear axle on a vehicle, very sulphur smelling. You are going to have to drop the lower unit and find the source of the leak. Get a shop manual for your motor so you can see the correct way to remove and install it but plan on going to confession after doing it, I usually blurt out a few bad words. By the way I live very close to you in Alpharetta.

There are lots of experts on the Merc inline motors here so I'm sure someone with more experience will chime in. I have never heard of this but my outboard experience is limited to my current Checkmate.

Good luck

 

[illMATTic]

you may have a cracked pump housing base. your l/u is most likely filled with water as well. i wouldnt run it untill you fix the problem.

 

[Chris E]

pressure and vacuum test should reveal your problem very quickly.

 

[agood1]

pressure and vacuum test should reveal your problem very quickly.

Obviously now something for a DIY'r.

 

[agood1]

you may have a cracked pump housing base. your l/u is most likely filled with water as well. i wouldnt run it untill you fix the problem.

Is the pump housing base, something that can me removed...or is it part of the lower unit casting?

 

[agood1]

The only way I can see gear oil coming out of the water pickup is either a bad downshaft seal or a leak/crack in your lower unit housing. The gear oil has a distinctive odor to it, it smells like gear oil in a rear axle on a vehicle, very sulphur smelling. You are going to have to drop the lower unit and find the source of the leak. Get a shop manual for your motor so you can see the correct way to remove and install it but plan on going to confession after doing it, I usually blurt out a few bad words. By the way I live very close to you in Alpharetta.

There are lots of experts on the Merc inline motors here so I'm sure someone with more experience will chime in. I have never heard of this but my outboard experience is limited to my current Checkmate.

Good luck

Thanks for the reply.....neighbor

 

[Chris E]

Obviously now something for a DIY'r.

everything is easy when you have a shop. pressure and vacuum are very simple tests that determine which seals are leaking. i think in your situation, you might as well tear the hole thing down and reseal the propshaft and driveshaft. however, to do some of that work, special tools will be required. you could probably do it yourself - but you can probably find a marina to do it for you - it's not a big job time wise, if you want, drop the lower yourself and let them do the seal work and you can reinstall it when done. don't forget to replace all the water pump parts since your there

 

[DJP]

Not to high jack the thread but I have a related question. I have 175 Merc with oil injection. I filled up the oil resevoir the other day pretty full and a little while later I saw oil coming out by the prop. I know the exhaust comes out there and it is for sure the 2 stroke oil. I have my boat on a track system that pulls the boat up on shore. The boat is on a pretty good slant. Can the oil be running out of there because I overfilled the resevoir or am I looking at a problem there? Thanks!