Westerbeke 7.2 oil leak

C

Cutlass

Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2000
RO Number
2940
Messages
38
The generator work fine when put the boat away last fall. This spring I have a major oil leak under the engine right rear. Under the starter. It only leaks when I start it. I checked the filter for possible two seals. I usually use a Fram filter but last year I used a Serria. Although the leak doesn't appear to come from the filter area. I ordered an actual Westerbeke filter and was going to try it but now I am convinced that the leak is not from the filter. I can't figure out how I could go from no leaks to a major leak. I would appreciate any suggestions. thanks
 
Something froze and cracked? You will need to do a lot more inspections. Use mirror and cameras.
 
Was it pouring out or spraying under a lot of pressure?

Hopefully your 1st guess of the doubled filter gasket is correct.

After doing that once long ago on one of my main I/B gas engines with the engine cover off and having oil covering my back ( as I watched the OP gauge & realized it wasn't pumping up) and EVERYTHING else inside the express's enclosure in a few seconds, I never again trust my feel and eyes for this and will never install a new oil filter without having the old gasket in my hand separate from the old filter. It is easy to be deceived into thinking the gasket is still on the oil covered filter gasket surface.

Could you possibly have neglected to make the extra 3/4? turn by hand after 1st contact when installing? Or use a filter wrench to over-tighten and distort the gasket?

(FWIW- I know you said you used a Sierra last time, but from reading comparisons of many brands, your usual Fram would be a distant last choice for me.)
 
I think he is saying that it did not leak after he changed the filter in the fall. If that is not correct and you didn't run it after the filter change then definitely re do that.
 
Thanks for the replies. I put the actual Westerbeke filter on and it still leaks. The best I can tell the leak is coming from where the starter is mounted. There are two bolts holding the starter in. the one on the top has the main ground and there is one on the bottom somewhere, I can't see it. The bottom bolt will be hard to get to. There has to be a gasket between the starter and the bell housing. I haven't found a gasket in the Westerbeke parts list.
 
Usually no gasket because there are no fluids in the bell housing
 
According to the Westerbeke parts drawings, behind the starter is a lube oil to block adapter. This adapter has a gasket to the block and has two hoses that go to the oil filter assembly. Because of where the oil is coming from, this lube oil to block adapter has a lot of potential for leaks. The lube oil to block adapter is complete hidden behind the starter and solenoid. It looks like I'll have to remove a cooling hose and the starter to get a good look at the lube oil to block adapter. I think I will have to get along with out a generator this season. I just don't like lugging around an extra 300 lbs of useless steel.
 
I said I was not going to do this anymore but I can't stop myself. The oil leak is from one of the two hoses they are not that bad to get at to replace. Do yourself a favor and replace both of them at the same time. This is a normal place for those units to leak.
 
Boy, George, way to throw a ray of sunshine on Johnnie's cloudy parade. ;)

[:-thumbu]

Here's hopin' it's that relatively simple.
 
Thanks. I think the problem is one of the two hoses. I am trying to get a local mechanic to work on it. I have enough other work to do.
 
Well I finally got a mechanic to work on my oil leak. He started the generator and confirmed that oil was coming out from under the generator below the starter. He removed the starter to look at the oil lines to the remote oil filter. He found no evidence of oil coming from the rubber hoses. Of course you can't start the generator with the starter off and didn't know how to proceed. He did say that the wires from the oil sender had oil on them. I told him to leave everything the way it is and I am going to inspect everything tomorrow. I have done a search on line about oil pressure sending units leaking and found that this does occur. Now I am wondering if the sending unit could leak the amount of leakage that I am observing. I am getting about a half to three cups of a cup of oil each time I start. My problem is if the oil sender is replaced, have the starter reinstalled and it still leaks, I am out of a lot of money. Comments? Thanks.
 
Ordered a new adapter plate gasket and oil pressure switch. After everything is put back together, I'll have cross my fingers and hope that the oil leak is gone. I forgot to mention that I put a die in the oil and used and infra red flash light to inspect. There was so much oil smeared around that it wasn't evident where the source was.
 
The adapter plate gasket and the pressure switch were replaced, not an easy job. The oil leak is gone. I don’t think switch was the problem, it was a gasket blow out. Both items required the starter removed. Tight work on everything. Thanks for all the suggestions.
 
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