No obvious source of red bilge water!
 

A few times that I've pulled the drain plug on my boat there has been red
fluid coming out. It happened again the last time I was out. The lake is
green and blue.

I took the engine cover off and inspected my power steering fluid level and
the power steering hoses with flashlight and by hand. No sign of leakage.

I ran the motor to operating temperature and turned the steering wheel a few
times; no sign of leakage.

Why do I occasionally get a red fluid coming out with the lake water when I
pull the drain plug after boating?

The only red fluid on the boat is the power steering fluid and gasoline.
The gas tank hoses are secure and there is no scent of gasoline, except
after dieseling.

Alpha One Mercury Mercruiser 4.3L V6 efi, approximately 45 engine hours
2005 Sea Ray 185 Sport

No obvious source of red bilge water!
 

In article , bryan.459
@pac.bell.net says...
A few times that I've pulled the drain plug on my boat there has been red
fluid coming out. It happened again the last time I was out. The lake is
green and blue.

I took the engine cover off and inspected my power steering fluid level and
the power steering hoses with flashlight and by hand. No sign of leakage.

I ran the motor to operating temperature and turned the steering wheel a few
times; no sign of leakage.

Why do I occasionally get a red fluid coming out with the lake water when I
pull the drain plug after boating?

The only red fluid on the boat is the power steering fluid and gasoline.
The gas tank hoses are secure and there is no scent of gasoline, except
after dieseling.

Alpha One Mercury Mercruiser 4.3L V6 efi, approximately 45 engine hours
2005 Sea Ray 185 Sport


Transmission fluid can also be red.

jps

No obvious source of red bilge water!
 

jps wrote:
In article , bryan.459
@pac.bell.net says...
A few times that I've pulled the drain plug on my boat there has been red
fluid coming out. It happened again the last time I was out. The lake is
green and blue.

I took the engine cover off and inspected my power steering fluid level and
the power steering hoses with flashlight and by hand. No sign of leakage.

I ran the motor to operating temperature and turned the steering wheel a few
times; no sign of leakage.

Why do I occasionally get a red fluid coming out with the lake water when I
pull the drain plug after boating?

The only red fluid on the boat is the power steering fluid and gasoline.
The gas tank hoses are secure and there is no scent of gasoline, except
after dieseling.

Alpha One Mercury Mercruiser 4.3L V6 efi, approximately 45 engine hours
2005 Sea Ray 185 Sport


Transmission fluid can also be red.

jps

But it won't mix with water.

No obvious source of red bilge water!
 

You could be leaking trim and tilt fluid from the reservoir, pump, or one of
the lines.
Jim
"Bryan" wrote in message
. com...
A few times that I've pulled the drain plug on my boat there has been red
fluid coming out. It happened again the last time I was out. The lake is
green and blue.

I took the engine cover off and inspected my power steering fluid level
and the power steering hoses with flashlight and by hand. No sign of
leakage.

I ran the motor to operating temperature and turned the steering wheel a
few times; no sign of leakage.

Why do I occasionally get a red fluid coming out with the lake water when
I pull the drain plug after boating?

The only red fluid on the boat is the power steering fluid and gasoline.
The gas tank hoses are secure and there is no scent of gasoline, except
after dieseling.

Alpha One Mercury Mercruiser 4.3L V6 efi, approximately 45 engine hours
2005 Sea Ray 185 Sport

No obvious source of red bilge water!
 

Jim wrote:
You could be leaking trim and tilt fluid from the reservoir, pump, or one of
the lines.
Jim

But it wouldn't make red water, unless it's ALL trim fluid, because
they won't mix together to form a red fluid.

No obvious source of red bilge water!
 

Bryan wrote:
A few times that I've pulled the drain plug on my boat there has been red
fluid coming out. It happened again the last time I was out. The lake
is
green and blue.

I took the engine cover off and inspected my power steering fluid level
and
the power steering hoses with flashlight and by hand. No sign of
leakage.

I ran the motor to operating temperature and turned the steering wheel a
few
times; no sign of leakage.

Why do I occasionally get a red fluid coming out with the lake water when
I
pull the drain plug after boating?

