ADVICE NEEDED 496 MagHO Oil Leak
 

Oil in my bilge. 325 hour motor. Always well maintained.

I did not see an active "drip" while motor running. Seems to have drained oil AFTER motor stopped and sitting for a day or so. Odd?

Has been determined that I do not have a cracked block, or anything "fatal" at this point. Service place replaced remote oil filter, oil drain hose that comes off oil pan, and can snake through drain hole. Also changed a couple of o-rings here or there (sorry, don't know specifics).

Unfortunately, didn't fix the problem. Oil still in the bilge.

Now looks like only logical next step will involve having service place pull the motor, to get better visual on engine underside. Current theories are oil pan, or main seal.

So a question for my OSO brothers and advisors, as I embark on this journey of tracking down an elusive oil lead...

1. Any thoughts or ideas of where this might be coming from?
2. Any way to reliably diagnose without pulling the motor?

3. If I end up pulling the motor, can someone give me some general idea of what I should expect to pay for just pulling the motor by itself? Never had a need to have this done before.

4. While the motor's out -- what are some "while I'm at it" preventative maintenance/replace items I should do to this previously FLAWLESS motor, with 325 hours on the meter? I've already got idea to replace the impellar, thermostat, .... anything else?

Oh, before the obvious best option gets tossed out there -- unfortunately I am not in a position to do what I'd really like to do.... "repower with more horsepower".

Thanks all.

I2D

The first thing to do is clean the bilge and engine and figure out where the oil is coming from. They could also put some dye into the oil to track down the leak easier.

This solution has my vote.

Ken

My vote too. Use a dye after cleaning to help find the leak. Usually a black light is used to help detect the leak with dye.

Was the old leak dirty oil and after service the new old leak clean. Sure it is motor oil?

Look at the point where the dipstick enters the pan. I had a leak there on my 500EFI years ago. It was fixable with epoxy, as it was not a crack, just a seam that was slightly compromised.

I would check the oil drain hose fitting at the pan . Pretty whimpy fitting for the job it has to do. just a thought Jeff :ernaehrung004:

Ain't it though!

Thanks everyone for the ideas. I will follow them.
I2D

Do you have breathers on the valve covers? A little oil can drip from them at the end of the day, run down the engine and end up in the bilge.