Oil leaking from motor ?

[TowerDog]

96 Seadoo GTX. I am rebuilding carbs and fuel lines and have noticed fresh oil in the Bottom of the ski. Left the ski tilted up and down to see where it is leaking from, it looks like it is coming from under the motor. I had pulled the oil tank out and checked all connections and the tank itself does not appear to be leaking. I checked both connections at the motor as well and have no signs of leaks. If it is coming from the motor where is it coming from ? Is the block cracked possibly ? Is there a gasket at the magneto cover behind the oil injection pump. I'm pretty new to the mechanics of the ski but I'm picking it up as I go. Any help would be appreciated. I planned on pulling the motor to see but would like to avoid that if there is an easier solution. Also i smelled the oil and it doesn't have the smell of gas in it so I don't think it has mixed yet, or at least I don't think so.

Prior to the rebuilding of carbs and fuel lines I had the ski out and it was running like crap, popping real bad and fouling out the plugs within 5 minutes. The ski would run good for 5 minutes no problems then it all went to shit. The hotter it got the worse it got. The ski didn't appear to be overheating either it was at about 92 degrees, not sure if that is normal or not. Prior to that I bought if off my buddy who let it sit for 2 years, but kept it out the cold and in his garage in the winter.

 

[68ragtop]

If its clean oil, its not too likely coming from the block. wipe down the three main oil lines from the tank. Odds are its leaking from one of those hose connections & running on to the engine. Could be at the block fittings for the RV cavity, oil filter, oil tank grommet, or the oil pump. Its also possible you have a cracked oil injection line that is leaking. Take a good look at those. Any oil leaking from the injections lines & it means the engine is getting starved of oil. Should be easy to find, just need to get everything wiped down clean.

I would drain the fuel tank completely, if there was ethanol fuel in the ski, that can go bad in weeks or months, rather than years.

 

[TowerDog]

I will give it a shot, I am going to do the carbs and fuel lines this weekend.

 

[Strizzo]

there is a good chance that it is leaking from the grommet on the bottom of the tank, they dry out over time and shrink, leaking oil. the oil will run down the hoses underneath the motor and look like it is coming from the motor. there is a little less chance that the oil is coming from your rotary valve oil supply hose, which is under the engine on the back side, and difficult to get to. if the hose has broken down and is leaking, it is a bit of a bear to get to and change. hopefully its just the tank grommet.

 

[68ragtop]

I had one doing the same thing that stizzo mention too. Wasn't much of a leak, but was noticable after it sat all winter.

The first thing I have done with each of my skis, is degrease & clean the engine comparment. It makes working on them & trouble shooting things so much easier & enjoyible. I think they actually run better when they are clean too...... JK

 

[LouDoo]

If it means anything I would say it's leaking from the grommet. About 95% of the time its the grommet, the other 5% is the seam in the tank. What happens it doesn't leak much it will run down the hose and it will go to the lowest part of the ski, which is under the motor. Go ahead and replace both grommets, top and bottom, they're the same part.

Lou

 

[TowerDog]

I checked the grommet, that was my first thought also after everyone told me about them. It was dry around the grommet and the line was dry, I will double check it again but I do not think that is it. I also checked the seams on the tank and everthing seems dry. I did degrease the motor and whole hull of the ski so I could attempt to track down where it is coming from. I work out of town so it has been sitting there for a week and hopefully leaking and I will be able to trace the trail to the leak. It builds up in the left front corner under the motor if you are looking from the back of the ski, just before it goes under the tank, there is a dip there under the gas tank. The rotary valve supply hose I did not check, I checked all connections at the front and side of the motor but I did not check that one. Everything seemed dry, thats why I decided to de-grease the motor and try my luck then. I am going to mess with it Saturday morning, I have the carbs out so the one side of the motor has some room to get underneath it and look.

 

[68ragtop]

I work out of town so it has been sitting there for a week and hopefully leaking .

I don't think I have ever heard these words spoken....
(sorry I couldn't help myself from taking them out of context on you...)



I pulled a 580 out of a ski last year where the RV hose nipple was loose in the block. I am sure that one was leaking. Thats not too probable, but very possible.

 

[TowerDog]

I was thinking the same thing when I was typing it, probably the only time I will say it, but i know its leaking and want to find it lol. I just didnt know where else it could be leaking if it wasnt leaking at any spots where the main hose lines from the tank go into the motor. No to experienced with the motor but I am going off diagrams I find online and finding the parts on the ski. A good bit of oil came out the first week I left it sitting in the driveway and it was still clean.

 

[OneT]

I'm having the same thing happening to my 96 GSX and can't find it ! But I know it is getting oil to the carbs just fine!

 

[TowerDog]

Turns out it was the seam in the tank, but it would not leak unless it was over a certain level in the tank. I left the ski with the front tilted up in the air on the trailer and low and behold it was all over the driveway when I got home.