1987 8HP - Is this exhaust normal?

[gmiller1951]

I just acquired a boat with a 1987 Merc 8Hp. I fired it up using a water barrel last night and everything went fine with a good flow from the telltale and good grey exhaust from the back of the engine. I did notice a fair amount of exhaust smoke also coming from the lower unit where the lower end of the swivel bracket joins the drive shaft housing. This exhaust seemed to be wafting out of that area vs. the pressurized push of exhaust coming from the aft lower section of the engine cowling. Is this normal or is this anything that I should be concerned about?

 

[MercFan]

Re: 1987 8HP - Is this exhaust normal?

Sounds like there might be a piece of the exhaust missing in the mid section.<br /><br />My dad told me on his old 60s inline 6s (2 of them) those sctions were also missing. Backyard mechanics believed you get a couple of more horses without them.<br /><br />We ran those motors for years without any troubles. No performance gains though ;-P

 

[gmiller1951]

Re: 1987 8HP - Is this exhaust normal?

I'll trust that she'll do well then as well. That makes it a hot rod now, doesn't it. <br /><br />Thanks!