Transmission - how bad is this?

[jmagel]

Took our maiden voyage for the season last week and found this under the port transmission. Temp and pressure were good the whole trip and oil level is still good. Obviously have a bad seal of some sort, but question is how bad is this. Can I still run ok if I keep the oil level in check? Looks like it's also time for a re-paint.

 

[Finalee]

Was the area clean before the trip? The time it took to get that way makes a difference.

 

[jmagel]

Was the area clean before the trip? The time it took to get that way makes a difference.

Yes - brand new oil diapers when we left.

 

[bobk]

Transmission fluid should not be black. That looks like engine oil. If it is from the trans, you likely have a rear main seal in need of replacement too. Do you see a spray pattern near the output shaft? How was the oil level?

Bobk

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Looks like engine oil. Check the oil levels of the trans and engine. What does trans oil look like?

 

[Boatsb]

What Bob and Sky said.

Transmission oil only gets black like that from contamination like a bad rear main engine seal.

 

[jmagel]

That's what I thought -- the trans oil looks almost clear like, well, transmission fluid. Engine oil level is still fine. If there is cross contamination the trans oil dipstick would show it, right? There does seem to be a spray pattern, but it was really all over. I put new diapers - maybe if I take a short run I can see better the origin.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

That's what I thought -- the trans oil looks almost clear like, well, transmission fluid. Engine oil level is still fine. If there is cross contamination the trans oil dipstick would show it, right? There does seem to be a spray pattern, but it was really all over. I put new diapers - maybe if I take a short run I can see better the origin.

If trans oil looks clean on dipstick then it is not a trans leak. You may have an oil line or fitting spraying it out like that on the engine. What engines are in there, 8v92's?

 

[jmagel]

Yes - 8v92. I'm not at the boat right now, but from the photos I see two fittings at the bottom of the engine, but they look pretty clean. And the engine and transmission look pretty clean so it has to be coming from something at the very bottom.