Outboard smoking like crazy.

[SP3C573R]

Hey Guys,
I have a 1997 Mercury 25HP 2 stroke outboard that has been starting to run sub par (I think from the E10 Gas) I added some Lucas Ethanol Fuel Conditions With Stabilzers and now it smokes a really lot. On the bottle it said an over treatment would not be harmful so I added like an OZ or 2 extra thinking that it might clean out the fuel system a little better. Anyone else ran into this issue? Think this will harm my motor?

Thanks
Jan

 

[coastalrichard]

Re: Outboard smoking like crazy.

What color is the smoke?

 

[Sunfish12]

Re: Outboard smoking like crazy.

Dump your tank and start with fresh gas and clean your plugs.

 

[CharlieB]

Re: Outboard smoking like crazy.

Ditto the fresh fuel.

Sea Foam is highly recommended as a fuel additive of 2 stokes to maintain fuel system cleanliness.

I've tried Lucas in my truck, can't say that I have noticed any real measurable improvement.

Sea Foam WORKS. Period.

 

[oldman570]

Re: Outboard smoking like crazy.

Ditto the fresh fuel.

Sea Foam is highly recommended as a fuel additive of 2 stokes to maintain fuel system cleanliness.

I've tried Lucas in my truck, can't say that I have noticed any real measurable improvement.

Sea Foam WORKS. Period.

Sea Foam is the Best !
Oldman570

 

[SP3C573R]

Re: Outboard smoking like crazy.

white.

 

[SP3C573R]

Re: Outboard smoking like crazy.

Thanks guys.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: Outboard smoking like crazy.

If the smoke is white, I would check the spark plugs to see if they've been steam cleaned. If so, you've likely got a bad head gasket or exhaust cover gasket and are getting water intrusion into the cylinders which is of course, a bad thing. I would suspect that is why one of the previous posters asked the queston about the color of the smoke it was making--excellent question. If the smoke is white, I would not run the motor at all until you get it fixed or you'll likely starve the rings for oil and ruin your motor.
good luck,
JBJ

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: Outboard smoking like crazy.

Yep. check the plugs.?????

 

[SP3C573R]

Re: Outboard smoking like crazy.

I just pulled the the plugs and they dont seem to been steam cleaned at all. If anything I would say they look a little fouled. I ran a compression test on each cylinder and they both where right at 119 psi. I looked at the exhaust gaskets on the side and im almost 100% sure thats the problem. If you look at the image I uploaded it looks like there is salt water coming threw where the bolt are. Im going to order the two gaskets for the exhaust cover. Should I go ahead and do the head gasket just to be safe? Also is there anything else I should do while I change the gaskets?

Thanks again guys

 

[jbjennings]

Re: Outboard smoking like crazy.

Considering your motor is a saltwater motor, I'd be extremely careful to take your time removing the bolts on th exhaust cover or head gasket, whichever you attempt. I'd also hope that you get some advice from Laddies, F-R, Faztbullet, etc. before you remove the cover since you have no steam cleaning on the plugs. If you remove the head gasket and break off a bolt (likely), you're opening up a can of worms. The exhaust cover gaskets are also terrible about breaking off. Consider working them back and forth and being crazy careful about going slow and rotating both directions as you slowly come out the first few millimeters until it fully loosens.
I'm not sure how you could be getting the steam without water getting into the cylinders as indicated by milky goo on the plugs or steam cleaned plugs. I just don't have the knowledge to guide you further since you don't have an obvious indication of water intrusion into the cylinders. I probably wouldn't do the head gasket unless someone knowledgeable told me to. Laddies, Faztbullet, F-R, and Joe Reeves are some names that come to mind whose advice I always heed. Many others here as well. Just don't pull the head gasket unless someone more knowledgeable than I says to.
JBJ

 

[gwukena]

Re: Outboard smoking like crazy.

Possible the white smoke is coming from the fuel additive, incomplete combustion could cause this. I would refill with fresh fuel and see if smoke clears up.