Oil leak

[splashandburn]

I just noticed that I've got a fair amount of oil in my bilge. Motor is an HP500 EFI. I've checked all the valve covers and everything obvious on top of the motor and can't find anything. The front of the motor and water pump area are dry. I can't see for sure but it seems like its coming from somewhere towards the back/center of the motor? I've stuck my hand down all around the sides as far as I can reach but everything is dry. Its definitely motor oil and not drive or trim oil. Anyone have any suggestions of where to start looking? Oil pressure sensor? I'm reading good oil pressure so not sure if that would still be the case if it were leaking. Any hlp would be greatly appreciated.

 

[old377guy]

Oil cooler on bellhousing? or lines going to it from remote oil mount?

 

[splashandburn]

I tried looking around the oil cooler but didn't see or feel anything there and nothing on the lines from the filter. The boat sat all winter without any leaks - I completely cleaned out the bilge and would have seen anything dripping. Seems to have started once I started running the boat?

 

[fund razor]

Oil cooler on bellhousing? or lines going to it from remote oil mount?

That was going to be my guess.

 

[rschap1]

Sure its engine oil?
I have heard a lot of folks having trim or tab pump reservoirs mounted on seat back in front of motor, those leak and oil gets drawn in and tossed around by the belts/pulleys/airflow around them.
Just a thought...

 

[fund razor]

Ummmm. Distributor gasket?

 

[splashandburn]

Definitely engine oil. I'm gonna dig deeper this weekend and check out these areas. Thanks for all the help.

 

[fund razor]

I had a leak that I thought was a fitting for an oil cooler and it was the distributor gasket. It would burp a little and it would run down the back.

 

[Ratickle]

Don't forget, most use engine oil in the trim pumps....

 

[old377guy]

Don't forget, most use engine oil in the trim pumps....

.........but not 30 wt. only 10-40w or atf

 

[fund razor]

Don't forget, most use engine oil in the trim pumps....

The original post says this:

Its definitely motor oil and not drive or trim oil.

Perhaps the oil is used.

 

[38fountainSC]

oil sending unit.

 

[old377guy]

Aha!

 

[fund razor]

I think that it was a guess.

 

[Ratickle]

The original post says this:

Its definitely motor oil and not drive or trim oil.

Perhaps the oil is used.

Possible, but I was thinking many people, (including myself who has always used Merc trim oil), think if it's brown it's engine.

 

[fund razor]

Possible, but I was thinking that if a guy has the benefit of being with the boat, and seeing, touching and smelling the oil in question, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

Post number 1: Its definitely motor oil and not drive or trim oil.

 

[Ratickle]

Any update?

 

[splashandburn]

No still haven't found it. Checked all y suggestions here but can't find anything. Almost seems like its coming from somewhere in the center if the motor yet the oil pan appears dry? I'm wondering if it could be a drain plug. For now I've got oil pads down to catch any drips. Might have yo wait til Fall and pull the motor to get a better look.