Hi all, Tipsy here. Wondered if any of you have had a problem like this? I've got a 1975 Merc 888 in a 22' SeaRay SRV 220. 500 hours on the engine which was rebuilt about 10 years ago. Average about 50 hours a year. Well maintained, all lubes changed every year etc. Last season had the engine coupler replaced, early this season had all the bellows and gimbal bearing replaced. Also replaced the valve cover gaskets early this season too.
Problem is this, whenever I go cruising speed for fifteen minutes or so (marina to a local beach) after that period of time the engine starts to smoke a bit. Seems to be coming from the rear of the engine (thought it was the valve cover gaskets but turns out it wasn't). I can't get in the engine compartment close enough when it's hot to see exactly where it's coming from. I can motor around more slowly all day without this result. It only happens at higher speeds. Thought it might be a head gasket or worse but a compression check came out just fine. Today I pulled it from the river/marina and brought it home. Changed the o-ring in the reverse lock-out. Earlier in the year it had been leaking slightly. Wondered if maybe some of the trim fluid had been leaking down onto the engine and causing the smoking. So changed the o-ring and reassembled it. Sprayed it all down with degreaser and hosed it off. After it dries I'll have to go back in the water for a test run under a load in the river to see if that corrected it.
Any other ideas of what to look for?
Thanks!
Problem is this, whenever I go cruising speed for fifteen minutes or so (marina to a local beach) after that period of time the engine starts to smoke a bit. Seems to be coming from the rear of the engine (thought it was the valve cover gaskets but turns out it wasn't). I can't get in the engine compartment close enough when it's hot to see exactly where it's coming from. I can motor around more slowly all day without this result. It only happens at higher speeds. Thought it might be a head gasket or worse but a compression check came out just fine. Today I pulled it from the river/marina and brought it home. Changed the o-ring in the reverse lock-out. Earlier in the year it had been leaking slightly. Wondered if maybe some of the trim fluid had been leaking down onto the engine and causing the smoking. So changed the o-ring and reassembled it. Sprayed it all down with degreaser and hosed it off. After it dries I'll have to go back in the water for a test run under a load in the river to see if that corrected it.
Any other ideas of what to look for?
Thanks!
