Outboard Motor Question

[catsmeow]

Have a 1995 90hp Mariner Outboard. Had the water pump serviced last year. Tough year with work have not been able to get out. Have been starting it and running it in the driveway a few times. First that I notice a black oil leak on the floor after I put it back in the garage. Left the motor tilted up a little. Black oil is coming out if a small hole on lower unit below the cavitation plate at the back and a little above the prop. Is this just a normal exhaust thing or is it something I should be concerned about. Never seen this kind of leak before. Wanted to take the grand kids out for ride this coming Tuesday. Any thoughts appreciated. Thanks... Walt

[Flygaff]

If it is oil, I would be concerned. Check the easy things first. Are the oil fill and over flow screws tight. When was the last time to lower unit oil was changed? could be a shaft seal. if so Yikes. Are you sure it is oil, or just exhaust crap with water?

Good luck

BP

[catsmeow]

Hey bp, lower unit serviced professionally last year. All lower unit screws tight and no signs of leakage
Engine has not been out on the water this year. Do a heavy fogging and that es my thought too. I guess is small hole part of the exhust in addition to thru the propellar hub. It is kinda watered down black seepage. Guess i will give it a shot. Just going to do a short cruse with the grandkids out of rumsom muni ramp. Have unlimit towing with boat us. That small hole is open into the lower unit so i think its just exhaust crap. Just never seen it before. Maybe need yo be run pretty hard to remove fogging crap. Thanks for the input.
..walt

[Gerry Zagorski]

Like you said, give it a run and then check the lower unit oil to make sure there is no water in it....

If you have a large barrel or garbage can you could fill it up and run the motor in it on land as well.

[catsmeow]

Took the boat out today and ran her pretty hard will check engine in the morning. Have a 2001 dodge conversion van. Just had front brakes completely rebuilt. So back down the ramp at rumson. Brake pedal goes like right to the floor. Parking brake light and abs light come on and stay on. Park truck and go out. Had whole family out for evening cruise. Kept thinking about truck and will it be drivable. Had 5 people including my 2 grand kids. Well go back to ramp, go boat on trailer and nursed the truck home to middlesex with i would say like ten % braking
Have triple a and boat us trailer assist but could not help thinking how long it would have taken us get home truck to shop and boat home. Thankfully made it home. Will be calling my mechanic first thing in the morning.

[catsmeow]

Good news motor no longer having black oilwater residue so it needed a good run to get all the fogging out of its sysyem. New back brake lines on the truck. Issues resolved.