Oil around sterndrive

[bijou22]

Boat is Wellcraft 21sl 1996 with Volvo Penta 4.3GL and cobra SX leg. Boat is moored.<br />Noticed today that I have a small amount of what looks like oil in the water around the strendrive. It appears when I lower the leg and then stops. It reappears when the leg is either lowered again or raised. I recently changed the gear oil, but am quite sure that I tightened everything up OK. While lying on the boat today studying the leg I saw what looked like a red globule come to the service and then burst to form a large oil patch in the sea. Please help or suggest what I do next.<br />Boat is running fine though.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Oil around sterndrive

Please help or suggest what I do next.<br />Boat is running fine though.

Pull the Boat,+ Find the Cause...........<br /><br />It Won't be running Fine,.........Soon.........

 

[jch7450]

Re: Oil around sterndrive

Yep pull it soon! Bondo could have said it better

 

[bijou22]

Re: Oil around sterndrive

Boat will be out tomorrow. Where should I start looking? Any thoughts will be appreciated.

 

[Don S]

Re: Oil around sterndrive

Everyplace around the drive and trim cylinders.

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: Oil around sterndrive

Red sounds like hydraulic fluid from the trim/tilt cylinders especially if it only leaks when you have used them recently. I would start there, doesn't take much oil in the water to make a big mess!

 

[bijou22]

Re: Oil around sterndrive

I have just come back from there now and there was no oil in the water around the sterndrive. I jumped on the diving platform, rocked the boat and noticed oil then forming. Its worse when using trim/tilt though. Could some hydraulic oil be trapped in there somewhere, and then released through movement?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Oil around sterndrive

You've Got a Problem,................<br /><br />Not a Misplaced Oily Rag............<br /><br />Whatever it IS,........<br /><br />It Won't Get Better........... Not Without Repairs.......The Choice is Your's............ <br /><br />I'm Guessing that you're in Saltwater as well..........That puts Time Against you..........

 

[Don S]

Re: Oil around sterndrive

It may be a hose under there, but you are going to have to get it out of the water and physically look to find the leak. Guessing ain't gonna help at all. And if you get salt water in that pump assembly, you aren't going to enjoy paying $700 US for a new pump kit.

 

[bijou22]

Re: Oil around sterndrive

Thanks guys its coming out tomorrow and I will let you know how it goes

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: Oil around sterndrive

Replace both trim/tilt lines when you find it's the cause of your leak.<br />Not a fun job,do it once.<br /><br />DHP

 

[lilmandavis]

Re: Oil around sterndrive

check the trim ram seals also

 

[lilmandavis]

Re: Oil around sterndrive

OR!!! it could be like the engine im doin at the present!! and some darylick "fixed". the motor ingested water- tuliped a valve, busted the valve, ran for 5 mins, heres how he fixed it: he said all it needed was a head, so... he charged this guy 1900 bucks to replace a head. he replaced the head, cleaned out the leftover valve debris, left the piston like it had been through a gun range, never took off the manifold, left dirt muck and leaves in the top of the motor, pryed the new head into place bolted it down. OHHH!! broke a head bolt replaced it with a reg grade 5 shiny silver one from ace, never changed the oil. now i get the job to replace the engine but every time the boat dips into the water now some water washes out a few drops of oil in the exaust leftover from the other so called "mechanic". all it takes is a drop to create a sheene across the water. yes the motor runs fine now thank you! i cant believe that someone wouldnt change the oil after somthing like that. has anyone ever heard of replacing heads without taking off the manifold? or am i overworking over here?!?

 

[bijou22]

Re: Oil around sterndrive

Thanks guys. Just an update. I took boat out of water today and noticed that on one of the rams the sleeve inside looks like its coming out at an angle. Just a first impression at the mo. Mechanic coming tomorrow. Any thoughts?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Oil around sterndrive

It Sounds like you'll be needing a Set of Rams,........ Maybe More,..... Maybe Less.....Usually Much More.......

 

[Lou C]

Re: Oil around sterndrive

I just had my hydraulic lines on my old Cobra replaced, had a leak caused by a barnicle cutting into one of the lines, they are like 40 bux each and since this was a salt water boat, I left it to my trusted mechanic to do...at least my trim cylinders were good, as was the pump. Another plug for getting a straight inboard next time, so much less to go wrong..

 

[Don S]

Re: Oil around sterndrive

Did you try running the trim up and down and looking for the leak?

 

[bijou22]

Re: Oil around sterndrive

Found the leak. It seems that on closer inspection there was paint on one of the rams which was quite rough and had been pulling on the internal sleeve causing a leak path. We tapped it back in and seems fine, no leaks. I have also removed the paint. Any thoughts????

 

[bijou22]

Re: Oil around sterndrive

Bad news today, oil is still coming out. We are removing the ram in question. Hopefully it can be re-sealed. Does anyone have any experience on this?