lower unit is tite, oil came out black but no water. never had a lower unit issue and I've operated all the way into frigid ice breaking...i do have a head scratching problem with water fouling the inboard fuel, seems if it gets loaded with rain the tank will take on a quart or so of water but not always...sometimes I'll start and run as I pump maybe that is the problem once a vacuum is established...it's all under the 34yr. old deck and I dread the thought of going there....the joys of owning a old tub.