Why do they smoke so much at startup/idle?

[swist]

If the oil injection system is designed to supply very little oil at low speeds (200:1 at idle it says), why do the larger engines smoke so much at idle, particularly when just started. I doubt there's anything mechanically wrong - I've seen the same thing with carbed 225, 175, 150s all in good condition otherwise. And in the case of the 225, the startup sequence is computer controlled (throttle, choke, etc), so it's not like it could be an operator error since I have no control over anything that happens.<br /><br />Or maybe I'm just ignorant as to how much smoke 200:1 really is, and that's why the EPA is after the carbed 2-strokes?

 

[JB]

Re: Why do they smoke so much at startup/idle?

At idle the boat doesn't move, so any smoke that is emitted stays in one spot. That makes it look like a lot of smoke compared to the same amount of smoke spread out over a couple hundred feet.<br /><br />Also, when cold the engine is running richer, which makes more smoke in the first place.