Waterlock leak

[Jason C]

Please help,

The drain plug on the bottom of my exhaust waterlock came undone and the exhaust water ran into the bilge. The plug has been loose all summer (don't ask.....I thought the water was coming from my stuffing box).

Could this explain why my bilge always has an oily/gas:mad: film on top of the water, or is there a good chance i have an oil/gas leak?



My A4 was just rebuilt.

[roadnsky]

The drain plug on the bottom of my exhaust waterlock came undone and the exhaust water ran into the bilge. The plug has been loose all summer (don't ask.....I thought the water was coming from my stuffing box).

Could this explain why my bilge always has an oily/gas:mad: film on top of the water, or is there a good chance i have an oil/gas leak?

It's very likely. The exhaust gases will have some residue depending on the condition of your engine.
Certainly enough to put a "sheen" on bilge water.

Assuming you've plugged the drain hole (man, do I want to ask!:p) see if there is any water with residue like before.
I'd continue keeping an eye out for a leak, especially for gas :eek: in the meantime...

[Jason C]

Thanks Jerry,

I was hoping to hear that. I guess I'll find out for sure when I go cruising this weekend.

This is a great web site.

Jason.

[roadnsky]

You're very welcome. It's a good chance that was it.
Remember though, the current topic of the day and SNIFF for any gas fumes!

Sure you don't want to tell us more about that loose plug?;)

[sastanley]

Jason,
Mine leaked a little bit last year, but it was a trickle. It will take a little while for the oily sheen to dissipate (meaning it won't be instantaneous after discovering the source)

I had oily mess all over the bilge area (from years of blow-by I suspect & who knows how long that drain was leaking before I owned the boat) and it took lots of cleaning to reduce it.

Try flushing out the bilge with lots of fresh water and maybe a bio-degradable bilge cleaner.. Scrub the area where the oily exhaust ran down the boat to the bilge too, so you can start eliminating residual.

welcome to the forum. :cool:

[Jason C]

Thank Shawn,

I scrubbed the bilge down as well as underneath the engine seeing as that is where the water from the waterlock ran in order to get to the bilge. I'm keeping my fingers crossed hoping that I don't have an oil leak.


Jason

Ericson 27
"Panacea"
North Channel Lake Huron