When to call it

Freezing temps are rapidly approaching, and the lower unit has a small leak. Check it every other week or so and the oil is white but doesn’t have actual water come out the bottom hole yet.

Like to have my boat as long as possible before I dismantle it and bring it to basement for winter repairs, but don’t want to cause damage.

Have a couple late trips planned where I’ll probably end up draining the unit, refilling at lake for weekend and then dumping again on way home but in the meantime any thoughts how to keep a lower warm enough to last another month or so?

Electric blanket wrapped with a heavy moving blanket. Put the electric on a timer, won’t take much to keep it thawed.

Like that idea and have a blanket too

Dutchboy wrote:

Electric blanket wrapped with a heavy moving blanket. Put the electric on a timer, won’t take much to keep it thawed.

Sounds like a fire waiting to happen to me.

Thats what insurance is for.

Wonder how a makeshift box out of modular insulating foam with a candle per night would work. Wife’s got enough of those stinky things around, maybe for a month, $1 candle a night, not too bad. It’s kept in garage so that helps

Ok you didn’t say it was in a garage. Go to a parts store and buy a magnetic block heater.

Dutchboy wrote:

Ok you didn’t say it was in a garage. Go to a parts store and buy a magnetic block heater.

I think that would even work outside. Good idea, cheaper running than my thought of running an electric heater/blower.

I would look for some heat tape( for water lines) before block heater. Just based on wattage usex

Attachments:

1. 

   download.jpg
   

Fix it? That’s a thought.

riverruns wrote:

Fix it? That’s a thought.

Good call

My own mechanic work seems to take one step forward with 2 back, so not willing to dive into a LU seals until I have some time in the basement this winter to make sure it’s right for next season

Can you and a bit of antifreeze to the lower unit? Or will that break down the oil? Just curious if you can keep the water that does get in from freezing, or block heater, they make pads if your lower unit is non ferrous.

I would just change the lower unit oil after each trip.

-J.

My garage is not insulated, and it won’t get below freezing temperatures in the garage until it’s really cold outside, like 0 degrees. Unless this is a tin shed garage, I would think you’re going to be fine without doing anything.

Last garage was attached and shared your same experience, some reason this garage gets pretty cold. Minnow bucket would freeze over pretty often. Looking to avoid an expensive gamble

Jon Jordan wrote:

I would just change the lower unit oil after each trip.

-J.

I agree, cheap and easy. In my experience this is a 2 beer job with about $15 invested each time.

I think I changed my lower unit oil 4-5x last fall after I noticed I had a problem before bringing it in for repair… The mechanic explained how close I was too pushing the guts out of the lower unit… Didn’t know you could!
They fixed it in a day, pretty dumb for me to push it is what I learned.

Get it fixed or park it. Anything else can just run the cost waaaaaaay up if you push it further than it should

Top off the lower unit fluid after each use to push any water out.
Then, put your lower unit in a garbage can filled with water. Unless it gets cold enough in there to freeze that whole can of water solid, your lower unit will be well enough insulated to prevent freezing.

Woodshed wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Jon Jordan wrote:</div>
I would just change the lower unit oil after each trip.

-J.

I agree, cheap and easy. In my experience this is a 2 beer job with about $15 invested each time.

That could get to be a PIA depending on how many times you do it and wasting that beer $$. You can just let enough lube/water out, about 1/4 and then plug it. This allows enough room for any freezing to expand into the void created without cracking the housing. Top it off before you head out again.

FishBlood&RiverMud wrote:

I think I changed my lower unit oil 4-5x last fall after I noticed I had a problem before bringing it in for repair… The mechanic explained how close I was too pushing the guts out of the lower unit… Didn’t know you could!

That’s an extreme visual the mechanic painted for you…I have had the consequence happen years ago. What happens is you find a hairline crack in the lower unit housing with the lube/water cocktail oozing out.
Agree though, best to treat the disease rather than continuing to treat the symptom. Seals need to be replaced.

Years ago had the lower unit of a 15hp completely crack off behind the propellor, ouch.

Some good ideas here to move forward. Not gonna push it as I have enough shorespots and friends with boats to get me through late fall early winter. Might need my CC permit though, have had some strange encounters this year on the mighty Miss.

nhamm wrote:

Years ago had the lower unit of a 15hp completely crack off behind the propellor, ouch.

Some good ideas here to move forward. Not gonna push it as I have enough shorespots and friends with boats to get me through late fall early winter. Might need my CC permit though, have had some strange encounters this year on the mighty Miss.

Did you go out today? Your post to need an “Anchor beach”, couldn’t tell if it was for today. You posted a little after noon, but mentioned grilling hot dogs?