Help - Oil leaking from leg

[DollarBoat]

My boat is currently in the water at our cabin. I went to use it today and the check engine alarm went off after it started. I turned off the engine, checked the engine and noticed the leg oil reservoir was empty. I also noticed there was some oil residue in the bilge area and then when I looked out back at the leg, I could see small oil blobs once and while coming to the surface. If I raised the leg, it seems to slow. It seems to be coming from where the leg attaches to the transom.

Any idea on what could cause this? I changed the leg oil myself in the Spring and didn't noticed anything unusual.

The boat is a '98 Sea Ray with a Mercuiser 5.0 and an Alpha One Gen 2.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Did you have the outdrive off to service it?

 

[DollarBoat]

I have never taken off the outdrive. I bought the boat last year and I am not sure if it has been serviced. Based on past things with the boat, I doubt the previous owners did any servicing other than the odd oil change.

 

[Rick Stephens]

Needs at minimum to come out of the water and get a full servicing. Bunch of different places that can leak oil, you'll end up with a very spendy bill if you leave it. Oil leaks out, water leaks in.....

Every year the outdrive should be pulled and serviced when you change engine oil and winterize the boat for storage.

 

[enginesilo]

I agree you'll probably need to pull the boat and drive off. I had a slow leak but couldn't find any oil in the bilge. Once on the trailer I was able to see oil dripping in a certain area. I decided to pull the drive, and did a full pressure test of the upper and lower. Turned out to be the shift shaft bushing assembly in my case.

 

[DollarBoat]

So I pulled the boat and took off the outdrive. Oil seems to be leaking from the oil reservoir tube that connects the oil reservoir to the bell housing. Looks like a stupid plastic connector that failed. Why it's not brass I have no idea. Any idea on how to replace the connector? Easy/hard, leave it to the pros?

 

[Bt Doctur]

You need to access the area, remove the quick connect oil hose , remove the E clip and push the fitting out toward the transom
Used to be Brass but plasic is cheaper