Would you be worried?!? [Archive]

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FHMan1905

03-22-2009, 10:36 PM

I just pulled the cover off my boat in the garage and popped the engine cover....in the bottom around the drain plug was some oil (not a huge amount, but some). The first thing I did in a panic was run my hand all around the base of the oil pan and motor....could not feel anything besides residue no fresh oil anywhere. So after the panic calmed I checked the oil level and it is above the full mark. The boat has been garaged since about September and it is an 83 model. I am thinking it maybe just oil that has been in the hull from an oil change and just settled back to the lowest point over time. Any opinions?

Thanks

Luckily I am very good friends with the previous owner so I am going to call him tomorrow to ask him if he ever had that issue, because he changed the oil in it every year and did right before I bought it.

EricB

03-22-2009, 10:55 PM

FHMan:
Before you hit the panic button, wipe up the oil and keep an eye on the bilge and oil level when operating. It is a 1983 model, it's not new and has some use. After 26 years nobody retains fluids 100%.
The key is to watch and see what happens. If after a while it continues to leak and it's not acceptable to you, then go after the leak.
I have an 83 also and it too leaks some oil after extended storage. But during the season it is fine. Just keep an eye on it.

FHMan1905

03-22-2009, 10:58 PM

TMCNo1

03-23-2009, 08:40 AM

I am going to get it out this week and get it fired up in the drive and let it run for a little bit...about that time here....the only place that seemed suspicous to me was where the drain hose fitting goes into that pan....I never noticed any oil during last season and I am not super worried due to the fact that after 6 or 7 months of storage the oil level is still above the full mark. I have already wiped up all the oil in bilge, so I am just going to keep an eye on it.....thanks

What color was the oil? Once you get it up and running, you also want to check the transmission fluid level and inspect the transmission cooler for transmission fluid residue that may represent a leak.
Unless you get a bunch of water in the bilge every use, an old white bath towel spread out in the bilge under the engine and transmission will show any evidence of oil/fluid leakage in a very short time.

ProStar Slalom

03-23-2009, 09:42 AM

Our '84 has 1250 hours on it and it continues to run great. It leaks a drop here and there, but as the saying goes...you only need to worry about it if it stops leaking...because then you're out! I say fly it and watch it.

PapaJoe

03-23-2009, 09:53 AM

First, clean up the oil around the drain...

Then, see if you can borrow a fake a lake, and idle it for about 5 minutes, then check for oil...

Repeat process 3 times, extending the idle time by 5 minutes each time....

This will ensure you run a test for your engine at normal operating temp....

If you do have oil, check gaskets....

Just a thought......

Gamble

03-23-2009, 12:54 PM

If I had to bet, with it being a 83 model...........it's prolly the rear main starting to leak...........No big deal, just check the oil every now and then. All fords in that era leaked at some point. Just run it and keep an eye on it.

mayo93prostar

03-23-2009, 01:31 PM

rear main seal is my guess, if not too bad, just run it and keep and eye on it.

FHMan1905

03-23-2009, 06:28 PM

FHMan1905

03-23-2009, 06:52 PM

What color was the oil? Once you get it up and running, you also want to check the transmission fluid level and inspect the transmission cooler for transmission fluid residue that may represent a leak.
Unless you get a bunch of water in the bilge every use, an old white bath towel spread out in the bilge under the engine and transmission will show any evidence of oil/fluid leakage in a very short time.

it isn't tranny fluid....the tranny fluid is red and this is brown to black oil....

scramison

03-23-2009, 07:26 PM

I am going to get it out this week and get it fired up in the drive and let it run for a little bit...about that time here....the only place that seemed suspicous to me was where the drain hose fitting goes into that pan....I never noticed any oil during last season and I am not super worried due to the fact that after 6 or 7 months of storage the oil level is still above the full mark. I have already wiped up all the oil in bilge, so I am just going to keep an eye on it.....thanks

I would suggest you change the oil first before you do this. The reason being that oil seperates over time, after it has been run in an engine. You can leave oil on the shelf forever but once you use it, the clock is ticking.

TMCNo1

03-23-2009, 07:38 PM

I pulled the carb off the boat today and noticed some oil along the middle fin bulge. Traced it to the oil filter, cause I spilled a little from the Ziploc bag I used to remove and catch the filter in during last falls oil change. I had towels everywhere, but a little bit had run down the block/oil pan that I had missed and dripped into the bilge. Checked everything for the giggles of it and there was no evidence of oil on the bottom of the tramsmission, bellhousing and oil pan, so the bilge also got a good wipedown and furniture polishing.

FHMan1905

03-23-2009, 09:53 PM

Found my leak....the fitting coming out of the pan....the hose has a small drip to it....checked all my fluids...boat fired on third hit and ran like a champ...all fluids look good and had good pressures...thanks for the help

Cloaked

03-23-2009, 10:02 PM

FHMan:
After 26 years nobody retains fluids 100%.......
That is not necessarily a true statement. After all these years, there is not one drop or leak of any fluids from the engine.

SunCoast 83

03-24-2009, 07:02 PM

i talked to my buddy who owned the boat before me and he said a couple of years ago he had the same issue and the drain hose had dry rotted at the fitting coming out of the pan...he didn't replace the hose just cut out the bad part...i have put a paper towel under there to see if that is where it is at...but that is where i am betting my money....

I had a slow leak over a period of 2 years due to the Rear Main Seal going bad. I just monitored it for a while. Got tired of scrubbing out my engine well this year and had it replaced. Big job on an 83, gotta pull the whole block out, needless to say I took it in.
MC of Orlando did a great job:),... cost about 670. :(

FHMan1905

03-24-2009, 08:33 PM

Luckily mine isn't the seal...i put a paper towel under the fitting coming out of the pan and that is where my drip is at...after 48 hours it is about the size of a dime on the towel....i felt the entire pan by hand and there is no oil on it anywhere...just some residue from over the years use....but that is a good thing to know...that a seal replacement is less than a tune up....had a tune up done two years ago on my old S&S and it was 780 bucks....yeah ... ouch

I had a slow leak over a period of 2 years due to the Rear Main Seal going bad. I just monitored it for a while. Got tired of scrubbing out my engine well this year and had it replaced. Big job on an 83, gotta pull the whole block out, needless to say I took it in.
MC of Orlando did a great job:),... cost about 670. :(

SunCoast 83

03-24-2009, 10:18 PM

Well glad to hear that. If it was the Rear Main, you would be have a lot more oil pooling up in the well. A tune up price is pretty steap, I have not looked into that yet. How many hours had you compiled before getting the engine tuned?

FHMan1905

03-25-2009, 07:33 AM

To be honest I don't know. The guy I bought my old one off of didn't take real good care of it. After the first winter it wouldn't run for anything so I took it to the dealer and said fix it. They said all they did was adjust the carb and a complete tune up. I didn't know much about these boats then, now I will do it myself!