80' 200 V6 Carbon Build Up on upper end of drive shaft

[mwidden]

Hey Guys,

Pulled my lower unit today to do a water pump and start prep for a nose cone and noticed a heavy amount of carbon buildup on the drive shaft, mainly upper end. Is my lower seal bad or is there some kind of gasket near the water pump in the lower unit that separates the exhaust from the drive shaft housing I'm missing?

Anyways thanks for the help!

~Matt

[pointer]

Exhaust will flow downward so not likely in lower. Lower crank seal will usually leak an oily residue, could be yours has been leaking for some time which cooked the residue?

pointer