CONTINUOUSWAVE

A 1994 Johnson 112-HP engine has sat for five years, and now has black oil dripping out of the gear case by the skeg and just below the power head on the outside of the engine.

Q1: is this black oil drip [an indication of a problem]?

Q2: is this black oil drip due to just excess unburned fuel and oil dripping?

Q3: is this black oil drip due to cheap oil added to the fuel?

However, the engine seems to run fine when operating out of the water with a hose adaptor providing cooling.

The seals on the propeller shaft look good.

Because the oil is black I think it might be from excess fuel or excess oil.

The [color of the] TCW3 oil that was used is unknown. I recall that I bought TCW3 oil at Bass Pro Shop.

Q4: was the engine stored for five years with fuel in the carburetor bowls?

Q5: during the five years of storage was the engine set in a tilted-up position at any time?

The 1994 Johnson 112-HP engine was stored outside under a tarp, and the engine was not tilted; it but upright on transom.

Prior to storage, fuel had been run out of the carburetors.

Prior to recently starting, a wasp nest was removed from under the cowling.

The engine started on first crank—surprisingly—using fresh fuel.

Perhaps the “black oil” is just cooling water mixed with exhaust soot.