Lower unit oil leak

[cdlong]

Fired up both engines today. Neither were pumping water. Came in, ordered new impellers and when I went back out, I saw these oil leaks. Any idea what I need to repair them? The engines are 135 Mariner Marathon 135, on a 1986 SeaCraft 23 ft. WA w/ cuddy.
Would anyone know the proper name of this model boat?
Thank for any help rendered.

[Bushwacker]

Welcome aboard! That's a very rare walk-around version, similar to the 23 Sceptre/Tsunami but probably with a bigger cabin. I only know of 2 other CSC members models like that!

That may just be 2-cycle oil draining out the exhaust, especially if motor was winterized. The first check of lower unit should be to let it sit a few days and then loosen lower drain screw and see if any water runs out or if oil color looks like a milkshake, indicating water mixed with the oil! Then when you pull the WP, do a pressure and vacuum check of the gearcase to see if the seals hold pressure/vacuum or if they leak oil. And if you don't have a factory service manual for the motors, get one! It should explain all this stuff in more detail.

[DonV]

Actually you have what looks like two leaks and as Denny says it might be excess 2S oil. The dark leak from the seam where the lower unit bolts on gives that theory some credence. If your lower unit seals were leaking gear lube down the skeg, as in the first picture, and it was the milky colored lower unit gear lube I'd be worried.

[cdlong]

Thank you so much for the help. I had no idea this model was rare. We are the second owners. It's actually mama's boat, I just turn the wrenches, brushes & wash rags, etc and drive it. She did inspection, sea trail, everything. I came home one Friday nite and Sea Cracker was in the driveway.

[DonV]

I had a friend who asked me to look at one of these with him to buy. It was really nice, had a custom hard top, electronics, trailer, etc. He kept trying to "jew" the guy down and I kept telling him it was a really good deal and not to get too greedy. While he was trying to "get the best deal" they guy sold it to the next guy, the next day. He's still kicking himself. Good luck.

[CaptLloyd]

Welcome cdlong!

I have a 1988 23WA, affectionately known around here as my "Family Truckster" (our very creative member GFS would like everyone who has not seen my boat believe the it is painted metallic green with wood grain side panels).

But seriously, my kids are early teens, and we have great time on "Saltydog" (her real name). Yesterday I took my kids and another family offshore for a 85nm round trip out of Sebastian Inlet. They have the cabin to nap/lay out of the sun, plenty of deck space for fishing (we caught 6 dolphin(mahi) and a bonita), then it's easy to get to the bow to watch Flipper (the mammal dolphin) and several of his friends show up to ride the bow. Great ride and vesatility.

As for your oil leak worries, it's most likely 2 stroke oil like Denny and Don suggested. Change the lower unit oil, if it's milky, you need to further inspect the lower unit. If the oil is not milky, refill, give it a good run, and check it again for peace of mind. However, with the age of those motors, you need to be more concerned about the fuel system and ethanol gas. Make sure all the fuel lines are updated, and use non-ethanol fuel (Rec-90).

Lloyd

[cdlong]

Many thanks to you all for the help! I'll be checking the oil tomorrow. More to come.

[Bushwacker]

FYI, I'm currently doing the 3-year service on my 9-year old motor. (First 2 services were done by dealer since it was under warranty.) First thing I did after dropping the lower unit was take it to the dealer to have them do the vacuum and pressure checks. (There are 2 seals on both prop and drive shafts, one facing in to keep the oil in and the other facing out keep the water out, so both vacuum and pressure tests are required to check both seals.)

Although the gear oil looked fine with no sign of water, they called this morning and said that the upper seals were leaking, so I'll replace 'em before installing the new WP! I don't think the upper seals see quite as much pressure as the lower ones, making them less critical, but if I hadn't had this test done, I'd probably be looking at either loss of oil or water intrusion in the fresh gear lube sometime in the next 3 years! (Although BRP only requires a gear oil change every 3 years or 300 hours, I change it every 100 hours on the advice of a good mechanic . . . he said the E-TECs develop so much more torque than older motors that the pinon gear load is also much higher, so he felt that, even though BRP's new HPF Pro gear oil is the best available, a more frequent oil change was cheap insurance. I think that's good advice!

[cdlong]

I will have them checked. I change my oils every season. I have replaced all fuel lines and rubber parts. We can't find any non ethanol gas. We also add starbrite fuel additive.