Hoping some of you knowledgeable people can help me before I have to pull the engine out of the boat to find this leak. As I was getting the boat out of the water for the season I noticed that the bilge was oily and grimy which i never has been before. I cleaned the bilge all out clean and let the boat idle on the trailer in the lake to operating temp at which time I seen a small drip coming from the engine on the PORT side down into the bilge. It appears to be on the back 1/3 of the engine higher than the oil pan, maybe a remote oil line but unsure. I got a light and a mirror but cannot find the leak. It does look like its dripping down on the hoses that feed the trim cylinders for the lower unit as I noticed oil on them cleaned and inspected them and then ran the engine again they had drips of oil on them again, so I have 99.9% ruled them being the culprit out. The boat is a 2002 Baja outlaw 25 with a 496 Mag HO, with around 400HRS on the engine. Please any help would be appreciated I am capable of pulling the motor out if need be but would rather not if iI don't have to. Thank you in advance for your thoughts.

Could be the oil cooler lines/fittings or filter adapter. Could you reach under there and feel where the leak is coming from?

Check the oil pressure sending unit. It is screwed into the side of the block on that side, they are made of relatively thin metal that rusts easy.

agree, sender or switch both in that location

Thank you guys very much will look into both of those to see I just ordered the full MERC manual so that should get me in the right direction. I have tried with all my might to reach around in there and feel for that leak but cannot get in there.

Mirror and flashlight or camera with flash might let you see, put camera in movie mode and tape it to a stick.

Same thing here on my 496. Noticed it running on the hose a few days ago. At idle, mine is a drip every 10 secs. Need to get my engine camera from the shop and further investigate.

Check the bottom of your drive oil reservoirs. It’s pretty common for the O Ring to leak, wick down tube and drip off in the bilge. Just run your fingers down around the bottom of the bottle to check for oil. It’s an easy fix

RyanOOTJ if you come up with anyting let me know I will do the same.

Tried the camera trick and the video its just so hard to get in there didnt really see anything that was dripping PIAN IN THE ASS to get in that area.

Scagburner will double check that but I am pretty sure that it is engine oil, always good to double check though thank you all.

Just passing this on whether its your problem or not. the past 3 to 6 yeas these Merc Drive lube reservoirs brand new (6 years old to new) will leak at the bottom of gear oil. It is a slight drip every when ever. The gear oil seeps thru the epoxy that seals the 2 wires of the bottom of the reservoir for the low gear oil alarm. Anyways, maybe your problem or not but passing this on because I have seen it a lot of these reservoirs leaking in the past couple of years. These gear oil reservoirs do not last like they use to

Also maybe a valve cover gasket leaking somewhat.. Possible.