Walters VDrive Light & Moisture

[homer12]

Ok, I've been doing some research after having the infamous 1200RPM light stay illuminated. I've check v-drive oil and looks clean as well as ok but towards the lower end of the range. I plan to add some SAE 30 and check the light next time out. If the light still stays one will start checking pressure switch sensor. Not too worried about this since oil looks good.
However, the bilge area around the vdrive looks very oily and "wet" like a lot of humidity. After leaving the hatch open there to dry for a few days after using there is still moisture seeming to be present. Also, after running it there is standing water in the top of the lake temp / sonar sensor by the bilge drain. I'm thinking the vdrive could be leaking oil (read a lot about that), but also that maybe a cooling line is leaking somewhere to give that moisture? You can see condition in the attached pic. Do you think I need to check for a water leak down here from cooling hose or does this look normal?

[Paxdad]

That bilge looks normal for a boat that has not been maintained and cleaned regularly. I would use some simple green and light pressure washing to clean it up and then check for leaks the next time you get on the water. Most of what I see in the picture is mold/ mildew with some light oil residue.

[ski4evr]

mine started leaking with a small drip that grew rapidly to an oily bilge in a weekend. kind of a pain, but was able to replace the bottom gasket in an evening. only four bolts. the real pain was that I discovered several of the interconnecting hoses in poor shape too. went to local hose and hydraulic store and had them made. added swivel ends to the hoses and really helped with installation.

[homer12]

Thanks guys! Ski4ever, were those interconnecting hoses the water hoses for cooling or hoses for oil? I'm just learning about the vdrives!

[SAN210Pat]

For the Walters do you have to specifically order everything from them directly?


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[homer12]

So tonight I put my hand under the vdrive and felt around and along the bottom of some of the oil hoses down low and there is definitely moisture there, not wet oil either. The boat has been on the trailer for 4 days in a dry conditioned warehouse with the boat opened up. Doesn't make any sense to me to be wet still. Do the cooling hoses on these vdrives tend to leak?

[dixxy]

i have almost the same problem has what you are described here..

last year i change the gasket on the oil pan, but it still seems to be oily wet around the bottom and just can't seem to see from where...tonight i removed the floor panel to get a better look but kinda hard to see anyway...

from past experience has anybody else had this problem? if not the oli pan that leaks what else can it be?

[homer12]

Anybody else have this same issue? I'm beginning to wonder if it is coming from a prop shaft seal leak or leaky seal on the output shaft of the vdrive... that is such a hard area to see in this boat without some major contortion or removing multiple panels I'm guessing. I'm coming from a direct drive

[homer12]

Quick update. Got the bilge in this area and v drive pretty clean today with the Simple Green, hose and a brush. Now waiting to run it and see if oil comes from anywhere noticeable.

[ski4evr]

my apologies for not responding, those little hoses on the front are for oil. when I replaced the pan gasket and removed the hose, it was not in good shape. that's when I replaced them. my boat takes on water, I think. hard to tell when the cooler drains into bilge, and wet people in and out though. I have found that if you put a squirt of dawn every time you put the plug in, keeps the bilge clean and smelling fresh.

[homer12]

No worries ski4evr. It is much more obvious seeing the whole unit with the floor deck pulled out. It looks obvious where fresh water goes through it now. After trying to get part of this bilge clean, I'm definitely going to be putting something in it to keep it in better shape.

[homer12]

Just a quick note here - after significant use over Memorial Day weekend my bilge stays pretty dry. I don't think the bilge pumps had to run at all even with letting the boat sit in the water over 2 nights. Also, the "oily-ness" that seemed to be all over in there is I think just these hoses getting bad as ski4evr noted. When wiping my finger around the bottom of the smaller interconnecting hoses that is a slight fresh film from the oil. I'm not going to worry about it but just keep my eye on it.

[homer12]

Is it bad that this red light doesn't come on at all now? I'm wondering if the oil pressure sending switch is bad now as it won't close to cause the light to come on. Any thoughts?

[t.franscioni]

I think those Vdrive lights should typically illuminate when you are at idle In neutral because there is nothing to turn the oil pump gear in the Vdrive and therefore zero oil pressure and light should be illuminated.... You could test it by removing the oil pressure sensor and threading a plug in its place then go drive it and if it doesnt illuminate you know somethings up with the indicator light and oil pressure warning system.