Oil in bilge

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crittyrobinson

Member I

• May 30, 2016

• #1

Soooooo, yeah. We just purchased a 1985 30+ from a donation center and noticed a little oil in the bilge as we began to motor home(~130 miles). once we arrived to our home slip I noticed even more oil in the bilge. Is there something about the Universal motors that causes this or could it just be that the previous owner forgot to live the oil filter before putting the new one on? Motor starts and runs smooth despite the leaking issue. Any help is appreciated!
-Chris

 

Afrakes

Sustaining Member

• May 30, 2016

• #2

Time to find the leak

Clean up any remaining oil from under the engine and place some paper towels there. Start the engine and observe where the oil begins to show up. Trace backwards from there. Many possible sources for an oil leak. Hopefully something simple. What Universal engine is it?

 

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Frank Langer

1984 Ericson 30+, Nanaimo, BC

• May 30, 2016

• #3

Chis,
Our universal 5416 16 hp. in our 1984 E30+ does not leak oil and most engines should not do so. Check the oil filter and the drain plug under the engine and the oil sender part on the right side of the engine as you face it (is low and to the back of the engine with a wire attached). Also ensure the valve cover is snug. After that you'll need to do some detective work.
Let us know what you find.
Frank

 

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crittyrobinson

Member I

• May 30, 2016

• #4

Thanks guys I'm heading to the slip tomorrow with oil absorbent cloth, oil and a new filter. I'll check back in.
Regards,
Chris

 

Christian Williams

E381 - Los Angeles

Senior Moderator

Blogs Author

• May 30, 2016

• #5

Be careful pumping overboard any oily bilge water. Even a little oil makes a slick, and if reported to the CG the matter can become onerous and a big insurance headache.

 

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Frank Langer

1984 Ericson 30+, Nanaimo, BC

• May 30, 2016

• #6

Don't they take away your boat, take all your money and throw you in jail for a hundred years if you discharge anything bad into the water these days? ::0

 

Rick R.

Contributing Partner

• May 30, 2016

• #7

Frank Langer said:

Don't they take away your boat, take all your money and throw you in jail for a hundred years if you discharge anything bad into the water these days? ::0

Click to expand...

They do, unless you're BP! Then they let you dump millions of gallons of dispersant so it sinks to the bottom (undetected by everyone but sea life). Sorry, Gulf Coast sailor here, venting.

 

Last edited: May 30, 2016

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crittyrobinson

Member I

• May 30, 2016

• #8

Yeah the last thing I want is for any oil to go overboard. I'm going to lay absorbent cloth down under the engine, remove the rest of the oil, replace the filter and check the engine all over before refilling and starting then removing the oil from the bilge.