Slow oil leak and oil absorbing pad

[superpop]

Hi folks, I have a 1996 Wellcraft with a Volvo 4.3L SX Combo and I have a fairly slow oil leak out of my rear main seal on the motor. I really don't want to pull the motor to fix what is really just a mess maker in my bilge so I have just been using those oil pads to soak up the oil and keeping an eye on my oil level. If I am out on the lake for 4 hours or so running all the time I would guess that a few tablespoons end up sloshing around with the 5 or six cups of water that collect thier from the kids getting in and out of the boat ect. I recently purchased one of the pads with holes at each end and strapped it around the bellhousing belly were the oil is coming out so it could catch the oil before it hits the bilge. My question is, does the motor get hot enought to ingnite this pad or burn it. I am trying to keep my bilge clean but don't want to blow up my boat either. I plan on changing the seal if it gets any worse but am not up to pulling the motor for what is now a small problem.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Slow oil leak and oil absorbing pad

It would probably not burn, but I wouldn't do it.......<br />Why not just leave it on the floor & sponge out the water?.....JK

 

[superpop]

Re: Slow oil leak and oil absorbing pad

Because when it mixes with the water it goes everywhere via the drain tubes that run down the center of the boat including the ski locker and all over the stuff in that compartment.

 

[wvit100]

Re: Slow oil leak and oil absorbing pad

The motor hopefully won't get up past 140 degrees or so. The ignition point of paper is around 450 degrees. So it shouldn't get anywhere near hot enough to burn the pad, it might melt plastic though so I'd be careful with what you use to secure it with.<br /><br />I've seen cars run around for years leaking oil from the seal and dripping all over the driveway. Your boat might go on like that for a long time before it gets bad enough to really worry about it.

 

[superpop]

Re: Slow oil leak and oil absorbing pad

That is what I am thinking.

 

[lilmandavis]

Re: Slow oil leak and oil absorbing pad

i know down here its a 6000$ fine if the coast guard sees oilly bige goin into the water. id surely keep it clean!!!

 

[cjflanagan]

Re: Slow oil leak and oil absorbing pad

What if you formed a simple 'shelf' out of clear plexiglass in a way that kept it from moving around, and then, had the pad (or a clipping of the pad) sit on it safe from the water and nice and tidy? You could even rig some clear plastic cloths pins into the plexiglass to help hold the pad in place. I don't know ~ just an idea. Have you named your boat? If not, you could go the next step and call her 'On the Pad'. Ha! I slay me!

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Slow oil leak and oil absorbing pad

Get a Kitty Litter pan, an aluminum baking dish pan, etc, and jam it in back there with the pad. Solved (riding drippy Harleys for years)

 

[djvan]

Re: Slow oil leak and oil absorbing pad

Try a tube sock filled with human hair in the bottom of the bilge area (I zip tied mine to something so it won't interfere with the bilge pump float). I've used this combination for 2 years now and don't notice any oil in the bilge water when pumping out.<br /><br />DougV>