Borg Warner trans leak

[650Guy]

Project 3 of 5 here. Ugh... love boating as it always keeps me so busy so I can relax! Hahaha

While repairing my Generator I found my starboard Engine bay has a puddle of trans fluid in it and my transmission on that side is low. Great! Ain’t that awesome!

So I have very limited experience with Borg Warner V-Drives. Are there typical places these will leak from? In a quick search I found a couple posts about a rear seal?

So my question here is:

* can these typically be fixed in boat?
* should I be looking someplace specific for the leak? It seems that the fluid seems to be focused toward the aft end
* fixing these bad boys, is it something you should just leave to a pro, or if you have a mechanical aptitude of maybe 6 of 10, would ya tackle it yourself?

Love to learn from ya all as to what your thoughts are.

[bud37]

What boat engine combo do you have, are the drives attached right to the engine or is there a short shaft then the drive housing??........find the source of the leak first before going any further.....clean everything ,v drive and bilge, then put down those white absorbent pads ....top up the trans and make sure the filler/dipstick cover is in place properly, then check under and around after running.

[tomschauer]

Believe it or not, it could be as simple as the dipstick not being fully inserted.
As mentioned, clean it all up. Top it off and find the leak before extreme panic.

[650Guy]

So I should have been more specific. I'm sorry! I have a 2001 350 mariner. Its powered by the smaller 350 MPI engines. I do not believe it has a small shaft between the shaft and engine.

What is funny is I believe the dipstick stem is broken. So the "ring" at the top that you use to pull it out is hanging on by a thread. so just the other day I slid it out a little so I could always get ahold of SOMETHING to get it out. Man, if its popping out there, that would be like an incredibly easy find! I'm ordering a new dipstick right now!

[bud37]

Just put your boat/engine info in your profile there on the left, it really helps , thanks.

Aha...so that dipstick has an expandable rubber at the top like a boat drain plug that you tighten by holding the ring and turning the handle at the top.....if that is not tightened then they will leak like a sieve....you can tell when you have it tight as you cannot pull it out to check the level.......the starboard will leak more because of the gear direction inside.

Just take it out and play with it to see how it works.....good catch, I am sure that is all it is.

[650Guy]

Thanks Bud37, Just updated my profile to show the boat and engine. Should have done that long ago!

Actually, after I was thinking about it, I THINK it was the engine OIL dipstick that is broken. Just went to order a new dipstick and realized it was the YELLOW one with the barbs, NOT the expandable one on the trans. I was prematurely excited I think. NOT to say its still not a chance, and in actuality, really hoping it is!

[bud37]

Well if you are getting a new engine dipstick....make sure you measure it up against the old one as there are a couple different lengths, the add and full marks.Those yellow balls break all the time, heck of a design...

[650Guy]

Thanks! good point! sourcing the right dipstick looks to be a little more challenging than I thought! haha... Thought I'd just look up my engine and boom, I'd find the part and seems like everyone just wants to sell you a "universal" one and YOU make it work.

Anyway, I'll deal with that on another thread if need be. good times!! hahah

[km1125]

Also realize that fluid leaking might follow the housing down to a low point before it drops off. Wipe the entire trans down with a clean rag, then after you've seen something leaking take a WHITE paper towel and test various places on the bottom of the housing to see if it's running from where the leak actually is to where it drips.

If it's not leaking at a hose, drain plug, vent or shift mechanism, I doubt you could fix it on the boat. The rear seal is pressed in but you have to take the flange off to get to it. Might be possible on the boat but it would be a bear.

Also make sure it's at the right level instead of 'overfull'. Since they're at an angle, the "right" level is sometimes hard to determine with 100% accuracy, especially if a PO has changed dipsticks.

[650Guy]

Ok, so here is an update.

The leak was a LOT more minor than I initally thought. There is no appreciable “Drip” on the bottom side of the trany. From looking at the hull under the trans you can see a “mist” of fluid under the drive shaft, but very minor. The coupling showed no sign of fluid nor did the trans where the shaft comes out.

I may just have a situation of some fluid got dripped and as water sloshes in the bay (like all 350 mariners seem to do, carry a little water in the aft bay) it picked up the fuild. I have cleaned the entire area VERY well, dried it to the T and next time I take her out, see how it did.

I guess more to come??