Where is my gear oil leaking from

[2005Vip]

So I just bought a boat and it is leaking gear oil... It's leaking even when not running. The reservoir has leaked out three fourths of the oil leaving only a quarter left after sitting in the driveway four days. The oil is leaking out of the drain plug(boat hull).

So I guess my question is where do I start looking?
Is this a common problem?
If you have a good idea of what it is how much will it cost to fix?
Is it something I could do my self if mechanically inclined?
Since it is some what of a slow leak would to be OK to use the boat until it was fixed

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I did test drive the boat, but it was to short of a period to notice this...:facepalm:


2005 VIP 184
Mercruiser 3.0
Alpha I
Transom Serial Number OW136847
Drive Ratio 2.00
Drive Serial Number OW544705

 

[Bondo]

Re: Where is my gear oil leaking from

So I just bought a boat and it is leaking gear oil... It's leaking even when not running. The reservoir has leaked out three fourths of the oil leaving only a quarter left after sitting in the driveway four days. The oil is leaking out of the drain plug.

So I guess my question is where do I start looking?
Is this a common problem?
If you have a good idea of what it is how much will it cost to fix?
Is it something I could do my self if mechanically inclined?
Since it is some what of a slow leak would to be OK to use the boat until it was fixed

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I did test drive the boat, but it was to short of a period to notice this...:facepalm:


2005 VIP 184
Mercruiser 3.0
Alpha I
Transom Serial Number OW136847
Drive Ratio 2.00
Drive Serial Number OW544705

Ayuh,... Welcome Aboard,... Start lookin' at the oil bottle, 'n follow the hose to the transom,...

Oil, like water, flows Downhill,...

 

[MarkSee]

Re: Where is my gear oil leaking from

The oil is leaking out of the drain plug. So I guess my question is where do I start looking?

In addition to looking as Bondo mentioned, you stated it's leaking out of the drain plug.
The drain plug, in addition to the "vent" plug near the top of the drive both use a fiber washer as a seal.

You might want to remove both plugs, which will drain the oil, and see if indeed the washer is there or not.

If you haven't visited the sticky section yet, lots of good information there and links to online manuals that will help.

BTW, yours is referred to as an Alpha 1, gen 2.

Mark

 

[achris]

Re: Where is my gear oil leaking from

In addition to looking as Bondo mentioned, you stated it's leaking out of the drain plug.
The drain plug, in addition to the "vent" plug near the top of the drive both use a fiber washer as a seal.

You might want to remove both plugs, which will drain the oil, and see if indeed the washer is there or not.

If you haven't visited the sticky section yet, lots of good information there and links to online manuals that will help.

BTW, yours is referred to as an Alpha 1, gen 2.

Mark

I think he's referring to the boat hull drain plug, not the drive drain plug....

 

[2005Vip]

Re: Where is my gear oil leaking from

Yes, it is leaking out of the boat hull.

 

[MarkSee]

Re: Where is my gear oil leaking from

I think he's referring to the boat hull drain plug, not the drive drain plug....

:doh:...now what Bondo said makes more sense:facepalm:guess the old brain was elsewhere:fish2:

 

[2005Vip]

Re: Where is my gear oil leaking from

Does this mean that my problem is more than likely just minor? Hopefully just a leak in a hose? I'm pretty new to this but is the gear oil in the outdrive? And you can just check the level in the engine compartment?

 

[MarkSee]

Re: Where is my gear oil leaking from

Here's what I do know for sure (and even more dumb why I didn't pick up on what you were saying) as I found gear lube leaking out my drain plug on my Sea Ray last year.

I traced back the hose to the transom and saw no oil yet there was oil in the bilge and leaking out the drain plug even when not running as you describe. The advice I was given, and followed, was to pull the drive and look for gear oil in the ujoint bellows. Sure enough, quite a bit in there. The problem is the drive shaft front seal has failed and needs replacing. I replaced that and now it no longer leaks.

For an alpha gen 2, that is #19 in this diagram:
DRIVESHAFT HOUSING AND DRIVE GEARS-Performance Product Technologies

Now you should trace back as recommended but what you describe is what happened to me and what I did.

And yes, gear oil is the lube for the drive and up in that bottle that makes it easy to see if you have a leak.

Here's a link to the sticky section where you'll see the sub-section about manuals where there is a link to where you can read manual #14 for a gen 2.
http://forums.iboats.com/mercruiser...cellaneous-mercruiser-information-329915.html

Mark

 

[2005Vip]

Re: Where is my gear oil leaking from

Here's what I do know for sure (and even more dumb why I didn't pick up on what you were saying) as I found gear lube leaking out my drain plug on my Sea Ray last year.

I traced back the hose to the transom and saw no oil yet there was oil in the bilge and leaking out the drain plug even when not running as you describe. The advice I was given, and followed, was to pull the drive and look for gear oil in the ujoint bellows. Sure enough, quite a bit in there. The problem is the drive shaft front seal has failed and needs replacing. I replaced that and now it no longer leaks.

For an alpha gen 2, that is #19 in this diagram:
DRIVESHAFT HOUSING AND DRIVE GEARS-Performance Product Technologies

Now you should trace back as recommended but what you describe is what happened to me and what I did.

And yes, gear oil is the lube for the drive and up in that bottle that makes it easy to see if you have a leak.

Here's a link to the sticky section where you'll see the sub-section about manuals where there is a link to where you can read manual #14 for a gen 2.
http://forums.iboats.com/mercruiser...cellaneous-mercruiser-information-329915.html

Mark

How hard is it to pull the drive? Do you need any specialized tools? I see the part is only $16... Wondering how much it would cost to have someone else do it.

 

[MarkSee]

Re: Where is my gear oil leaking from

Pulling the drive is pretty easy. In that same sticky section our own Chris did a nice video on removing and installing the drive.
You'll also want to pressure/vacuum test the drive to verify that is the only seal leaking and the sticky will help you with that also.

Now to replace that seal (I bought the item #18 assembly where the seal was already installed) you will need a couple special tools:1 to remove the ujoint assembly then putting it back together you'll need an inch pound torque gauge(not wrench). The steps are in the service manual I pointed you to, read section 3a and you'll see what you'll need to do. Not everything in that section but removing the ujoint from the case, taking apart some of the bearing assembly, then putting it back together. Yes, Chris even did a video on setting the rolling torque/bearing preload. Depending on rates in your area will indicate the cost but first do the tracing back and verify where the leak is taking place and go from there.

Mark

 

[2005Vip]

Re: Where is my gear oil leaking from

Thanks!

 

[achris]

Re: Where is my gear oil leaking from

opcorn:

 

[2005Vip]

Re: Where is my gear oil leaking from

I checked this morning and it looks like it is the seal. Local marina said it would be about $350 to fix. Thanks again.

 

[2005Vip]

Re: Where is my gear oil leaking from

Turned out to be the yoke seal. I also had a blown head gasket...