The only red fluid on the boat is the power steering fluid and gasoline.
The gas tank hoses are secure and there is no scent of gasoline, except
after dieseling.

Alpha One Mercury Mercruiser 4.3L V6 efi, approximately 45 engine hours
2005 Sea Ray 185 Sport

wrote in message
oups.com...
Next time you drain the boat, Bryan, catch some in a clear jar, and let
a mechanic (marien or automotive) inspect it.

is it immuslified with the water? or seperated?


It does not appear as a separate fluid.
I'll capture the drainage next time.

No obvious source of red bilge water!
 

"jps" wrote in message
...
In article , bryan.459
@pac.bell.net says...
A few times that I've pulled the drain plug on my boat there has been red
fluid coming out. It happened again the last time I was out. The lake
is
green and blue.

I took the engine cover off and inspected my power steering fluid level
and
the power steering hoses with flashlight and by hand. No sign of
leakage.

I ran the motor to operating temperature and turned the steering wheel a
few
times; no sign of leakage.

Why do I occasionally get a red fluid coming out with the lake water when
I
pull the drain plug after boating?

The only red fluid on the boat is the power steering fluid and gasoline.
The gas tank hoses are secure and there is no scent of gasoline, except
after dieseling.

Alpha One Mercury Mercruiser 4.3L V6 efi, approximately 45 engine hours
2005 Sea Ray 185 Sport


Transmission fluid can also be red.


I've checked the engine oil, the hydraulic fluid, the drive fluid, and the
power steering fluid. PS and gasoline are my only red fluids.
jps

No obvious source of red bilge water!
 

"Harry Krause" wrote in message
. ..
basskisser wrote:
Jim wrote:
You could be leaking trim and tilt fluid from the reservoir, pump, or
one of
the lines.
Jim

But it wouldn't make red water, unless it's ALL trim fluid, because
they won't mix together to form a red fluid.


Fish blood.

If you knew how skilled I was at catching fish, you would know that fish
blood is not a possibility. Now my own blood from all the times I stab
myself with a fish hook ...

No obvious source of red bilge water!
 

Harry Krause wrote:
basskisser wrote:
Jim wrote:
You could be leaking trim and tilt fluid from the reservoir, pump, or one of
the lines.
Jim

But it wouldn't make red water, unless it's ALL trim fluid, because
they won't mix together to form a red fluid.


Fish blood.

Wishful thinking!

No obvious source of red bilge water!
 

Bryan wrote:
"Harry Krause" wrote in message
. ..
basskisser wrote:
Jim wrote:
You could be leaking trim and tilt fluid from the reservoir, pump, or
one of
the lines.
Jim

But it wouldn't make red water, unless it's ALL trim fluid, because
they won't mix together to form a red fluid.


Fish blood.

If you knew how skilled I was at catching fish, you would know that fish
blood is not a possibility. Now my own blood from all the times I stab
myself with a fish hook ...

That's a good one!!

No obvious source of red bilge water!
 

"Bryan" wrote in message
y.com...

"jps" wrote in message
...
In article , bryan.459
@pac.bell.net says...
A few times that I've pulled the drain plug on my boat there has been
red
fluid coming out. It happened again the last time I was out. The lake
is
green and blue.

I took the engine cover off and inspected my power steering fluid level
and
the power steering hoses with flashlight and by hand. No sign of
leakage.

I ran the motor to operating temperature and turned the steering wheel a
few
times; no sign of leakage.

Why do I occasionally get a red fluid coming out with the lake water
when I
pull the drain plug after boating?

The only red fluid on the boat is the power steering fluid and gasoline.
The gas tank hoses are secure and there is no scent of gasoline, except
after dieseling.

Alpha One Mercury Mercruiser 4.3L V6 efi, approximately 45 engine hours
2005 Sea Ray 185 Sport


Transmission fluid can also be red.


