Oil leak from water peep hole

[dxs217]

Anyone seen this before? I'm nervous. Boat is trailered, so this problem occurred on the last outing (i.e. recent).

[fitz73222]

See if smells like two stroke oil or gear oil. There is a distinct difference. If its gear oil, could be a leaking driveshaft or shiftshaft seal. If its two stroke oil, it could merely be a little unburied fuel from extended idling or a leaking lower crankshaft seal and the oil is running down the driveshaft and making its way to the drain hole. Crack the bottom gear oil fill screw and see if there is any water in the gearcase. If your so inclined pull the lower unit and you should  be able to tell where the oil is coming from. Not the end of the world, gearcase seals are easily replaced, crankshaft seal a little more time but also not that big of a deal.

[GoneFission]

Looks like unburned 2 stroke oil leaking down from above.  Is this a carb motor?  Check the oil and gas connections for a leak.  Leaks usually go down, not up.

[seabob4]

That looks like a newer Etec.  We used to have the same issues when running new Etec installs at the plant.  Kim Cagle, BRPs field engineer, said it was a non-issue...and we never heard anything negative back from the owners...

Doesn't look normal, but apparently, for Etecs, it is...

[dxs217]

Drained the gear case. No water in it. Furthermore, the gear case fluid is gold (not blueish like the draining fluid). I think it's unburned XD50 from too much trolling on a motor that's not great to troll with. Changed the plugs and they were pretty fouled (after only 6 months).

[wingtime]

Gotta open her up now and then to burn things off if you are trolling for long periods of time.

[John Jones]

Gotta open her up now and then to burn things off if you are trolling for long periods of time.

Gently.
Too hard too quickly makes hard carbon.

[dxs217]

Copy, willco. Thanks