How much smoke is normal?

[Persnickety Platypus]

This is an 87' 9.9 Merc, currently operating in relatively cold temperatures (30-50 degrees).<br /><br />It is consistantly emitting smoke. Not a lot, but enough to make me slightly nervous, being that I know very little about outboards. It smokes not just when starting up, but after it has had ample time to warm up.<br /><br />Just wondering if this is typical. Anything I need to check out? Could I be adding too much oil?

 

[rodbolt]

Re: How much smoke is normal?

if its not smoking its toast.<br /> its a premix 50/1 gas to oil burn mix.<br />its designed to burn oil. if it does not burn oil lifespan is measured in minutes.<br /> it is possible your adding to much oil, which can cause as much damage as to little it just takes longer.<br /> try to keep it as close to 50/1 as possible. some in that year range started out with a 100/1 reccomendation but we found it was not really suitable

 

[roscoe]

Re: How much smoke is normal?

I love the smell of 2 cycle oil in the morning.

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: How much smoke is normal?

...smells like ... Fishing!

 

[Chief101]

Re: How much smoke is normal?

smells like....Olive Oyl.

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: How much smoke is normal?

its supposed to smoke, be happy.<br /><br />or use a synthetic oil. or get a 4 stroke. or get a electric outboard. or take up knitting.

 

[jtexas]

Re: How much smoke is normal?

at 30 to 50º mine smokes all the time too, even a little wisp at high speed. When the day warms up it cuts back to just the occasional puff or two at idle. I take it you haven't run it during the summertime yet? anyway sounds normal to me.<br /><br />welcome to iboats!

 

[Kanadakid]

Re: How much smoke is normal?

I like that semll too<br /><br />Kid

 

[eli_lilly]

Re: How much smoke is normal?

I remember a couple of months back, I had been idling for a few miles through manatee zones. The air was still. When I hit the Palm Beach inlet I brought her up on plane and then turned around to check for boats behind me. There was this wide trail of thin, wispy blue smoke behind me the whole length of the inlet, spreading out slowly like fog!

 

[Wiggy]

Re: How much smoke is normal?

I troll a lot with my Merc '77 20hp. After about 1-1.5 hours trolling the motor is coughing and doesn't like idling at all.<br /><br />When I open her up to WOT, she hesitates for a second or two whilst kicking out a big blue cloud of oily smoke and then the revs increase and I get full power.<br /><br />My question is, is this normal and am I over reacting being worried? Or should I turn down the gas/air mixture screw. I've set the screw correctly, so it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: How much smoke is normal?

nor-mal

 

[Wiggy]

Re: How much smoke is normal?

Thanks, I thought so but just wanted to make sure

 

[rodbolt]

Re: How much smoke is normal?

how did ya set that screw?<br /> there is no normal setting just a starting base, if its running rich due to improper adjustment lean it out.<br /> properly tuned and in good mechanical condition it should be able to idle longer than you.<br />changes in air temp and humidity can make air/fuel changes needed.