oil leaking from oil vent on outdrive.

[Sorrento Dude]

After running my boat and comming to a stop in the water, i noticed an oil slick behind my boat. I looked and could see that oil is comming out around the oil vent on the outdrive. It doesnt seem to leak when the drive isnt in gear, but if i put it in gear, oil will leak out. I am assuming that the o-ring seal on the vent screw has failed. My question is, if that seal has failed, will there be water in the outdrive from the failed o-ring. I havent had a chance to drain the oil yet. If there is water in the outdrive would it only be comming from the o-ring?

 

[Lazy Daze]

You won't know if water is in there until you drain it out.

STOP using the boat and service it. HOPE that you don't have water in there. IF you used the Hi-Performance Merc lube, that will assure you a little insurance as that can tolerate water intrusion better.

 

[Sorrento Dude]

Ok, so i just took the vent screw out of the outdrive and there is no o-ring. The drive is full of water. I am draining it now. Am i safe to assume that the water in the drive is from the o-ring not being there? What is the best way to get rid of the water before i had new oil? If i replace the oil and run the boat with the muffs on, will water still enter the drive if i have some other type of leak? Thanks for the advise.

 

[Lazy Daze]

If it was me:

First, obviously, let it drain out completely

Next, I would get some cheap drive lube and pour about 2 quarts through the drive - starting at the vent hole, not the fill hole.

Take a little sample at the beginning and the end, compare.

Now, put the Hi Performance lube in the correct way, through the fill hole.

Take it for a spin on the lake. After about 10 - 15 minutes, put it back on the trailer and take a sample.

If it's looking good, go back on the lake again, for about 30 minutes. Repeat taking sample.

I'd venture a guess that if it's looking good at this point, you're probably fine. All water is out and no more is getting in.

Really, though, all of this is just to make sure there was no water left in there. If you replaced the o-ring or gasket, I wouldn't be concerned about water intrusion anymore - just residual.

I'd probably still check after a few hours, or the first regular day on the water.

This is probably overkill, but...


How long were you running it with the problem and what lube were you using?

 

[Sorrento Dude]

Thanks Lazy Daze for the advise. I changed the oil myself early spring (filling it from the Bottom) and i must of not put the o-ring on. :smt021 . I am not sure how long i have been running the boat with the water in the drive. I have used the boat about 10 hours this year, but i never noticed the oil untill the other day. It was real noticable. I'm thinking that i would have noticed it earlier but i guess it wasnt leaking as bad then. When i did notice it i had went about 2 miles out on the bay and then turned around and pulled out when i saw the leak. I used West Marine high viscosity lubricant 80w90. What oil do you recommend?

 

[Lazy Daze]

There's nothing inherently wrong with the oil you're using. However, in a case like this, the Merc Hi-Perf (bluish-green) stuff would have been helpful. It's a full synthetic and will still provide lubrication even with water intrusion. A synthetic will handle heat and temp variations better, too. But, now that you have the leak fixed, you can certainly keep using a good quality, "dino" lube. The synthetic will be superior, but there's nothing wrong with what you've been using.

 

[Sorrento Dude]

I ran 2 quarts of regular oil through and then filled it up with the same West Marine oil that i had used before. Took the boat out for 15 minutes, brought it back in a checked and had no sign of water in the drive. Went back out for a couple of hours and checked the oil the next morning. I didnt have any water coming out of the drain hole with the oil, put i did have a little bit of water coming out of the vent hole with the oil. I am hoping that the water that came out was from before, sinse there was not much at all. I am taking the boat out today again for most of the day. Hopefully i wont have any water in the drive again.

 

[Lazy Daze]

You probably have the problem solved. Just be sure to do another oil change.