oil leak mystery

[handball]

I have a 1987 30 sea ray with twin fresh water cooled 350's and straight shaft drives.The engines have about 1000 hours and run perfectly.<br />Both engines require only about a pint of oil after a 75 mile trip at cruising speed of about 18 mph.<br />The starboard engine has a sump under it that this season has a combination of what looks like milky light brown oil on top of water.This mix of stuff ends up in the small compartment that the forward bilge pump is in. I have been trying to collect the stuff in absorbant material before pumping overboard.<br /><br />My question is the following: short of pulling the engine out how can I find where this oil and water is coming from as looking under the engine is impossible to do.What might be the source of the oil leak? some I can think of is front seal, fuel pump gasket, oil pan screws loose.<br /><br />Any one have sugestions or had similar problems I am open to all help on the subject.<br /><br />On this installation the aft end of the engine has a cross beam that blocks the view, the starboard side is blocked by a 100 gal tank the port side view is blocked by the main engine mounting beam and battery bank, there is maybe a foot of space between the engine and the bulkhead.<br /><br />The only thing that might work would be one of those small t.v. cameras that are sometimes used and a bright light moved under the engine.<br /><br />All comments welcome<br /><br />Bill

 

[deputydawg]

Re: oil leak mystery

Maybe tape a mirror to a peice of stiff wire or yardstick? <br />Check front main seal, rear main seal, dipstick O-ring, fuel pump seal, timing case seal, oil pan gasket, and oil drain plug.

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: oil leak mystery

You asked where the oil AND water was comming from: Since you have inboards, is the water comming from your packing glands around the prop shafts ?? As for the oil, we could start with the easy to get at (and fix), the valve cover gaskets, even though they are on the top of the engine, the oil can run down the side of the heads and block and drip into the bilge.

 

[handball]

Re: oil leak mystery

Thanks for the replys fellows,<br />As far as the water found under the engine it has to be coming from someplace on the engine as there is a cross beam under the engine rear that acts like a dam and only allows the water to go forward and thru the engine bearer into a little pump sump.I have dripless packing for the shaft logs and they work very well in keeping the water out.I will try to check out the things I can reach to see if there is wet spots anyware around the fuel pump, water pump and hose connections.I will also try the stick and mirror idea from the front of the engine, using a good trouble light.<br /><br />Bill