Hello everyone,<br />I have a 1988 165hp inline 4 that has the closed cooling system. Every year I remove the metal cap at end of heat exchanger just to be on the safe side. (Dumb Me)<br />I was getting boat out of storage, getting ready to change oil for first use.<br />I hooked up water hose to lower unit and cranked boat, after about 5 minutes I relized I had not replaced the cap on heat exchanger.<br />The temp gauge never went up, but it was some smoke coming from the rear dischage rubber hose that connects the metal discharge housings.<br />And the smell of burning plastic or rubber which may have just been the freash air ventaltion hose. <br />Also, (and here is where it really gets scarry)<br />on the ground at prop where pieces of what appears to be burnt rubber and soot. "Ouch"<br />Any way boat ran fine, no water in oil, and no leaks.<br />But I never have trusted the temp gauge in the<br />past becuse it never goes abover 130.???<br />How can I tell if engine is now running to hot?<br />And what could that burnt rubber been?<br />Thanks and try not to laugh to hard,<br />Johnny Walker
