Man I'm bummed... just installed my replacement starter, fired the motor up, was planning a trip for tomorrow when I noticed oil dripping from my skeg.... I had my motor trimmed all the way down but I guess even still, there was some water in there when this darn cold weather came through. The oil is coming from the front of my prop. Does this sound like a seal or what?? Praying above all else it is something I can afford, maybe just a seal. Any thoughts? How do I investigate to see what it is? The oil looks clean, no water in the oil. Just obviously leaking from somewhere... any and all help appreciated.

To try to give more info, the oil is basically black, water dripped out too. The amount is very small... maybe an ounce? If that. 10-15 drops. Came from right where the prop meets the lower unit. Inside there somewhere.

Could be gas/oil that dripped down you could drain the fluid and look for water first

Think I got it figured out, just unturned oil. Sorry, had a little freak out. Thanks Brad.

What is unturned oil---never heard that one? The prop shaft has a seal to keep water out and another to keep oil in. It could be one or the other or both. If water is getting in it will be milky looking. If its just the oil seal it will not be. In any case once these seals go they usually do it quick. Remove your propt and check it out before running it. Trim down to negative if you can and see what happens after a couple hours. Then pull your plug and check out the oil. Shops very what they charge to replace the seals but usually $250 on average. Removing and installing the lower yourself will save $$.

Excuse me, meant unburned oil. Apparently if the oil coming from the prop is black in color, it is more than likely unburned oil/gas that kind of mixes with the carbon build up in there. Happens more often when you've let the motor sit for a little while. I could be wrong, but that's what I was reading a minute ago. I need to check my lower unit oil anyways to be sure, but after running the motor on the hose for about a minute, no more oil.

Get it figured out yet?

I would suspect its just sludge/unburned oil draining from the exhaust over time. Quick and easy to check/change the lower unit lube.

redchevy, this is what I was at first hoping it was, but upon further inspection, I had cracked my lower unit from water in the oil. Oil was leaking out. Turned out to be lower unit gear oil Bulletman.

This thread "JINXED" me. Noticed mine started leaking yesterday---Oh well, You play you pay!