!!Oil Leak!!

[97Searay175]

First off, Thanks to everyone who provided input to my other thread regarding the murky/muddy water!! I checked the fluid levels, cleaned the bilge, and looked around the bellows for any cracks leaks. It seems as if oil was seeping in there as as well along with Mud making the mixture.

Before taking her out saturday morning, I noticed that oil needed to be added. Added about a quart. Went out for a couple of hours - engine sounded like a champ.

When pulling out of the water, I had noticed oil coming out of the drain plug. Took the engine cover off and noticed a bad leak (see pictures).

I did hit low water a couple of times where it seemed that there may have been a good possibility of hitting mud. But never felt a serious jerk/thud when riding. Oile pressure was good the whole time I was on the water. Is there a seal around this engine somewhere where I can start to replace? Or any bolts/nuts that may need tightening? It seems to be a pretty substantial leak, yet the engine runs excellent (at least for now). What would you recommend in terms of finding/diagnosing/fixing the leak?


Order of Appearance:
Image1: Port Side Rear
Image2: Port Side Rear Enhanced
Image3: Port Side Rear Further Enhanced
Image4: Port Side View of Bilge
Image5: Strbrd Side Rear
Image6: Strbrd Side Rear Enhanced
Image7: Strbrd Side Rear Further Enhanced
Image8: Ariel View of Engine
Image9: Drain Plug

 

[Gunn]

I'll be curious to see how this turns out. Because my 175 with same engine has a -small- oil leak on the port side in the general area your photos indicate. But I don't notice a difference in the oil level even after an entire season of boating, never have to add oil. I don't think it's in a very good place to get to and fix while the engine is in the boat, unfortunately. You need to be super careful and not let any of that oil get back into the waterways!

I also noticed that your elbow to exhaust manifold mating looks very rusty. Mine too. And then I noticed that my #4 sparkplug was a bit rusty. Keep an eye on that, it could end up ruining the entire engine. I'm replacing the exhaust manifold and elbow in mine this spring.

Tom

 

[jitts3]

What maintenance has been done recently. Any chance that has caused an issue. If the leak is on both side of the block I would think it is dripping down from above. Example like bad valve cover gasget.

 

[97Searay175]

What maintenance has been done recently. Any chance that has caused an issue. If the leak is on both side of the block I would think it is dripping down from above. Example like bad valve cover gasget.

Just bought the boat a few weeks ago. I'm the third owner, previous owner did some impellor work and regularly changed the oil. He had never had to do anything major from what he had stated. Only chaged the oil and tuned up the engine regularly. This was the second time I have taken the boat out. Put around 5 hours on it since I've had it.

 

[aqua*holic]

What maintenance has been done recently. Any chance that has caused an issue. If the leak is on both side of the block I would think it is dripping down from above. Example like bad valve cover gasget.

Exactly what I was thinking. Reach behind the valve cover and see if there is oil on the head just below it. Continue to work your way down until you find oil. You should be able to find it, there is a lot of oil leaking.

 

[rcknecht]

I had a problem with an oil leak when I in advertantly loosened my oil filter... check for the simple things first... I ended pulling my engine just to find out it was a loose oil filter...

 

[jitts3]

I had a problem with an oil leak when I in advertantly loosened my oil filter... check for the simple things first... I ended pulling my engine just to find out it was a loose oil filter...

I bet that pissed you off!:smt021

 

[twomad]

also check that there is not 2 gaskets instead of 1 on the oil filter, sometimes when changing the oil filter the old gasket will stick to the block and when you put the new one on it will leak alot, don't ask me how i know:smt021

 

[97Searay175]

Good Stuff - I will be sure to check the back and work my way down, along with looking into the filter possibility. I had placed some paper underneath the boat to check for additional leakage and really havent found too much. Otherwise I had cleaned the bilge/engine really good.

Is there any formula I can inject into the engine to determine where the leak may be as well?

 

[rcknecht]

I bet that pissed you off!:smt021

I was $3K pissed off... I did have the shop change all the rubber and sand blast and paint the oil pan... I catorgize my boating mistakes by dollar amount... unfortunately this was not my biggest mistake...

 

[gregkjones]

+1 on the valve cover gasket and +1 on the exhaust watch or even better, exhaust replacement. a merc guy told me 25 years ago, if the gasket is leaking like that on the outside, it is leaking like that on the inside. we took it off and yep, it was.

 

[97Searay175]

***UPDATE***

I have taken the boat out a couple of times since and have found nothing leaking. The pressure/levels are OK.

I think I may have added too much oil in the beginning, getting too excited. I recently learned that you should check your oile level when the engine is running? I had figured that would have been taken into consideration while designing the dip stik levels adn such, but turns out it's not. Anyhow, the boat is back to 100% it seems like. Thanks for all the help guys!

 

[Lazy Daze]

No, do not check when it's running. Whoever told you that... well.... I'll leave that up to you.

But, do let the engine sit (turned off) for about 5 minutes for the oil to drain back to the pan. Oil is best checked when warm.

 

[dicor]

Ditto! On what he said. As a matter of fact if you checked the oil while the engine was running and filled it until the stick read full you may still have too much oil in it. Too much oil can create a world of hurt for, leaking gaskets, blown seals and these are the minor things. Next time the motor is level check it with the motor OFF and remove any excess oil. The only fluid you check with the motor running is on some automobile automatic transmissions.

 

[Gunn]

No, do not check when it's running. Whoever told you that... well.... I'll leave that up to you.

But, do let the engine sit (turned off) for about 5 minutes for the oil to drain back to the pan. Oil is best checked when warm.

What they said. :thumbsup:

 

[97Searay175]

Thanks for the advise guys. I think I misconveyed what I heard. But I will def. be sure not to check it while running. I'm just glad I don't have anything major going on. Thanks for all the help and advice!