2016 Yamaha 242 X E-Series New Leak in Engine Compartment and Part found

[KrustyCrab]

[USERGROUP=9]@HELP[/USERGROUP]
After fueling my boat up today, I ran it around the lake for 5 minutes. Pulling back into the slip, the bilge pump came on. Lowered back into water and didn't see any obvious leaking, but did find this plastic part with an o-ring in the well next to the bilge pump that wasn't there a couple of weeks ago when I changed the oil and filters. Cranked and ran at idle in the slip, still no obvious leaking. Back into the lake for 5 minutes and bilge comes back on as I'm loading into the slip. With engines still running, I can see a faint trickle of water coming from under the aft end of the port engine running down into the bilge pump well.
Engine still too hot to feel around underneath.
Any suggestions on where this may be coming from and what the part in the photos may be?

 

[ctglass]

For what its worth, I found the same cap w/ o-ring near my bilge last season and do not have any issues with leaks, so the two could be unrelated. But I'm following here to find out what it is for, been in my glove box for months.

 

[F.M.]

It's just a cap from the tower tube that was removed when it was mounted to the hull. I don't think Yamaha employees know what a trash can is.

 

[biglar155]

It's just a cap from the tower tube that was removed when it was mounted to the hull. I don't think Yamaha employees know what a trash can is.

The bilge IS the trash can according to Yamaha Employees.

 

[sunbyrned]

For the water source, maybe check for water intrusion in the intermediate bearings.(?)

 

[KrustyCrab]

UPDATE - thanks for identifying the mystery part. I lifted the boat out of the water and puled the drain plug for a couple of hours to let the hull fully drain. The port side impeller shaft cleanout was full of water, so I pulled the plugs on both sides, lubricated with silicone and reseated, ensuring they were both properly seated. I coated the hull drain plug with some silicone grease and tightened it well. Dropped it back in the water and ran it. COMPLETELY DRY.

 

[tdonoughue]

Silicone grease periodically on the cleanout plugs is recommended. Also, don't leave them in when not using the boat--store them out of the cleanout port so they don't get frozen in there.

You will frequently find the bilge come on when you go to pull the boat out of the water, as the angle of the boat changes when you put it on the trailer on the ramp (all the water in the bilge runs to the back and bango--bilge pump comes on ). Chasing leaks can be a full time job. If you find water in the bilge, make sure you feel how warm it is. If the water is cold, you have water coming in from the lake. If it is warm, it is coming from the engine cooling system.

If you are completely dry now, watch it and enjoy your boat.