I've checked the engine oil, the hydraulic fluid, the drive fluid, and the
power steering fluid. PS and gasoline are my only red fluids.
jps


Probably not likely on an 18 footer, but if your boat is equipped with
electric/hydraulic trim tabs, the fluid that operates them is red.
Personally, I'd be asking the question of why there is any liquid of any
type in the bilge of your boat. The normal state of a bilge for a stern
drive boat is bone-dry, no water whatsoever. There are only three sources
of water in a stern drive bilge that I can think of, and only two that are
acceptable.

1. Water from the weather (acceptable).

2. Water from a temporary ingress due to taking a wave over the bow or from
dripping swimmers (acceptable).

3. A leak from either the hull or a through-hull fitting, the on-board
water systems, or the mechanical systems (unacceptable).

I think you need to broaden the scope of your investigation.

No obvious source of red bilge water!
 

"Bryan" wrote in message
y.com...


I've checked the engine oil, the hydraulic fluid, the drive fluid, and the
power steering fluid. PS and gasoline are my only red fluids.
jps



What does the water smell like?

No obvious source of red bilge water!
 

Chuck Gould wrote:
Bryan wrote:
A few times that I've pulled the drain plug on my boat there has been red
fluid coming out. It happened again the last time I was out.

Are you boating in the Red Sea?

If not, the suggestions of a fluid leak are likely correct.

Or.......

How often do you pull that drain plug?

Could it be that you've got a colony of microcritters camped out in
your bilge? Could this be biological in nature?

That's what I'm thinking, red algae.

No obvious source of red bilge water!
 

How about spilled Kool-Ade powder, or spilled wine, or ketchup. It's time to
take the taste test.
Jim
"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
oups.com...

Bryan wrote:
A few times that I've pulled the drain plug on my boat there has been red
fluid coming out. It happened again the last time I was out.

Are you boating in the Red Sea?

If not, the suggestions of a fluid leak are likely correct.

Or.......

How often do you pull that drain plug?

Could it be that you've got a colony of microcritters camped out in
your bilge? Could this be biological in nature?

No obvious source of red bilge water!
 

Jim wrote:
How about spilled Kool-Ade powder, or spilled wine, or ketchup. It's time to
take the taste test.

Great idea! Drink a glass full. Tell us the results, especially if you
grow a third nipple or something!

No obvious source of red bilge water!
 

That was my thought when I read the OP. I have trouble with red algae growing
on the bathmats.


"Chuck Gould" wrote in message oups.com...

Bryan wrote:
A few times that I've pulled the drain plug on my boat there has been red
fluid coming out. It happened again the last time I was out.

Are you boating in the Red Sea?

If not, the suggestions of a fluid leak are likely correct.

Or.......

How often do you pull that drain plug?

Could it be that you've got a colony of microcritters camped out in
your bilge? Could this be biological in nature?

No obvious source of red bilge water!
 

I was thinking perhaps a killer forgot to dump the body overboard and
stuffed the parts in the bilge instead. No??

-W

"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
oups.com...

Bryan wrote:
A few times that I've pulled the drain plug on my boat there has been
red
fluid coming out. It happened again the last time I was out.

Are you boating in the Red Sea?

If not, the suggestions of a fluid leak are likely correct.

Or.......

How often do you pull that drain plug?

Could it be that you've got a colony of microcritters camped out in
your bilge? Could this be biological in nature?

No obvious source of red bilge water!
 

"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
oups.com...

Bryan wrote:
A few times that I've pulled the drain plug on my boat there has been red
fluid coming out. It happened again the last time I was out.

Are you boating in the Red Sea?

If not, the suggestions of a fluid leak are likely correct.

Or.......

How often do you pull that drain plug?

Could it be that you've got a colony of microcritters camped out in
your bilge? Could this be biological in nature?


Same boat, same lake, same time and activity on the water and no red fluid
today.
I pull the drain plug everytime I take the boat out of the water, so
microcritters seems unlikely.
I'm at a loss.

No obvious source of red bilge water!
 

"RG" wrote in message
. ..

"Bryan" wrote in message
y.com...

"jps" wrote in message
...
In article , bryan.459
@pac.bell.net says...
A few times that I've pulled the drain plug on my boat there has been
red
fluid coming out. It happened again the last time I was out. The lake
is
green and blue.

