Water leaking down by plug

[dgs119]

Hello- i have a 1988 seaswirl I/O 4.3 mercruiser boat that is leaking. It looks like it comes in where the drain plug. I pulled the drain plug housing and resealed it with marine sealer. I took it back out and still there is water coming in. Could it be something else? I don't see it coming in from anywhere else. Can a metal drain plug go bad? When I drive the boat no water come into the engine compartment. It is only when it is sitting still idoled or turned off.

Thanks

 

[The Great Escape II]

Re: Water leaking down by plug

What type of "marine sealant" did you use? How long did you let it dry? Also try some teflon tape around the threads of the plug.

 

[dgs119]

Re: Water leaking down by plug

3m Marine sealent. I let it dry for 7 days. I was thinking of using tape also. When the water comes into the boat it is not a trickle has a pretty good flow.

 

[The Great Escape II]

Re: Water leaking down by plug

You can replace the plug insert with a new one and then add teflon tape to the threads.

 

[salty87]

Re: Water leaking down by plug

are you sure it's not running down from a higher spot?

 

[gcboat]

Re: Water leaking down by plug

Pull the boat out of the water. Leave the plug in and fill the bilge with water to just above the drain plug. Watch for any leaks - if nothing there then I'd probably do as salty 87 mentioned - look above for water flowing down.
And no - you won't have any water intrusion when on plane - there's no water back there.

 

[dgs119]

Re: Water leaking down by plug

okay- i filled up the bilge right above the drain plug and things look good. No leaks. Then I added more water just below the engine to see if anything came out and I noticed a leak from the lower part of the outdrive on the outside. On the inside of the engine compartment about 3-4 inches above the drain plug it looks like a plate of some sorts. Could this be the problem? Any suggestions on what might be leaking? How hard would it be to fix?

Thanks

 

[Pierutrus]

Re: Water leaking down by plug

Just a shot in the dark......

But when was the last time the bellows and shifter cable was last replaced?

This sounds like the same type of leak I had last year.

 

[dgs119]

Re: Water leaking down by plug

Thanks.. No idea when these were last replaced. Are they easy to replace. If so do you know how to locate instructions on doing this? If not how much does it run at a boat shop vs doing it yourself..

THanks

 

[Pierutrus]

Re: Water leaking down by plug

Thanks.. No idea when these were last replaced. Are they easy to replace. If so do you know how to locate instructions on doing this? If not how much does it run at a boat shop vs doing it yourself..

THanks

I had the boat shop do mine cause I didn't have the time or the interest to pull the drive off. Cost $600 parts and labor.

If you want to find out how to do it yourself, post that question in the mercruiser forum.

But first you need to find out if that is your problem.

On mine.......When you looked down behind the engine, down at the bottom where the drive goes thru. It looked like a couple of guy's were taking a wizz into the bilge area.

Let's just say, if you have owned this boat for the last 6 or 7 years and never had said items replaced......It's time.

It might be worth the $100 to take it in and get it diagnost.