Literally, A Screw Missing?!

[daman6052]

Hello Gang,

I had my boat winterized by a marina where I live (oil, fogging, stabil, lower unit, etc). It looks like they did a sloppy job (oil spilled everywhere, didn't clean anything up, etc). In fact, I think my last post on here was of the same concern I'm posting about today...(I have a ~2003 F25TLRB 4-stroke)

Long story short, there is a small 'puddle' of oil underneath my outboard. In the last post everyone basically said it was some seepage from the sloppy job they did so I didn't worry too much about it. However, there is still oil coming out as you can see by the picture. As I took a closer look at the engine today (see pictures) I noticed that it looks as though some sort of screw is missing next to where you check the oil. I didn't notice this before. It reeeeeeeally looks like something should be in there, but there isn't. Is this normal? Did they screw up and not put some sort of screw back in there? Because it looks like a screw that might be taken out to drain the oil or something, but I'm not expert--that's why I'm asking you guys! Let me know what you think. The pictures say it all. Also, in the closeup of the engine picture, it's hard to see, but the place I'm referring to next to the dip stick is threaded in there (as if a screw of some sort belongs there), but because of the picture quality you can't see it.

Thanks,

Matt

[ausnoelm]

You sure there was "something" there? Lots of motors have holes that are not used.

[Sequoiha]

Nothing wrong there, normal, I bet if you looked you can find 5 or 6 more just like it.

[DennisG01]

When you see "boss's" (correct term?) sticking out like that (the hole you're referring to by the dipstick), those are typically used for mounting/securing some type of accessory item (that your engine doesn't use), sometimes as a casting support when the engine block was made. As mentioned, it's normal and not the issue.

You mentioned you made a post, before, about this. Was this other post last season, or recent? If last season, did you have any issues over the operating season?

If it's been more recent, have you checked the oil level? Has it changed? Before you go chasing a ghost or making an issue out of one that isn't there, see if you have an actual problem. Decreasing oil level would tell you that, no?

Is the puddle coming out of the prop? And is this the "issue" you're referring to? I wouldn't call that a "sloppy job" - and I don't see anything in your second picture that shows slop. That puddle could simply be fogging fluid/exhaust residual that is slowly dripping out. In a manner of speaking, that would be a good thing - showing that your mechanic did what you hired him to do... Which you're now second guessing him on

[rodbolt17]

how to turn a 30 min oil change into a 2 hour cluster?
drop the oil filter.
if you will note MOST not ALL oil filter locations seem to be an afterthought with no thought about it has to come off occasionally.

[boscoe99]

Speaking of a cluster.

How about when an undersized flimsy plastic Walmart oil drain pan, holding almost two quarts of hot oil, twists and slips out of ones oil covered hands, dropping to the shop floor.

Not a pretty site. What was to have been a 15 minute job turns into a 2 hour cluster using rolls and rolls of shop towels. While hoping that the hazmat folks don't show up.

[daman6052]

When you see "boss's" (correct term?) sticking out like that (the hole you're referring to by the dipstick), those are typically used for mounting/securing some type of accessory item (that your engine doesn't use), sometimes as a casting support when the engine block was made. As mentioned, it's normal and not the issue.

You mentioned you made a post, before, about this. Was this other post last season, or recent? If last season, did you have any issues over the operating season?

If it's been more recent, have you checked the oil level? Has it changed? Before you go chasing a ghost or making an issue out of one that isn't there, see if you have an actual problem. Decreasing oil level would tell you that, no?

Is the puddle coming out of the prop? And is this the "issue" you're referring to? I wouldn't call that a "sloppy job" - and I don't see anything in your second picture that shows slop. That puddle could simply be fogging fluid/exhaust residual that is slowly dripping out. In a manner of speaking, that would be a good thing - showing that your mechanic did what you hired him to do... Which you're now second guessing him on

Hey Dennis, the post was made at the end of this most recent season so I haven't had a chance to run the motor yet. And yes, I've checked the oil level and it seems fine.

The reason I guess my paranoia spiked again is because yesterday I went to whee my boat is stored and I found another mini puddle after I thought it was all done leaking (weeks)--At which point I noticed this screw hole being empty. Another contributing factor to my skepticism is the fact that when I took my boat there last year to get winterized he called me to pick it up telling me it was complete. However, after I got there I noticed it still had the same oil filter as it did before. They never changed the oil. The owner was very apologetic and told me to come back this year and he would do it all for free. I am all about Second Chances and free work so here we are.

When he did the work last year, it was a very clean job without oil spilled everywhere. I know it's hard to see in the pictures it looks perfectly clean, but there is a lot of oil everywhere inside the engine compartment.

The oil is coming out from the engine compartment and leaking down the shaft to the prop where it then drips off the top of the "fin part" on the ground. I believe a lot of people from my last post said that because so much oil may have been spilled inside the engine compartment that this was normal.

[daman6052]

Nothing wrong there, normal, I bet if you looked you can find 5 or 6 more just like it.

That's really good to hear. I did try looking for others like that, but I couldn't find any on the engine other than that one.

[rodbolt17]

one of the few laws that even the thugs have to follow is the law of gravity.
if you spill oil under the hood it leaks out of the cowl water drains and makes a mess.
DO NOT ask me how I know.
your little 25 is easy.
try an F350.
dawn dishwashing blue and water works.
simple green and water works.
typically takes several applications and a few hours.
hours that I cannot bill .

[pstephens46]

Oil Cluster?

How about the first time changing oil using the drain plug on my F150. I fashioned a contraption with a funnel and tube to drain oil to side and down to drain pan on driveway. Unscrewed drain bolt and at a flow rate of about 5000 gph, the funnel completely filled up. The wretched mess ripped lose from back of engine and collapsed into the driveway at my feet. PANIC! I stuck my finger into drain hole. Now what? Called out to wife, no answer....of course. I tried to retrieve said contraption with foot. With finger still in hole. No good. Now foot covered in oil. Tried to tilt motor up. Battery off. Assumed modified Yoga position (with finger in hole) to stretch down and retrieve drain pan.

Sloppily drained rest of oil in pan. I fought to start drain plug back into hole for another 15 minutes because I failed to notice the odd angle Yamaha uses to mount these things. All the while dripping oil. Oil dripped out of various cracks and crevices for the rest of the day.....

[rodbolt17]

and that is the second biggest reason I don't drain the oil with the plug.
I use a vacuum extractor and suck it out of the dipstick hole.
1st biggest reason is sometimes the AL casting has a nasty habit of galling to the SS plug and bringing the threads out with the plug.
but sometimes I can make a serious mess with a filter.

[robert graham]

Maybe drill a small hole in the oil filter and allow a few minutes to drain into a suitable container Before removing filter?...

[fairdeal]

Maybe drill a small hole in the oil filter and allow a few minutes to drain into a suitable container Before removing filter?...

I've tried that.
The way a filter works, 1/2 the oil might drain out,
but the rest stays on the other side of the media.

And that's still plenty to make a mess....

[rodbolt17]

have you ever seen the V8 or the F250 3.3?
really?
drill a hole? how?

the F150 mounts almost vertically,can drain it with a drilled hole.
if you leave the engine sit a few days then change the oil and filter PRIOR to running it it makes less mess.

[pstephens46]

I've tried that.
The way a filter works, 1/2 the oil might drain out,
but the rest stays on the other side of the media.

And that's still plenty to make a mess....

My experience has shown that most filter hold nearly 4 quarts of oil.