97 GTI oil leak...can’t locate it

[Legacy37]

Time to get the skis ready for the lake again, found the bilge of one full of oil. These have a functioning oil injection. The lines do not appear to be leaking. I found more oil just under the large line that goes to the crankcase under the exhaust...it doesn’t seem to be leaking from the tube. I did have the exhaust manifold off at the end of last season to replace the bushings. also there is a clear tube there that I have no idea where it goes. Thanks, you guys and your knowledge are awesome!

 

[etemplet]

Time to get the skis ready for the lake again, found the bilge of one full of oil. These have a functioning oil injection. The lines do not appear to be leaking. I found more oil just under the large line that goes to the crankcase under the exhaust...it doesn’t seem to be leaking from the tube. I did have the exhaust manifold off at the end of last season to replace the bushings. also there is a clear tube there that I have no idea where it goes. Thanks, you guys and your knowledge are awesome!

Clear line likely connects to the bottom of the exhaust manifold. Need a mirror. The picutre may help a little bit.

With regard to the oil leak I find cleaning up and putting a few white paper towels under the oil connection points will show what IS NOT leaking. It only takes a small drip to empyt your oil reservior over time and a little oil looks like a lot. I'd suspect two place. One for the rotary valve feed under the intake and the other below the exhaust. On the reservior that bushing can also leak. Clean it all up good and put some white paper towles under those areas and keep a close eye. You should find the leak pretty quick.

Hook your ski to cooling water before taking it out to make sure your water lines are connect otherwise you'll be doing that in the water. LOL Good Luck !!!

 

[mikidymac]

And by the blue color, what oil are you using?

Common places for oil leaks are the rubber grommets on the bottom of the oil tank, 12mm hoses going into the side of the block and overfilled oil tanks coming out of the check valve.

 

[Legacy37]

I would have to look it is marine two stroke oil. I know some models require seadoo oil but understand the 717’s do not.....if I am wrong please let me know

 

[mikidymac]

You are wrong, sorry.

Your 717 requires any API-TC oil, does not have to be synthetic. Do not use any TCW-3 oil.

 

[Legacy37]

You are wrong, sorry.

Your 717 requires any API-TC oil, does not have to be synthetic. Do not use any TCW-3 oil.

I checked.....tcw. Ooops.

 

[mikidymac]

Make sure you change the inline oil filter when you change to the correct oil.

 

[Legacy37]

Thanks!

 

[Legacy37]

So got the bilge all cleaned out, put paper towels under the exhaust manifolds on the motor mount where the leaks appear to be, they were wet again. Cleaned it up once more to make sure it wasn’t residual.....we will see today. Also my carbon seal looks uneven...I don’t think it was leaking but I did have some cavitation issues

 

[etemplet]

The oil is coming from one of the places Miki mentioned not engine mounts or manifolds, its gonna be a hose connection or fitting. Outside chance is the rotary valve sealing area under the exhaust. Wrap the hoses or put a paper towel directly under those fittings. you have a bad leak. Should be easy to locate. Good luck.

This is likely the source of your leak. Clamps that are too lage, hoses that are too stiff, hoses also split where the clamp seals.

 

[etemplet]

That Carbon Ring misalignment means nothing.

 

[mikidymac]

As etemplet said, this fitting and one in the same place on the other side under the exhaust.


And @etemplet , stop using paper clips to run your oil pump

 

[Legacy37]

That Carbon Ring misalignment means nothing.

Thanks, just noticed it....our last outing last fall was um...er interesting. We were several mile up the lake when this ski started taking on water (exhaust manifold bolts broke) the other ski crapped the pump at the same time. We could go 1 mile per hour towing. Want them to be 100% this year

 

[Legacy37]

As etemplet said, this fitting and one in the same place on the other side under the exhaust.
View attachment 53052

And @etemplet , stop using paper clips to run your oil pump

Will be checking there closely This afternoon, I just reinstalled the oil injection last summer, it had been deleted.....Hate the premix

 

[etemplet]

As etemplet said, this fitting and one in the same place on the other side under the exhaust.
View attachment 53052

And @etemplet , stop using paper clips to run your oil pump

STAINLESS STEEL bailing wire. LOL

 

[etemplet]

Keep and eye on those exhaust manifold bolts. If they are loosening up on you replace the exhaust mount bushing. That helps. Good Luck.

That leak you have should mainfest itself pretty quicly. Don't waint long to find it and also run your hand along those lines and under the fittings.... if it is wet.. go up from there.

 

[Legacy37]

I replaced the bushing when I repaired the bolts....it was bad. I thought it was going to sink there was so much water in the bilge

 

[etemplet]

Good job !!

 

[Legacy37]

Leak is narrowed down. I used the paper towel method.... It is either coming from the oil pump mount or the gear cover it attaches to. I will probably pull both and reseal. it is a pretty good leak too! Thanks you guys are awesome! I will have another thread for muh 96 xp shortly

 

[etemplet]

Too bad you can't find exactly where it is coming from A shame to take things apart if they are not broken. You can check the bleed screw on the oil pump. That could be leaking. There should be a copper washer on the pump bleed screw. Not all pumps have that in place. Take your time and check it out. Good Luck.

 

[Legacy37]

So after cleaning it up yet again, placing paper towels under the oil pump and cover, then under the exhaust side. Exhaust side had the oil on it. the oil line and fitting on that side are dry. frustrating to say the least. Not my pic just where it seems to be coming from

 

[mikidymac]

It would be very unlikely that the rotary block would be leaking and basically unheard of.

It’s almost always the clear hose being cut from the hose clamp.

That metal plug isn’t serviceable and should never be removed or touched. So if it is leaking your on your own with JB weld or epoxy or something.

 

[Legacy37]

I will try some more towels. The hose and fitting are dry, I can touch them.

 

[etemplet]

So after cleaning it up yet again, placing paper towels under the oil pump and cover, then under the exhaust side. Exhaust side had the oil on it. the oil line and fitting on that side are dry. frustrating to say the least. Not my pic just where it seems to be coming from

If you are correct that is the case parting so the oil in the chamber would flow out of there. The engine builder might not have put enough sealant on the Parting. That happens. I'd clean it up, get all the oil out of there I could... extra extra good and try to seal it up. I'd be torn between using a product like JB Weld or a good Oil REsistant RTV. Good Luck with it.

 

[Legacy37]

I am wondering if the case was damaged when the bilge flooded.