Help a Newb 3.0/Alpha 2 Gear Oil in Bilge and also murky oil reservoir

[Shortbuss]

Hey guys I did some searching and didn't see everything that I wanted. I noticed oil in my bilge and the gear oil res was down less than .5L. Filled it up and tried to find the leak with no luck. Went out for a few hours and watched the level, it did drop a little bit so I topped it up and continued to search for the leak. More oil in the bilge and on the second top up I noticed the oil in the reservoir was milky. Im guessing that means water contaminated oil? Any advice for a boating newb? I have worked on cars, trucks, jeeps and even semi's all my life so I am not useless with a wrench. Its in a 05 bayliner if that helps.

 

[Don S]

Re: Help a Newb 3.0/Alpha 2 Gear Oil in Bilge and also murky oil reservoir

There is about a 99.9% chance you have water in your ujoint bellows. Time to pull the outdrive and have a look.

 

[Shortbuss]

Re: Help a Newb 3.0/Alpha 2 Gear Oil in Bilge and also murky oil reservoir

Thanks don. Seems pretty simple to remove the outdrive. A leaking bellows would cause water in the oil and oil in the bilge?

 

[Shortbuss]

Re: Help a Newb 3.0/Alpha 2 Gear Oil in Bilge and also murky oil reservoir

I was getting ready to rip the outdrive off and noticed oil all over the reservoir and dripping onto the alternator. So thats that problem solved. Would faulty bellows cause the gear oil to be contaminated? Its mostly blue but has some brown streaks. The previous owner told me he changed the gear oil at the end of 2011 and that it should be ok for the 2012 season. Any insight is appreciated.

 

[81 Checkmate]

Re: Help a Newb 3.0/Alpha 2 Gear Oil in Bilge and also murky oil reservoir

The bellows is to keep water out of the inside of the boat and to keep water outa the drive...it covers the drive shaft to the motor. Coulda been the cap on reservoir leaking all over the place????

But Don allways has great insite! ....... Pull the drive anyhow as a maintance practice.

Just outa curosity.... drain the outdrive first and take alook at the lube.

Original PO could have switched name brands with different color lube!

 

[Shortbuss]

Re: Help a Newb 3.0/Alpha 2 Gear Oil in Bilge and also murky oil reservoir

The bellows is to keep water out of the inside of the boat and to keep water outa the drive...it covers the drive shaft to the motor. Coulda been the cap on reservoir leaking all over the place????

But Don allways has great insite! ....... Pull the drive anyhow as a maintance practice.

Just outa curosity.... drain the outdrive first and take alook at the lube.

Original PO could have switched name brands with different color lube!

Thanks! Looks like I'm pulling the out drive.