Oil Leaks in Outboard Motors

When you turn on your outboard motor in or out of the water, you might notice a small amount of oil dripping out. Despite the implications of a busted engine, this doesn’t often spell disaster. When you haven’t used your outboard motor for a few months, or throughout an entire season like winter, there will often be a few drips of Evinrude outboard oil, or whatever brand you happen to use. It should stop dripping after running your outboard motor a couple times. If the problem persists, it could be an indication of a real problem.

Though the diagnosis can differ, your problem could be a leaking gearcase, or it’s possible that another essential component has a leak. Unless you’re comfortable with maintenance, it’s best to take the outboard motor to a professional at that point.