Sail drive leaking?

[landonshaw]

Is it possible to have a leak from the sail drive into the engine bilge? I recently pulled the engine and did a few repairs and noticed oil in the bilge. Would clean it wit a paper towel and the next day a little more.

Can the sail drive be leaking oil into the engine bilge. I have a Volvo Penta MD 2040D. If possible can someone steer me towards what needs replaced?

[Wayne88]

If your output seal on your saildrive is leaking, then the salt water begins to fill the saildrive and displace the oil out of the breather or dipstick. (Oil floats on water)

I’m afraid it means having to change the seals on the saildrive...

[Wayne88]

While you at it you may want to change the bottom bearings since they would now have been exposed to salt water

[landonshaw]

I had what you are referring to 5 years ago. The oil was whitish in appearance and full. What I am experiencing is a drop in oil on the dip stick and a small amount of oil in the bilge.

[Ostinato]

I had that with SP60s sail drives. It turned out to be an air vent that was letting oil through. It was replaced under warranty with an upgraded part and have had no further problems.

The upper seal could be leaking without water intrusion. The upper seal is below the oil level. I’ve had that too on ZF drives with roughly to 2000 hours on them. Can you trace where oil is coming from - under the bell housing or?