Soot around exhaust cover

[xtraham]

my little 1976 70hp, has me stumped, we had it out yesterday and when I pulled the boat I noticed exhaust soot around the bottom of the exhaust cover, it's the small cover just below the cowl, and there is exhaust soot on the port side bracket where the steering cable exits and on the transom, I pulled the exhaust cover and inspected everything under it, I even plugged the exhaust off and ran the engine and I can't find an exhaust leak anywhere, so where might this exhaust soot be coming from?

 

[Swampmouse]

Re: Soot around exhaust cover

If I am understanding your description right, maybe the powerhead to exhaust cover gasket leaking? You wouldn't be able to see the gasket unless you pulled the powerhead, but should be able to see inside the cowling/cover if there is some inside there too?

But, I am certainly a novice.

Sm

 

[xtraham]

Re: Soot around exhaust cover

If I am understanding your description right, maybe the powerhead to exhaust cover gasket leaking? You wouldn't be able to see the gasket unless you pulled the powerhead, but should be able to see inside the cowling/cover if there is some inside there too?

But, I am certainly a novice.

Sm

I could not find any exhaust residue anywhere around the bottom of the power head, I could get to most of it with the exhaust cover off, and no smoke from anything with the engine running and the exhaust pulgged off, I pulgged the exhaust off at the prop, with a wet rag, it was tight enough to slow the engine down

 

[xtraham]

Re: Soot around exhaust cover

before I went out both sides looked like this,

after 2 hours of water time the port side looks like this

around the bottom of the exhaust cover looked just like soot on the bracket but I cleaned it off so it would not stain

 

[xtraham]

Re: 49 cid Soot around exhaust cover

Re: 49 cid Soot around exhaust cover

^^bump^^

 

[Molaker]

Re: Soot around exhaust cover

Since you could not find a source for the exhaust leak, are you positive it is soot? Could it be oil or grease being spewed out from the tilt tube when the steering is turned? Water washing up over the transom might spread it around like that.