cloudy oil leaking from Volvo Penta 280 outdrive
T A Shaw
I have a Volvo Penta 280 (Aquamatic) outdrive (single-prop). Last weekend
I accidentally dragged the prop through a sandy shoal at about 3-4 feet
in both forward and reverse (smart, huh?). Well, everything *seemed* ok
on the trip back. However, after I got her back in my yard (on trailer)
and running the engine for a few minutes to flush it out, I noticed a cloudy
tannish colored oil seeping out of the shift mechanism cover at the
upper unit. I pulled the cover and the oil was leaking out of the sealing
ring between the gear housing and the eccentric piston (little thing that
the shifter rod attaches to). I also checked the dip stick and the oil on
it was the same cloudy tannish color (as opposed to clear tan).
Now, do you think that water is now leaking into the gear housing from one
or more places? Could I have messed up the lower unit as well as the upper
unit?
Any advice on what I should do?
Thanks!
John Hayes
Hollywood, FL
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May I walk in beauty. Make my eyes |L H Dude | oOO
ever behold the red and purple sunset. |l...@cais.com | _____ OO
Make my hands respect the things you have+----------------------| (_/-\_)..
made, and my ears sharp to your voice - Chief Yellow Lark | ==(0).
Bob Curtis
>I have a Volvo Penta 280 (Aquamatic) outdrive (single-prop). Last weekend
>I accidentally dragged the prop through a sandy shoal at about 3-4 feet
>in both forward and reverse (smart, huh?).
Oops! Won't hit that one again though, will you? ;-)
>Well, everything *seemed* ok
>on the trip back. However, after I got her back in my yard (on trailer)
>and running the engine for a few minutes to flush it out, I noticed a cloudy
>tannish colored oil seeping out of the shift mechanism cover at the
>upper unit. I pulled the cover and the oil was leaking out of the sealing
>ring between the gear housing and the eccentric piston (little thing that
>the shifter rod attaches to). I also checked the dip stick and the oil on
>it was the same cloudy tannish color (as opposed to clear tan).
>Now, do you think that water is now leaking into the gear housing from one
>or more places? Could I have messed up the lower unit as well as the upper
>unit?
Definately sounds like a water leak! Check your lower shaft seals - you
may have drove grit deeply into them, or permanently damaged them. It
won't be expensive to fix if you deal with it right away, but let it sit,
or run it that way and you're in for some serious $$$.
Good luck!
--
Bob Curtis <b...@gate.net>
Ridge Gardner
>
> Now, do you think that water is now leaking into the gear housing from one
> or more places? Could I have messed up the lower unit as well as the upper
> unit?
John...
As you have surmised, cloudy oil is a definite sign of water contamination.
Sounds like a seal is bad somewhere. I have to admit, I have virtually no
experience with Volvo I/O's, but a lot with outboards. Chances are, if the
water has not been present for an extended period of time (months, for
example), any damage incurred should be minimal. I would drain the housing,
flush it out with diesel or something, replace the suspect seals, re-fill
'er and see what happens.
Good Luck... Ridge Gardner
Adam D. Meyerson
early 290s to leak, it is probably unrelated to the grounding. You should
have the seal repaired on the shift shaft with the new, improved part
(reddish brown) the old seals were black, had only one lip, and were prone
to leaking. The newer seals were green, had two lips and worked well. The
newest one is the reddish brown one. Have it changed and have the leg
pressure and vacuum tested. If the leg has a lot of hours on it, or has
never had the prop seals changed, you might want to go ahead and change
them too.
Most important thing is to drain the cloudy oil immediately - especially if
the boat is run in salt water - and change it. Best to let the mechanic do
this, but if you don't want to take it in right away, you should at least
change the oil.
--
Adam D. Meyerson
ak...@aloha.net
JamesH8327
Youn have a fairly typical problem,(shift shaft seal failure) this should
not be related to the grounding you incured. I am a Marine mechanic in
the Hollywood area . Feel free to contact me for futher dicussion.
Jim's Marine Service
791-2232
Jim Hamlin