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Just picked up our "new" '83 Outrage this week and noticed some oil dripping out of the back of the lower engine cowl right above the 2 exhaust ports and down on the lower unit of the '87 225 HP Johnson, this with the engine in the down position. I thought it was excess winterizing oil, so I let it go. Was working on the trim today as the engine is sticky in the full up position and won't start going down using the trim without a push, so I had it up and down many times trying to work some lube into all the joints when I noticed a good amount of oil dripping out the rear cowl in the down position and out the steering arm in the up position. Keep in mind that this engine hasn't been run since I looked at the boat in April (I think they had run it once or twice before that for other potential buyers), and further investigation shows that the oil is coming out of the carbs, but not the vent hole at the bottom, through the first jet up the left side of the carb. I'm puzzled, never seen this before and am open to suggestions on where to look for the problem. Thanks.

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Good question. My 87 40hp is doing the same thing. Looking forward to an answer.

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A couple of questions Phipper: When did you notice this starting to happen? How does your engine run since this started? Do you see any more or less blue smoke since this started? And how many times have you run it this year since starting it after being winterized? I think I may have found a solution but am still testing and will let you know....

Dave

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Dave,

This could be many things.

First of all, carburetors are know to drip fuel/oil into the lower cowling of the engine when in the tilted up position. When you lower the engine, this fuel/oil will drip down the leg and shaft of the engine and come out where ever there are holes.... This is normal.

Second, I would check all of the hose fittings on your carburetors and VRO pump.
Many mechanics used the nylon tie straps to hold the fuel and oil lines in place.
These tie straps crack from old age and leaks start to happen.
Even though a tie strap looks good, see if you can pull it off as it might be broken on that back side where you can't see it. These must be tight. If any of them are loose or broken, replace them..... You don't have to remove the lines and I would not recommend removing any of the VRO lines...

Third, keep the inside of the bottom cowling clean and watch for leaks. This is probably the best way to find a problem area...

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Thanks Joe! The puzzling thing is that I'd think the carbs would be empty by now given the rate of drip I witnessed, but it just keeps dripping VRO oil in the up position. When I got the boat, I kept the engine up for over 24 hours and it had to be dripping then, I lowered it and saw the drip out the back for the first time. Then the other day when I was working on the trim, same thing, a fair amount of oil dripping all day. Checked the VRO tank and it's not under pressure...

I pulled the carb cowl and it's definately coming from the carbs, first jet on the left side (I have to get a good shop manual for this engine!), but I will check the things you pointed out too. Now, today I had a thought, maybe the engine is just tilting too high. There's no sensor adjustment on this engine like on others. So I lowered it about 4" (measuring from the bottom tip of the skeg), and viola, dripping stopped! So I'm hoping that it was just over that invisible maximum tilt level and it's not something more involved. Have no experience with this engine yet and have no idea how well it runs. Once I get the bottom patched up and the HIN issue solved (hopefully this week) I can drop it in the pond (read: any shore always within a few hundred feet) and see how it runs....

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Boy, I thought I had it Joe, but I simply turned the engine to the other side stop while tilted in the almost full up position and out more oil came. I see your point about dripping being normal, and see the seal and the pick up tube at the bottom of the carb cowl designed to prevent the drippage from going any further and suck it back up (I think?) when the engine is running. But given it hasn't been run in months, doesn't the amount still coming out seem excessive? Thanks in advance as I'm not too familiar with VRO issues.