If the fluid is oil, you have a problem
No green paint, red paint.
I did not remove the lower unit . It stayed intact, during the painting process.
The only time this engine has seen water in the past 15+ years, was I ran it (on muffs) last year, and when I washed it the other day. And rain, during those 15+ years.
That's why this struck me as odd.
Drinkin coffee, missin fish.
If the fluid is oil, you have a problem
I'd rather be fishing.