I/O leak - soft plug????

[Navigator C-130]

My boat is a 1982 22ft Starcraft Islander<br />The motor is a four cylinder Chevy 140hp<br />It has a Mercruiser plate attached to the motor<br />with a serial no. of 6104029 on it. There is also a<br />transom no., it is partially wore off but I believe it<br />is 6062552 I am not sure of the last 2. <br /><br />I drained the lower unit last fall and refilled it with new gear oil. I did this by filling from the bottom drain hole until the fluid started to come out of the top vent hole. Then I screwed in both plugs for the winter and stored it with the unit down. Recently I notice some leakage on the ground under it. After tracing the fluid it seems to have come from under the Mercruiser silver emblem on the right side opposite the vent screw and about 6 inches or so lower than the vent screw. After removing the emblem, it looks like there is a soft plug of sorts there and it is slightly leaking. My question is, is that a soft plug? If so can you remove it and install new ones just like in a car engine? Do I need to purchase one from a mercruiser dealer, or can I get one from the auto parts store?

 

[Bondo]

Re: I/O leak - soft plug????

That's a Welch Plug......<br />If I'm not mistaken, There's Supposed to be Cooling Water behind it........<br />Not Oil.......<br /><br />Sounds like your Problems Might be Deeper.......

 

[Magnum Force]

Re: I/O leak - soft plug????

I have pretty much the same problem with my I/O and haven't removed the "welch" plug yet to investigate it. The oil that seems to be seeping from it looks clean and water free! If it is for water then I don't understand it. I put new oil in mine filling from the bottom last fall and have left the lower unit down all winter. If that is for water, why or how could it push clean oil out from around it?

 

[Bondo]

Re: I/O leak - soft plug????

It's Easier to pop off the Top-Cap,+ Look Down.........<br />If Memory serves me right,<br />There Should be a Pipe-Plug behind the Welch Plug,+ a Water Cavity behind That...........<br />The Oil Cavity is Behind the Water Cavity.........