I need help!!!!

I just went to lake to practice using my new SI unit and when I loaded the boat noticed this fluid leaking. It smells like gas and looks like oil & water have mixed. I have pictured where its leaking from. I looked into the top port of where the gear oil is and it looked good. So can you tell me what this is and do I need to take it to the shop. I have been fishing within last 2 weeks and didnt notice anything like this last time. It is a 1997 Yamaha 30hp tiller steer oil injected

http://www.crappie.com/crappie/attac...p-dsc02176.jpghttp://www.crappie.com/crappie/attac...p-dsc02177.jpghttp://www.crappie.com/crappie/attac...p-dsc02178.jpg

Thanks in advance for your time and info.
I appreciate it
Tom

It MIGHT just be unburned fuel from the exhaust. Your engine has a drain for the lower housing there. Some engines leave a pretty good puddle at times. I'd want to be sure though.

Thanks catfan, I have a engine schematic and Im fixin to look at what those hole are for, its smells of gas and I was using the choke a little......

In the bottom pic forward of the prop, is that where the lower unit oil drain plug is located. It looks like it. If so, is it leaking lower unit oil? It makes sense that the rotation of the prop would pull the oil up the lower unit housing like in the pic. It's hard to say just looking at a pic but that's what it looks like to me.
Good luck with it.

its leaking out of that small hole just above the prop and leaking down. I changed the gear oil and it looks good, nothing like the stuff coming out. I will look again at the gear oil after my next trip. My schematic didnt show what those little holes were or what they were for....
any hints?
tom

Did you check your crankcase oil? Yamaha 4S's "make" oil if you idle them much. Gas leaks into the crankcase, overfilling it. Probably not your problem, but something to keep in mind.

yup oil reservoir was full, i was idling slow into wind playing with my SI unit and had it choked a bit, maybe thats what its from.....

Didn't read it right---obviously it's not a 4S. Like you said, it might be from running with the choke on.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tommyboyrn

its leaking out of that small hole just above the prop and leaking down. I changed the gear oil and it looks good, nothing like the stuff coming out. I will look again at the gear oil after my next trip. My schematic didnt show what those little holes were or what they were for....
any hints?
tom

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I believe they are ther just so the housing can drain.

Any drain on the lower unit is to drain water, not oil. Unburned fuel/oil from the power head is black in color not honey colored. You mentioned having to choke some to idle?? Not something you should have to do on a motor that's in good shape. A normal progression of a gearcase seal failure is the oil comes out as the water starts getting in. I would make very certain there is not a gearcase leak. Gearcase repairs get expensive.