Smoking 350

[greg82255]

Hello,

Just bought a 1986 Formula at the end of last year with a Mercruiser 260/Alpha One of the same year. I just put in new oil, a new water pump, dist cap, rotor, wires, plugs, and replaced the exhaust manifolds/risers about 2 weeks ago. I started up the engine and it runs fine but I noticed a little (noticeable but very very little) light colored smoke coming from the engine somewhere around the port side cylinder head. I didn't really look too closely at its origin. I don't think its from oil b/c does not smell like oil and its light colored. Should I be concerned about this or is it most likely nothing?

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: Smoking 350

Hello,

Just bought a 1986 Formula at the end of last year with a Mercruiser 260/Alpha One of the same year. I just put in new oil, a new water pump, dist cap, rotor, wires, plugs, and replaced the exhaust manifolds/risers about 2 weeks ago. I started up the engine and it runs fine but I noticed a little (noticeable but very very little) light colored smoke coming from the engine somewhere around the port side cylinder head. I didn't really look too closely at its origin. I don't think its from oil b/c does not smell like oil and its light colored. Should I be concerned about this or is it most likely nothing?

What does it smell like? May be wise if you did track down the source of the smoke so you know whats going on.

If it's not oil smoke something else is burning. Maybe wiring getting hot (on it's own, or insulation burning against something), may be steam from something leaking water onto a hot part, or may simply be fresh paint burning off a surface if you painted your manifolds.

 

[greg82255]

Re: Smoking 350

I don't think its steam - it was a very thin stream of smoke. I could definitely see it being some burning paint or possibly a wire. I will try to track it down more closely this weekend when I get a chance to look at it. To be honest I was just looking for some reassurance that it's not anything that will hurt the motor.

 

[Fordiesel69]

Re: Smoking 350

I installed a new manifold on a I4 merc 120HP and it smoked up the entire engine bay and made me nervous somthing was on fire. The new paint took over 4 hrs to stop smoking. And about 12 hrs to stop smelling.

 

[greg82255]

Re: Smoking 350

Hopefully that is the problem. I guess I'll go boating and wait for the smell to go away. thank you

 

[jopes]

Re: Smoking 350

I put a new engine and new manifolds in my boat. it smoked some of the paint off, but not that much. just enough to smell it. if your not getting enough water in your engine it will cause the manifolds to run hot.

 

[kewlkatdady]

Re: Smoking 350

there not any surfaces that should be hot enough to burn the paint off...

If there is, theres a bigger problem. Find the smoke then post up, someone here will help you diagnose the problem.

Good luck.

 

[twostroke87]

Re: Smoking 350

is it coming from the hole on the top of the valve cover on your port side? There should be a hose that plugs in there and leads up with the flame arrester. Nothing really holds it in the valve cover and its something that can easily pulled out while your working.