Today while running my motor to run some carb cleaner through it it began to leak some oil. Some of it was thick and grey, the other was pitch black. When the exaust was coming out it would ahoot out some oil gunk too. I knew I had to change the lower end oil but haven't got to it yet. I drained all the oil and took the prop off, it doesn't look like any oil is leaking at the prop shaft, but is coming down from the inside of the lower unit. When I stick my finger up into the unit I get water and oil, not a ton of water, but its there. Any info on how to fix this would be great. Thanks.

If there is water in your lower unit I would take it to a mechanic 

Could be a lot of things from a hairline crack to a blown seal. Either way I would take it to a service center or to someone very reputable who knows what he is doing. If It has water in it, you could have already done some damage in your lower unit. 

 

Water in the lower unit oil is a worst nightmare for a boat owner. 

I'm not real sure I'm following your explanation. It's very normal for black oil to drain out of the prop/exhaust. This is just exhaust oil/carbon that has built up inside the lower unit housing.

When you drained the oil out of the lower unit, was the oil black or was it a milky color? Did water actually drain out of the hole you removed the plug from.

I've know more than one person that got ripped by a repair shop, thinking they had oil leaking out of the LU and all they were seeing was the exhaust goo that comes out.

I undid the drain screw and a jet black oil came out, I think it might have been a tad milky. The other was a grey thick substance coming out of the exaust.

Sounds completely normal to me unless you are running a four stroke motor.

I would just change the LU oil and check it again after using it a few times.  It doesn't sound like you really have much of a problem.  It is possible you might have a small leak, but not enough to worry about..  If the LU oil has never been changed, it could just be years of condensation.  You should change the LU oil at least once a year. 

 

After using it a couple of times and the LU lube is not milky, I would run it and not worry about it.

 

When changing the LU oil, take both plugs out and let it drain completely.  Then add the new oil into the bottom plug hole until it starts coming out the top plug,  Hold what you have there and put the top plug in, this helps keep it from running back out the bottom are you are trying to get the bottom plug in.

 

WalMart sells a pump unit for about $10 that will work on most LU's that helps you get the oil in it.

Will do. Thanks guys!

I think you answered it yourself. You were running carb cleaner through your outboard when this started happening and when pulled the lower unit oil was jet black. It would be very milky white if it had water in it. My guess is that the carb cleaner loosened up a whole bunch of built up gunk and thats exactly what you saw.

when i got my outboard home for the first time a changed it and freaked when it was milky. put fresh in to be sure. in a few trips i drained it an it was like new. after changing it several time over the 2 yars ive owned it i have not seen any signs of moisture.

 

bottom end oil is cheap so no reason not to change it frequently.

Next time you run the Carb Cleaner through, make sure you point the outboard toward your wifes car.

 

I would agree with others, seems like soot and gunk being cleaned out.  Bet your motor runs alittle better.

Thanks for the help guys il try it later!

Most of the time we somehow manage to run over some old fishing line in the water, and it will wind in

and around you propeller shaft hence the seal.  Pull your prop off and check that first.  check the seal

and replace oil in lower unit.