White smoke only while accelerating

[1998rinker21]

I have a 1998 350 Merc. Last week I was having a carburetor issue. It kept flooding. Put new choke on and it ran fine for couple of days. While driving on plane at about 80% throttle it started to die down and stall. It started back up instantly and sounded normal. Start going again but just putting no problems. Motor sounds fine but when I accelerate I start to get white smoke from the engine compartment. Wiped down motor for spilled and there was none. No leaks that I can find. It will idle and put just fine but when I accelerate, I get the white smoke !!! Any suggestions ?

 

[dubs283]

white smoke is indicative of unburnt fuel (vapor) or more likely a blown head gasket (water vapor)

check compression

 

[Rick Stephens]

Or a coupler burning. Does the smoke smell?

 

[1998rinker21]

Yes it smells. Pretty strong !

 

[Rick Stephens]

Rubber burning is the coupler spinning at the back of the motor. Motor needs to come out and the coupler replaced. Couplers normally fail because alignment is no longer. Make sure you check alignment and condition of transom and stringers to see if there is enough rot to cause the motor to sag.

 

[1998rinker21]

Ok thanks I will check it out.

 

[Scott Danforth]

if the coupler went, that means you have not been checking alignment every year.