A trace of water in the leg oil of my 2001 Merc. 225 Opti.
Every spring we drain the leg oil and replace and last year we noticed a small amount of coffee color ribbon of color on the dark dirty oil in the catch basin where we drained the leg oil. Since the motor had not been run over the winter and oil floats on water it was noticed only for a short time when the oil started to drain. I am curious as to how serious this is and the best course of action. We ran it for the season without a problem. So the options now seems to be drain it and have a look and if it is the same keep running it next spring or see if I can get a Merc mechanic to remove the leg and service it - new seals possibly a bearing or two etc.
The motor currently has about 900 hours on it and the previous owner had a seal and bearing replaced before I bought it. It had about 600 hours on it when I got it.
I did talk to a couple of Merc. Mechanics when we noticed the little bit of water and they did not seem to get excited about it and one commented that the oil is a very good lubricant even with a little bit of water in.it. The leg oil additives bond to the surface of parts and one commented they had a guy run a motor for 150 miles by mistake with no oil in the leg and when they took it apart it was just fine from the oil film left on the parts. Obviously not a good thing to do but still somewhat reassuring.
I am leaning towards having the seals etc. done. Any thoughts?
Every spring we drain the leg oil and replace and last year we noticed a small amount of coffee color ribbon of color on the dark dirty oil in the catch basin where we drained the leg oil. Since the motor had not been run over the winter and oil floats on water it was noticed only for a short time when the oil started to drain. I am curious as to how serious this is and the best course of action. We ran it for the season without a problem. So the options now seems to be drain it and have a look and if it is the same keep running it next spring or see if I can get a Merc mechanic to remove the leg and service it - new seals possibly a bearing or two etc.
The motor currently has about 900 hours on it and the previous owner had a seal and bearing replaced before I bought it. It had about 600 hours on it when I got it.
I did talk to a couple of Merc. Mechanics when we noticed the little bit of water and they did not seem to get excited about it and one commented that the oil is a very good lubricant even with a little bit of water in.it. The leg oil additives bond to the surface of parts and one commented they had a guy run a motor for 150 miles by mistake with no oil in the leg and when they took it apart it was just fine from the oil film left on the parts. Obviously not a good thing to do but still somewhat reassuring.
I am leaning towards having the seals etc. done. Any thoughts?