Literally, A Screw Missing?!

[rodbolt17]

only 4 qts?
man I think the oil drains from the sump into the cowl.

[TownsendsFJR1300]

LOL at some of these stories!!

For the op, get some Simple Green, pull the wiring (Gently) off the lower cowl, spray the Simple Green and with a small water bottle, again, gently pour the water on the cowl, SG and it'll all wash away.

The water will dry fast enough and no more leaks.

Once clean and dry, now keep an eye for any additional leaks.. That puddle looked like possibly LU oil. If it now gets wet there's an issue and MUCH easier to find..


Once clean and dry, there won't be anymore guessing.

I'd give the motor a light spray of protector-ant if not already done as well.


For my F150, I pull the filter cold, very little to NO spillage..
Tilt the engine up, screw in the drain hose in the pan and lower with the hose in a large 5 gallon container. Nice and neat... Finish the rest..

This is ALL done on the boat lift, over the water...

[robert graham]

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

That's a gallon of oil in the filter....most oil filters look like a pint or less to me

[TownsendsFJR1300]

That's a gallon of oil in the filter....most oil filters look like a pint or less to me

When your holding the "Dike" with your finger and it gets to spilling ALL OVER, it seems like a gallon! Clean up is closer to TWO gallons-it seems...

[99yam40]

his finger was on the drain plug hole not the filter connection..
filter do not hold much oil, but will go everywhere when spilled.

OP the smell of lower unit lube is way different than motor oil. put some on you finger off the ground or the lower unit itself where it is dripping and smell it.
if you never smelled it before open a container and smell that to get an idea.

[rodbolt17]

Robert has obviously never done a 3.3L f250 nor a v8.

[99yam40]

Rod are you saying those oil filters hold a gallon of oil?

[pstephens46]

Rod are you saying those oil filters hold a gallon of oil?

Sarcasm fellas......

Dropped a 2 liter Coke in grocery store one day. On the plastic cap. 2 liters turns into 10 liters when you have to clean it up.

[rodbolt17]

when ya gotta clean it? closer to two gallons.
even though it only holds about 7qt total.
it is simply amazing how much mess can be made with a filter full of nasty oil.