Oil leak? Or normal?

[Mthirsch14]

1996 evinrude 28spl. Engine seems to run okay just smokes a good amount. Had it for about 2 years and the water in the drum always looks has dirty oil spots on top after running it. Is this normal from the exhaust or do I have an oil leak somewhere?

 

[GA_Boater]

Running in a barrel will always have floating unburned oil. Normal for two strokes.

Does it smoke less while running on the water at higher RPMs?

 

[geoffwga1]

Perfectly normal,there is always a certain amount of unburned oil when running a 2 stroke.It's exaggerated when running in a barrel and so is the smoke.

 

[Mthirsch14]

The boat sat for about a year and I needed a new starter so I figure I’d rebuild the carb while I had it off. Maybe my adjustment are off because I remember it used to smoke in the barrel but not this much. And On the water it always had very minimal smoke. I read to turn the screw in all the way and back it out 2.5 turns. Does this seem correct? Here is a pic of the barrel. Glad to know it’s normal. Thanks for the help guys

 

[F_R]

Your barrel looks perfectly normal. Don't even bother to try to adjust it in the barrel, wait and get it on a boat, out on the lake, then adjust the slow speed needle at idle, in gear, motor warmed up.

Your 2.5 turns are likely too much, which will add to the smoke and floating glop. Once on the boat, turn the adjustment to the right till it coughs or sneezes (maybe stalls), then back to the left till it runs smoothly without coughing. I think you will be good to go.