www.iFourWinns.com

Hi everyone,

I recently brought my boat to a marina where the water was more still and I've now noticed what resembles an oil slick around my transom in the water.

It doesn't appear to be gas or oil.... the slick is not "rainbow" like. Usually when I spill a drop of gasoline in the water I get that "rainbow" appearance. This slick has no color, it's mono-color. It's silverish. But it still resembles what gas would look like in the water but without the rainbow colors.

Any ideas what I could focus my attention on? I'm far from a mechanic, so thank you in advance for your input.

I'm thinking maybe Trim Tab hydraulic fluid? But the tabs function just fine. Outdrive oil/fluid?


Best regards,

Vic

_________________
Vic
"Byte Me"
1989 Vista 245
Lake Norman, NC

Hi Vic,

I'm surprised that no one has jumped in on this....

You also didn't indicate what engine/drive you have (I'll assume it's an OMC Cobra though because of your year model)

It could be anything.


Couple of questions though. What did the engine and outdrive oil oil look like when you changed them at the end of last winter or beginning of this season?

Did you remove (or have removed) the out drive and inspect the drive bellows and check the alignment?

(these are things that are recommended by VP and Mercury as every year service) No one knows what OMC recommends because they don't exist....but they would probably suggest the same thing.

If you have a drive oil leak, water will be drawn into the drive after running as it cools down. If it's left in there you'll be replacing or rebuilding it.

You can check your trim system oil by using a small thin tube to draw some out of the pump reservoir. If using ATF in it, it will be red & milky looking if water is present.

You may be just leaking a little oil that is making it's way outside when you run the bilge pump but I would check the obvious things first. That's going to require you to trailer the boat and drain some drive oil......It's the end of the (boating) year anyway so you should be planning to change it and the engine oil/filter. If you do it yourself, ensure that you follow the OMC service manual instructions (if OMC) for your type of drive.


Hope that gives you some things to go on,


Regards,


Rick

_________________
1987 Four Winns Liberator 211, formerly OMC 460 King Kobra powered, replaced in 2006 by a 1997 Mercruiser 454/Bravo III

Thanks, Rick, for the reply!

I'm gonna pull her out in the next month or so and have the maintenance performed. I do everything once annually.

I think I may have since discovered what it is. I think.

I cleaned the bottom recently with a good brush and my bottom paint is a light gray/silver. I know it may sound crazy, but after cleaning the bottom the water had the same colored oil-like pattern in the water. I'm going to keep an eye on it.

Thanks again!

_________________
Vic
"Byte Me"
1989 Vista 245
Lake Norman, NC

OK, so I finally pulled her out for the annual maintenance.

The service tech said the hose from the outdrive trim manifold broke loose or something. My outdrive doesn't go up or down right now (which really isn't a big deal for me urgently). (I don't trailer the vessel)

I haven't spoken directly to the tech yet but allegedly they need to remove the engine to fix this... HUH?

He said when he pours the ATF fluid in, it just leaks out.

I'm far from a mechanic and this does sound a little crazy and expensive.

Has anyone else had this occur before and if so, does this sound right?

I'd like to talk somewhat intelligently come Monday.

Thanks all!



Vic

_________________
Vic
"Byte Me"
1989 Vista 245
Lake Norman, NC

I had a leaking trim line on my '88 Cobra and my mechanic replaced the manifold and all the lines that go from the manifold to the trim cylinders....the manifold is bolted to the inside of the gimble assembly and so is accessible from outside the boat....I don't see why they'd have to pull the engine....two trim lines have to go through the inner side of the transom mount to the manifold which bolts to the outer side of the gimble assembly...it may be tight spot to get to on some installations but I know for sure my mechanic did not have to pull the engine on mine...

_________________
88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Thanks, Lou. I will be chatting with Service on Monday. It sounded like a bit much to me. $500 just to pull the engine.

_________________
Vic
"Byte Me"
1989 Vista 245
Lake Norman, NC