Mystery hole

[Dave1027]

I'm working on a older Mercury model 110 9.8 hp. I think it's about a year 1972 model?

Any way, there is this small hole as indicated in the pics. It seems to have come this way. It is a hole directly to the exhaust passage. When I first saw it I thought it might be a puncture hole damage from striking a rock or something. The missing paint near the hole threw me at first but now I think the hole is normal. Can somebody confirm? Is it some sort of drain hole? After running some oil drips out. It could be 2 stroke oil residue.

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: Mystery hole

Bump

 

[sxmerc]

Re: Mystery hole

This is a drain hole. Helps to let water drain from the engine after it is shut off. The oil that you see running from it occasionally, is unburnt fuel mixture that is running down the inside of the exhaust housing and out. Both are normal.

 

[Dave1027]

Re: Mystery hole

Thanks SXMerc,

Isn't this odd though? This is the first time I have seen this sort of thing on a motor. I wonder what Mercury was thinking?