After changing the lower unit gear oil and running with a flusher, the next day I noticed some oil leaking from the water intake grill. It was kinda milky white. What kind of trouble am I in? I assume it’s not good to take the boat out. What needs to be fixed, and how much am I looking at spending if I go to a local mechanic like Chas. Marine? Is this something that I can fix by myself? The motor is a 97 Yamaha 30 hp. I was also planning on changing out the impeller. If I do this, will I be in the same area to fix the leaking problem? To those of you who provide info., thanks in advance.
Lower unit seal kit. Runs about $65 for the kit for most motors. This includes all the seals and gaskets to reseal your lower unit. One of the harder seals to do yourself is the propshaft seals. Usually two of the them facing each other on your propshaft. You can pop them out with a screw driver. But you are supposed to have the proper tools. (seal puller).
If water is coming out of the intake, it is probably the impeller housing gaskets/seals leaking. Or the housing itself needs replacing. Either way, it’s time for a seal kit on your lower unit. The seal kit usually does not come with the impleller either. So buy that as well. Easy to do really if you are mechanically inclined.
Not sure if this is your exact 30hp motor. But it should be similar.
See the breakout and parts list here.
http://www.boats.net/parts/search/Yamaha/Outboard/1997/30MSHV/REPAIR%20KIT%202/parts.html
This may be useful.
http://old.charlestonfishing.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=98968&SearchTerms=this,is,johnson
I just spent $500 having the same job done on a 115 Evinrude (new seals and impeller). But you first need to find out if it is gear oil you see leaking. A pressure and vacuum test would confirm this.
Thanks for the insight. Here are some photos of the leaks…just in case visuals might offer some different insight. I do want to say that after posting a few days ago, I ended up dunking the boat in the water to see if it ran any different. Nope, it ran as good as always. This time, though, the oil leak is not milky white. No idea why. Thanks again for all your help!
I hope this works, this is my first time attempting to upload photos using photobucket. If this works, and I can get the lower unit fixed, I guess I’ll have to start posting some pics of fish!!!
Last time I had lower unit seals done I had a leak coming from the prop area and mechanic charged me about $300(6 yrs ago). He said I had a bunch of fishing line in there eating my seals up
I would not attempt the seal on the prop shaft unless you have the tools and KNOW WHAT YOU ARE doing, not worth a chance of screwing it up. From what I read some motors have shims and other things to keep them lined up if not done properly it will eventually eat up your shaft.
However not sure what is causing you leak there, you have two sets of seals, on on top of the lower unit and the one on the prop shaft. To me that looks like it may be the one on the top and that is not a hard change if you have ever done the impeller change. It is right under it
Let motor sit for couple of days and then take screw out and see of water comes out first. That will let you know if you are getting water in
Sea Pro 210cc
Yamaha 200 4 Stroke
Dodge 1500 4x4 HEMI
you actually have 3 seal locations
prop shaft
shift shaft
drive shaft
did you test it in saltwater orfresh water
i hope fresh
you need to get this drained and refilled immediately, evenif you dont get it fixed
you dont want water in places made only for oil