I took the engine cover off and inspected my power steering fluid level
and
the power steering hoses with flashlight and by hand. No sign of
leakage.

I ran the motor to operating temperature and turned the steering wheel
a few
times; no sign of leakage.

Why do I occasionally get a red fluid coming out with the lake water
when I
pull the drain plug after boating?

The only red fluid on the boat is the power steering fluid and
gasoline.
The gas tank hoses are secure and there is no scent of gasoline, except
after dieseling.

Alpha One Mercury Mercruiser 4.3L V6 efi, approximately 45 engine hours
2005 Sea Ray 185 Sport


Transmission fluid can also be red.


I've checked the engine oil, the hydraulic fluid, the drive fluid, and
the power steering fluid. PS and gasoline are my only red fluids.
jps


Probably not likely on an 18 footer, but if your boat is equipped with
electric/hydraulic trim tabs, the fluid that operates them is red.
Personally, I'd be asking the question of why there is any liquid of any
type in the bilge of your boat. The normal state of a bilge for a stern
drive boat is bone-dry, no water whatsoever. There are only three sources
of water in a stern drive bilge that I can think of, and only two that are
acceptable.

1. Water from the weather (acceptable).

2. Water from a temporary ingress due to taking a wave over the bow or
from dripping swimmers (acceptable).

3. A leak from either the hull or a through-hull fitting, the on-board
water systems, or the mechanical systems (unacceptable).

I think you need to broaden the scope of your investigation.


I seem to drain less than half a gallon of water after a day of boating and
putting it back onto the trailer. It's probably water from my swimmers,
tubers, wakeboarders, and skiers. I opened the engine compartment after a
few hours of watersports today and it was almost as dry as a bone.

No obvious source of red bilge water!
 

"Jim" wrote in message
k.net...
How about spilled Kool-Ade powder, or spilled wine, or ketchup. It's time
to take the taste test.
Jim
"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
oups.com...

Bryan wrote:
A few times that I've pulled the drain plug on my boat there has been
red
fluid coming out. It happened again the last time I was out.

Are you boating in the Red Sea?

If not, the suggestions of a fluid leak are likely correct.

Or.......

How often do you pull that drain plug?

Could it be that you've got a colony of microcritters camped out in
your bilge? Could this be biological in nature?




I'll smell it. I'll touch it. I won't taste it!

No obvious source of red bilge water!
 

On Sat, 08 Jul 2006 01:31:43 +0000, Bryan wrote:


I seem to drain less than half a gallon of water after a day of boating
and putting it back onto the trailer. It's probably water from my
swimmers, tubers, wakeboarders, and skiers. I opened the engine
compartment after a few hours of watersports today and it was almost as
dry as a bone.

How red is red? Could it be considered rust colored? I could think of
quite a few things that would give a rusty hue to water.

No obvious source of red bilge water!
 

"thunder" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 08 Jul 2006 01:31:43 +0000, Bryan wrote:


I seem to drain less than half a gallon of water after a day of boating
and putting it back onto the trailer. It's probably water from my
swimmers, tubers, wakeboarders, and skiers. I opened the engine
compartment after a few hours of watersports today and it was almost as
dry as a bone.

How red is red? Could it be considered rust colored? I could think of
quite a few things that would give a rusty hue to water.

Red like my power steering fluid, but there is no sign of leakage anywhere
in the engine compartment.

No obvious source of red bilge water!
 

"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...
Bryan wrote:
"thunder" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 08 Jul 2006 01:31:43 +0000, Bryan wrote:


I seem to drain less than half a gallon of water after a day of boating
and putting it back onto the trailer. It's probably water from my
swimmers, tubers, wakeboarders, and skiers. I opened the engine
compartment after a few hours of watersports today and it was almost as
dry as a bone.
How red is red? Could it be considered rust colored? I could think of
quite a few things that would give a rusty hue to water.

Red like my power steering fluid, but there is no sign of leakage
anywhere in the engine compartment.


It's wine. Your boat is being used as a cask in its off hours.

Now THAT would explain why my boat never wants to sit evenly on the trailer
after a day of boating.

No obvious source of red bilge water!
 

