'03 Optimax - White smoke at idle in cold temps

[2Win]

Hello,

I have a 2003 Optimax with very low hours (approx. 50) and in great shape, but I was out this weekend and it was smoking like a chimney at idle speed. All pure white smoke. The water temp was 44 degrees and the air temp 40. Once I got going over 2500-3000 RPM's, it ran perfect, no smoke at all. It even tripped an alarm sensor to go off a couple times because of all the smoke. Should I be concerned about this or is this just something to do with the cold temps? Also, it wouldn't really smoke that bad for the first 10-15 seconds of idle, but then it would really start smoking after that. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[boat1010]

Re: '03 Optimax - White smoke at idle in cold temps

Mine smokes quite a bit when it is cold too. But I guess it is hard to say what your "a lot" is and mine. The reason mine is smoking is because of the cold temps. My exhaust is not through the lower unit it has through the hull exhaust. So you have heated water coming out the exhaust to 40 deg weather and it smokes. Much like you blowing and can see your breath. This may or may not be the situation with yours.

 

[2Win]

Re: '03 Optimax - White smoke at idle in cold temps

Thanks for the reply, boat1010. I'd say about a 2 foot by 1 foot trail of white smoke is what was coming out. I have a feeling this is mainly from condensation due to the cold weather, but the alarm going off kind of worries me. Just hope nothing was overheating or creating any other problems.

 

[204Angler]

Re: '03 Optimax - White smoke at idle in cold temps

Alarm may be low oil. When cold, oil doesn't flow all that well. That smoke maybe just condensation. Figure out the alarm code, that will give you a good starting point in troubleshooting or if it is a problem at all