inboard problems

lake4life · 07-01-2004, 02:27 PM

Hey all, I'm having a problem and am looking for any advice. My twin inboard Wellcraft appears to have a reddish, oil-based fluid in the bilge areas on the bottom of the hull.

My question has two parts:
1) What could this fluid be? I suspect transmission or some hydraulic fluid. I took the boat out for a ride down the bay and all seemed fine but I don't want to chance it again. I had trouble with one of the transmissions 2 summers ago and had it rebuilt.

2) How should I get it removed? Do most marinas have a way of safely removing this fluid? I could just put a bucket next to the bilge outlet and take the water to some treatment plant or put it in a waste-oil barrel.

Any help or advice would be appreciated!

-CJ

jrc · 07-01-2004, 02:47 PM

I can't offer any help to find the leak. Did you check the levels to see if one was low? Isn't power steering fluid red? Or the red could be rust in just about any fluid.

Obviously, the marina that fixes it will clean up the mess. Or clean up the mess yourself and wait until it really fails. Try these products:

http://www.boatus.com/foundation/fin...l_products.htm

B R · 07-01-2004, 03:06 PM

they carry those "oil sponges" at the hardware store in wolfeboro if you decide to clean it out yourself.

ahopper · 07-14-2004, 05:18 PM

That sounds exactly like transmission fluid. There should be a dipstick where you can check the fluid levels. As long as there's fluid in there, you shouldn't have a problem.

If your transmission cooler wasn't properly winterized it could have cracked and could be leaking, although you would probably have water in your tranny fluid if that was the case.

When I got some in my bilge I just mopped it out with paper towels and rags and tossed it in the trash.

Good luck!

MAXUM · 07-15-2004, 03:45 PM

The only red fluid I can think of that would be in your boat would be the powersteering system. Never seen a boat with a transmission in it.

Usually ATF is used in the P/S system.

Cal · 07-15-2004, 04:21 PM

It could also be fluid from trim tabs...they use ATF too.
The sponges and oil mats Boat US sells are great. Used them a few times myself

. I also keep a mat under each engine , just in case

.

07-01-2004, 02:27 PM	#1
lake4life Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 33 Thanks: 2 Thanked 9 Times in 5 Posts	inboard problems Hey all, I'm having a problem and am looking for any advice. My twin inboard Wellcraft appears to have a reddish, oil-based fluid in the bilge areas on the bottom of the hull. My question has two parts: 1) What could this fluid be? I suspect transmission or some hydraulic fluid. I took the boat out for a ride down the bay and all seemed fine but I don't want to chance it again. I had trouble with one of the transmissions 2 summers ago and had it rebuilt. 2) How should I get it removed? Do most marinas have a way of safely removing this fluid? I could just put a bucket next to the bilge outlet and take the water to some treatment plant or put it in a waste-oil barrel. Any help or advice would be appreciated! -CJ

07-01-2004, 03:06 PM	#3
B R Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 140 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	oil sponges they carry those "oil sponges" at the hardware store in wolfeboro if you decide to clean it out yourself. __________________ "You ain't gonna learn what you don't want to know"

07-14-2004, 05:18 PM	#4
ahopper Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Sounds like tranny fluid That sounds exactly like transmission fluid. There should be a dipstick where you can check the fluid levels. As long as there's fluid in there, you shouldn't have a problem. If your transmission cooler wasn't properly winterized it could have cracked and could be leaking, although you would probably have water in your tranny fluid if that was the case. When I got some in my bilge I just mopped it out with paper towels and rags and tossed it in the trash. Good luck!

07-15-2004, 04:21 PM	#6
Cal Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Pitman , NJ Posts: 627 Thanks: 40 Thanked 21 Times in 12 Posts	It could also be fluid from trim tabs...they use ATF too. The sponges and oil mats Boat US sells are great. Used them a few times myself . I also keep a mat under each engine , just in case . __________________ Paddle faster , I think I here banjos

07-01-2004, 02:47 PM	#2
jrc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NH Posts: 2,689 Thanks: 33 Thanked 439 Times in 249 Posts	I can't offer any help to find the leak. Did you check the levels to see if one was low? Isn't power steering fluid red? Or the red could be rust in just about any fluid. Obviously, the marina that fixes it will clean up the mess. Or clean up the mess yourself and wait until it really fails. Try these products: http://www.boatus.com/foundation/fin...l_products.htm

07-15-2004, 03:45 PM	#5
MAXUM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kuna ID Posts: 2,755 Thanks: 246 Thanked 1,942 Times in 802 Posts	The only red fluid I can think of that would be in your boat would be the powersteering system. Never seen a boat with a transmission in it. Usually ATF is used in the P/S system.