6BTA oil pan gasket change in boat

[Lee Essay]

I have an oil leak on the front end of the motor where the oil pan bolts to the block. I am wondering if the pan can be dropped in the boat and a new gasket installed. At the rear of the pan I have 3″ from the bilge to the bottom of the pan and the distance increases towards the front of the motor. Looking for feed back on if that is enough room to drop the pan in the boat? Will post pictures.

Topic

[Lee Essay]

Hello Tom,

Yes, it is a 2000 Nordic Tug 37.

I did tighten several of the pan bolts in that area but unfortunately it did not make a difference.

The leak is not horrible but If I can solve it I would be happier.

Thanks for the reply!

Lee

[firehoser75]

Lee,
Just curious, based on the photos and engine room layout, is that a Nordic Tug 37?
I never had the issue you are having so am not sure if you have enough room. I did have a very small leak and found that 2 oil pan bolts side by side were “slightly” loose. Tightening solved the very small leak for me. I suspect you do have the room to drop the pan, but I would not place money on it.
Good luck,
Tom

[Lee Essay]

Clark,

Thanks for the response. The crank seal was an issue and recently replaced about a month ago. I had the entire gear housing front cover taken off and resealed in addition to the crank seal. When the crank seal was leaking the oil was running down the pan pretty good right under the crank. That definitely fixed one leak as the front of the pan under the crank is now clean but turns out I am chasing more than one leak.

This other leak is on the starboard side corner of the pan. I thought it was originally coming from the front gear cover rear seal and running down to the pan. After monitoring closely, whipping down, putting oil pads in different spots, mirrors, lights etc… I ruled that out as the source. There is a slight seepage at the front gear cover rear seal but not enough to cause the dripping at the pan. I am pretty confident that it is at the pan seam and running down the pan. Some of the oil is dripping off one of the bolts and some is running down the bottom side of that pan. I tried tightening up the pan bolts slightly on that front corner but it did not change anything.

[Clark Leighs]

Are you POSITIVE it is the pan gasket. A leaking front crank seal could allow the oil to get caught by the pan lip.

Use some mirrors and small flash lights or a light you can drop in the bilge to light the area so you can really see.

If it truly is the pan seal have you tried retorqueing the fasteners?

[Lee Essay]

Additional pictures showing space around motor. There is room in front slide pan that way

[Lee Essay]

additional photos

[Lee Essay]

Attached are pictures

[Author]

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