Oil underneath the engine - VP 5.0 GIPEFS

[4Winns24]

Hello Everyone,

I noticed underneath my engine in the bilge is really dirty with black gunk material and some oil looking fluid. I shopvacced as much as possible but couple of days later I saw some more oil looking fluid accumulating. Its not much but there is definitely some. I don’t seem to be losing any engine oil that I can tell. I was wondering if it could be from power-steering, trim motor, outdrive gear or engine. Has anyone had any similar issues?
Any help to determine the source would be very appreciated. FYI, the bilge is extremely tight with very little room to maneuver.

 

[Scott Danforth]

clean the bilge, then grab a flashlight and your camera.......then look for fresh oil.

could be any of the above mentioned issues

you may need to use your phone on a selfie stick to get it into places you cant fit your head.

for cleaning the bilge, I like dawn dish soap and a scrub brush. however simple green works too.

 

[QBhoy]

Hi
has the oil filter been changed recently? Is this a new boat to you ?

 

[Lou C]

P/S and tilt n trim fluid is usually dark red (Dex III fluid) motor oil honey colored or brown
Clean it up and get a bright flash light and inspection mirror. Sometimes you just have to tighten up the banjo bolt holding the dipstick adapter to the oil pan. Check for rust spots on the pan.

 

[Lou C]

http://www.volvopentastore.com/Crank...view_id.779241
lousy pic but this is what they show.

https://www.volvopentashop.com/epc/e...%2F7797478_004

every so often I tighten up the banjo bolt and make sure the pan bolts are snug. Mine really doesn't leak oil believe it or not.

 

[4Winns24]

Thank you everyone. I’ll check it tomorrow again. Didn’t find the chance today.

My engine oil level is good and doesn’t appear I am losing any oil there. My P/S was making loud whining noises so I checked it last month and P/S fluid was very low. I added almost 2/3 if a quart to it.

 

[Lou C]

You might have a leak at the p/s actuator. Look behind the exhaust on the starboard side.

 

[4Winns24]

I think I found where the oil is leaking from. Behind the water pump pulley underneath the engine right on top of the bilge pump, there is oil dripping. I took some good pictures of it and actually an oil drop that is about to drip. I am not very mechanically savvy. Is this the oil pan? Is it an easy fix or perhaps a stop leak would take care of it?

Also, there is a lot of rust on that pulley. You can see in the pics.

 

[4Winns24]

It doesn’t let me upload the pics.

 

[Lou C]

Prob gotta make em smaller

 

[4Winns24]

Prob gotta make em smaller

Here you are

 

[4Winns24]

Better Quality pics. It seems like its coming from around a bolt.

 

[Lou C]

Looks like the bolts and nuts for the oil pan might be a little loose. Try carefully snugging them up and see if that stops the leak. Just don’t over-tighten them. The part of the pan you can see looks to be in good shape.
the rust you see is on the engine block (cast iron) and harmonic balancer (steel but often rusts like that). The leak could also be from the timing chain cover (behind the harmonic balancer).

 

[4Winns24]

I had a very small leak/seep from my SUV engine a few years ago but stop leak completely took care of. But this seems like a bigger leak. Do you think stop leak will take care of it?

Unless, this leaks goes away by tightening up the bolt, I think this problem might be beyond my scope of practice.

Also, is that rust on engine block normal?

 

[Lou C]

The rust on the block is typical and will not cause a problem, it’s thick cast iron. Rust on the stamped steel pan is another story, that can cause leaks. Stop leak, might or not work. I’d try snugging up all the bolts/nuts first.

 

[4Winns24]

I didn’t see any rust on the pan. It seemed like around the pan was wet though. Here is some more pics:

 

[Lou C]

The oil leaks may have kept it from rusting lol. This is what you have when you have boats that are 15+ yeas old. They become very maintenance intensive. I’ve had one, and will not have another. If I do get another boat it will be new or nearly new. And outboard powered. I’ll take my Chevrolet V8 in a hot rod but not in a boat. Too much work that I’m getting too old to do!

 

[4Winns24]

The oil leaks may have kept it from rusting lol. This is what you have when you have boats that are 15+ yeas old. They become very maintenance intensive. I’ve had one, and will not have another. If I do get another boat it will be new or nearly new. And outboard powered. I’ll take my Chevrolet V8 in a hot rod but not in a boat. Too much work that I’m getting too old to do!

I completely understand. I just wish someone had told me before I got this boat in November. Before I am done fixing something, I find 5 more things to repair. Today I noticed one of the trim ram cylinders was leaking on the driveway. What did I get myself into...

 

[Lou C]

Those can be repaired, do a search on eBay there are people selling repair kits. Now the good news is that eventually you will get it where you want to but it may take a season or 2. So you don’t feel too bad, I’ve done 3 major repairs/upgrades on y old boat.
1) repaired rotted deck and stringers, did some myself and had the ‘glass shop do the more difficult parts. Did this back in 2006-2007. Also re-did most of the interior. Still is solid and looks great.
2) got sick of looking at the old faded red gel coat, tried buffing numerous times, it was just too far gone. So had it painted in red Imron, and it still looks great 8 years later. Looks much newer than it is.
3) engine overheated in 2013 ran well for 2 more seasons then blew 2 head gaskets. I took the cyl heads off my self bought a set of reman heads, and put it back together with new gaskets and new exhaust. Still running well 3 years later. The Cobra drive and transom assembly has been basically trouble free, very few repairs needed even in salt water. The majority of involved repairs were due to age. So, moral of the story, is don’t buy an old boat if you don’t want to turn into a marine mechanic, buy lightly used, just like a used vehicle. We don”t buy 15 year old daily driver vehicles, usually correct?

 

[4Winns24]

I took some better pictures. Pan itself is definitely rust free and in good shape but there is leak either from the front end of the pan where the bolt is or somewhere on top of the front end of the pan.