Bryan wrote:
"Jim" wrote in message
k.net...
How about spilled Kool-Ade powder, or spilled wine, or ketchup. It's time
to take the taste test.
Jim
"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
oups.com...

Bryan wrote:
A few times that I've pulled the drain plug on my boat there has been
red
fluid coming out. It happened again the last time I was out.

Are you boating in the Red Sea?

If not, the suggestions of a fluid leak are likely correct.

Or.......

How often do you pull that drain plug?

Could it be that you've got a colony of microcritters camped out in
your bilge? Could this be biological in nature?




I'll smell it. I'll touch it. I won't taste it!

Awe......come on!! Just a little taste!

No obvious source of red bilge water!
 

RG wrote:
"Bryan" wrote in message
y.com...

"jps" wrote in message
...
In article ,
bryan.459 @pac.bell.net says...
A few times that I've pulled the drain plug on my boat there has
been red
fluid coming out. It happened again the last time I was out. The
lake is
green and blue.

I took the engine cover off and inspected my power steering fluid
level and
the power steering hoses with flashlight and by hand. No sign of
leakage.

I ran the motor to operating temperature and turned the steering
wheel a few
times; no sign of leakage.

Why do I occasionally get a red fluid coming out with the lake
water when I
pull the drain plug after boating?

The only red fluid on the boat is the power steering fluid and
gasoline. The gas tank hoses are secure and there is no scent of
gasoline, except after dieseling.

Alpha One Mercury Mercruiser 4.3L V6 efi, approximately 45 engine
hours 2005 Sea Ray 185 Sport


Transmission fluid can also be red.


I've checked the engine oil, the hydraulic fluid, the drive fluid,
and the power steering fluid. PS and gasoline are my only red
fluids.
jps


Probably not likely on an 18 footer, but if your boat is equipped with
electric/hydraulic trim tabs, the fluid that operates them is red.
Personally, I'd be asking the question of why there is any liquid of
any type in the bilge of your boat. The normal state of a bilge for
a stern drive boat is bone-dry, no water whatsoever. There are only
three sources of water in a stern drive bilge that I can think of,
and only two that are acceptable.

1. Water from the weather (acceptable).

2. Water from a temporary ingress due to taking a wave over the bow
or from dripping swimmers (acceptable).

3. A leak from either the hull or a through-hull fitting, the
on-board water systems, or the mechanical systems (unacceptable).

I think you need to broaden the scope of your investigation.

Rust maybe?
Lushy

No obvious source of red bilge water!
 

"basskisser" wrote in message
oups.com...

Bryan wrote:
"Jim" wrote in message
k.net...
How about spilled Kool-Ade powder, or spilled wine, or ketchup. It's
time
to take the taste test.
Jim
"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
oups.com...

Bryan wrote:
A few times that I've pulled the drain plug on my boat there has been
red
fluid coming out. It happened again the last time I was out.

Are you boating in the Red Sea?

If not, the suggestions of a fluid leak are likely correct.

Or.......

How often do you pull that drain plug?

Could it be that you've got a colony of microcritters camped out in
your bilge? Could this be biological in nature?




I'll smell it. I'll touch it. I won't taste it!

Awe......come on!! Just a little taste!


That's what she said!

No obvious source of red bilge water!
 

"Bryan" wrote in message
. com...
A few times that I've pulled the drain plug on my boat there has been red
fluid coming out. It happened again the last time I was out. The lake is
green and blue.

I took the engine cover off and inspected my power steering fluid level
and the power steering hoses with flashlight and by hand. No sign of
leakage.

I ran the motor to operating temperature and turned the steering wheel a
few times; no sign of leakage.

Why do I occasionally get a red fluid coming out with the lake water when
I pull the drain plug after boating?

The only red fluid on the boat is the power steering fluid and gasoline.
The gas tank hoses are secure and there is no scent of gasoline, except
after dieseling.

Alpha One Mercury Mercruiser 4.3L V6 efi, approximately 45 engine hours
2005 Sea Ray 185 Sport


Second time in a row without red bilge water. I'm going to assume something
in the bilge that got washed out. Maybe they spilled something at the last
service.