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  #1   IP: 65.206.71.3
Old 11-21-2011, 01:00 PM
MAINE ATOMIC4 MAINE ATOMIC4 is offline
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Sludge found in Bilge & under oil pan

Hi Everyone,

About half way through the season, I noticed oil sludge in the bilge of my Pearson 28. I determined it was coming from the engine, but couldn't find the leak. I checked the oil level repeatedly through the season and it seemed to hold fairly constant, although I'll concede that quantifying it with the dip is not a perfect science.

Anyway, during winter commissioning I reached under the oil pan and felt a sludge. It was partly oil...partly seawater goo from the packing (I think).

I pumped out the oil using a drill pump and a newly installed Moyer oil change kit (thanks MM!). The total contents of oil removed was (1) 2-liter bottle.

So, is my oil pan corroded through? Could it be coming from the shaft seal? Maybe I overfilled the oil last season? Is this an A4 life ender? How can I check for leak source given the way the mounting and flywheel block all reasonable views of the pan?

I basically need a knowledgable person to recommend a next step for me so I can continue to efficiently troubleshoot over the winter.

Thanks!
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  #2   IP: 206.125.176.3
Old 11-21-2011, 01:33 PM
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sastanley sastanley is online now
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A possible leak source is the water pump seal. It has two...one keeps the seawater on the impeller side of the shaft, and the interior seal keeps the oil in the crankcase. In between the two seals is a weep hole, that may drip water or oil, depending on which seal may be bad.

The bottom of my pan is a little 'sludgie' too. Can you get an inspection mirror under there and see anything??
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  #3   IP: 65.206.71.3
Old 11-21-2011, 02:06 PM
MAINE ATOMIC4 MAINE ATOMIC4 is offline
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I tried a mirror, but it shows what I expect to see....a corroded pan and a bunch of nasty sludge.

Based on the fact that the oil level did not drop substaintially over the half-season, I expect that "seeing" a leak may be difficult.

I did rebuild the water pump 2 seasons ago and used new oil/water side lip seals. Would an oil leak through the lip seal only occur during operation?

thanks for the idea.

-John
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  #4   IP: 148.170.241.1
Old 11-21-2011, 02:40 PM
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ILikeRust ILikeRust is offline
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My first thought also was the water pump.

Do you know for sure the sludge gunk wasn't there before? Maybe it's been there a long time, slowly and gradually building up, and you just hadn't noticed it until recently?

I bought my boat a little more than a year ago and when I pulled the engine out, I discovered all kinds of lovely, goopy gunk under it. It clearly had been there a long time.
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  #5   IP: 71.183.233.249
Old 11-21-2011, 02:46 PM
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The oil pan is a thick casting and it seems unlikely that it is corroded all the way through. Much more common are leaky seals and gaskets, so I would try to eliminate them first.
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  #6   IP: 161.213.49.1
Old 11-21-2011, 05:46 PM
JOHN COOKSON JOHN COOKSON is offline
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If Your A4 Is At An Angle

You may have a slight leak at the front seal of the engine. The oil picks up dust and so on as it slowly runs over the pan. That is what mine does. I clean it up a couple times a year otherwise ignore it. I figure the oil protects the pan from rusting. There is not enough oil for me to worry about - yet that is.
I would clean it up and monitor the situation for a while.

TRUE GRIT
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Old 11-21-2011, 07:19 PM
smosher smosher is offline
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I had the same problem and I found out when I replaced the water pump after a rebuild I didn't tighen the bolts enough so that a small drip would occur.

Steve
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Old 11-22-2011, 10:30 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JOHN COOKSON View Post
You may have a slight leak at the front seal of the engine. ...
I believe there isn't any front seal on the A4. The inclined mounting keeps the oil level below that point. If you overfill it, or tip it forward too far, the oil will just run out.
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