lower unit question

BD Rod

Cadet
Joined
Jun 17, 2008
Messages
15
I got a surprise when I went to drain the lower unit oil so i could put new oil in. Hardly any came out ,then a small trickle of water. It ran good ,as far as i could tell up until now and after i changed the oil I started the motor and it sounded ok . I think what happened was that I missed putting the blue washer on the lower drain screw and it must have leaked out. We only put about 5-10 hours on it this summer so is it possible that it should be ok. No big chunks of metal came out the drain plug . lol
 

northernmerc

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 6, 2009
Messages
401
Re: lower unit question

If the water got in there past the lower drain plug and the oil leaked out past the same plug, you should have seen oil leaking out when the boat was not in the water. The oil would not only leak when the boat was in the water. Did you have an oil leak from that plug? If not, you might want to replace the seals to be on the safe side. In any case, put oil back in there for the winter to prevent rust damage from the water that entered the unit.
 

BD Rod

Cadet
Joined
Jun 17, 2008
Messages
15
Re: lower unit question

I never noticed a leak but i just assumed it leaked out by the drain plug since it didn't have a washer on it. I will check it in the spring and see if the new oil stays in. Thanks
 

sschefer

Rear Admiral
Joined
Nov 13, 2008
Messages
4,530
Re: lower unit question

I know this is going to sound stupid but did you remove the vent plug at the top. If not, then what you describe is what will happen. Oil is lighter than water so water will come out first.
 
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