boat smoking

[SPLIFF]

yesterday i noticed a little white smoke coming out of exhausts when i was getting ready to be pulled up on wakeboard.then when loading the boat (about a hour and a half later )i noticed it was doing it a lot more.when the boat was trailored i tried to start it, it would not do anything until about ten minutes later when i got home it cranked first try.at home i checked impellar looked excellent it is only 5 months old,but the last time it smoked like that it was the impellar but it was totally gone nothing was left but the center part and i cleaned out the old one and broken pieces. i have no idea what to check for next

[SPLIFF]

took the boat out noticed a little white smoke coming out of exhaust. about hr and half later when putting the boat on trailor it was smoking alot almost like it was on fire checked impellar looked great not sure what to check now

[TMCNo1]

took the boat out noticed a little white smoke coming out of exhaust. about hr and half later when putting the boat on trailor it was smoking alot almost like it was on fire checked impellar looked great not sure what to check now

Usually this time of year, when the air temps and lake/river water temps are cooler and when the hot/warm exhaust water comes out of the exhaust pipes you will have some steam. The steam will evaporate quite quickly, where light blue oil smoke or black choke smoke will not. You can see the difference in what I'm talking about when someone cranks up a outboard at the ramp. The oil/choke smoke will linger where the steam won't. As long as the temperature gauge stays in the normal range of 145 to 160 degrees while idling and running it should be OK. Just remember the temp gauge will rise some after a hard run if you go back to idle, slightly above 160 degrees, but will drop back to normal in a few minutes and the temp will rise to and above 180 if you cut it off and heat soak sets it from the lack of cooling water circulating in the engine.

[Muttley]

White smoke is usually an indication of water. Is this the first time in a while you've had it out in a while?

It's most likely just a little water in the gas... technically it COULD be as bad as a head gasket or cracked block (unlikely in Louisiana)

I'm sure the experts will be up any minute now. If it persists, my first instinct would be to change the water separation filter and see what happens.

[SPLIFF]

Usually this time of year, when the air temps and lake/river water temps are cooler and when the hot/warm exhaust water comes out of the exhaust pipes you will have some steam. The steam will evaporate quite quickly, where light blue oil smoke or black choke smoke will not. You can see the difference in what I'm talking about when someone cranks up a outboard at the ramp. The oil/choke smoke will linger where the steam won't. As long as the temperature gauge stays in the normal range of 145 to 160 degrees while idling and running it should be OK. Just remember the temp gauge will rise some after a hard run if you go back to idle, slightly above 160 degrees, but will drop back to normal in a few minutes and the temp will rise to and above 180 if you cut it off and heat soak sets it from the lack of cooling water circulating in the engine.
It has rained every day for about week and a half here and the water was colder and the sun was not out thanks for ur help.

[east tx skier]

Stabilizer in the gas will throw off a little smoke, too. But this sounds like a bit more.

[SPLIFF]

White smoke is usually an indication of water. Is this the first time in a while you've had it out in a while?

It's most likely just a little water in the gas... technically it COULD be as bad as a head gasket or cracked block (unlikely in Louisiana)

I'm sure the experts will be up any minute now. If it persists, my first instinct would be to change the water separation filter and see what happens.
i have been running the boat about 15 times in a month and half and one of the first times i did get bad gas from the same gas station by the lake but i was thinking it was just a one time thing b/c it was a exxon. is the water separation something that u are supposed to change annually i am learning as i am not even sure what a water separater filter even looks like or where it is.thanks for ur help

[russlars]

To get your boat to stop smoking try Nicorette.:rolleyes: Many have had success with this.:D
Seriously, what temp did your temp guage show? Have you checked the oil to see if it is milky (indicating water in the oil)?

[SPLIFF]

To get your boat to stop smoking try Nicorette.:rolleyes: Many have had success with this.:D
Seriously, what temp did your temp guage show? Have you checked the oil to see if it is milky (indicating water in the oil)?
thats funny i will start watching the temp now i know i should have been doing it.i will check the oil today.

[SPLIFF]

Stabilizer in the gas will throw off a little smoke, too. But this sounds like a bit more.
i have not used stabilizer but i did notice something yesterday i forgot all about i have the fiberglass board that protects the gas tank out and i noticed where a little gas leaked out of the square gasket on top of the tank i wonder if water could be seeping in.

[SPLIFF]

White smoke is usually an indication of water. Is this the first time in a while you've had it out in a while?

It's most likely just a little water in the gas... technically it COULD be as bad as a head gasket or cracked block (unlikely in Louisiana)

I'm sure the experts will be up any minute now. If it persists, my first instinct would be to change the water separation filter and see what happens.

where is the water separation filter?

[Muttley]

where is the water separation filter?

In my '92 it's ot the left wall of the engine compartment toward the front. It looks like an oil filter. It'll be along your fuel line.

...can't seem to find a pic of a bilge at the moment.

[nmcjr]

I noticed a little smoke/steam this last weekend also, while initially a little worried, I finally decided it was probably the water temp or fuel stabilizer.

[SPLIFF]

yesterday i checked the oil it was barely on operating range the oil on the dip stick looked a little watery to me i just changed it about three weeks ago. and i let my friend drive the boat in slowly before it started smoking and he said the temp was 155 .

[Gamble]

well, there shouldn't be any water in the oil. Also, if there is, you'll know it immediately by it's look. It'll be a milky, soapy look. I would also say you should check the oil when it's in the water before adding any. Don't overfill it on the trailer.

[SPLIFF]

well, there shouldn't be any water in the oil. Also, if there is, you'll know it immediately by it's look. It'll be a milky, soapy look. I would also say you should check the oil when it's in the water before adding any. Don't overfill it on the trailer.
THANKS i never would have thought about the trailor being unlevel . i will check it today on the water

[russlars]

Not sure where our engine guys are on this one, but if you have water in your oil that is not a good sign. May be cracked block or blown head gasket. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable than me will chime in soon.

[nmcjr]

Look inside the oil filler on the valve cover. If there is water in the oil you will surely see it inside the valve covers--that is where it is easiest to see the milky looking oil.

[SPLIFF]

[QUOTE=nmcjr;592365]Look inside the oil filler on the valve cover. If there is water in the oil you will surely see it inside the valve covers--that is where it is easiest to see the milky looking oil.[/QUOTE how much oil should be in the valve covers?95 350 prostar thanks for ur help

[nmcjr]

EDIT: sorry misread you were asking about oil--my initial response a minute ago was how much water should be in there. There will be a fair amount of oil in the valve covers, especially after running it. Oil is pumped into the valve covers while running, but it shouldn't look milky.

Basically no water should be in the valve covers-- I suppose you could maybe see a little condensation, but really there shouldn't be any water. With that said, if there is a blown head gasket or leaking water jacket on the intake manifold etc, it will look pretty nasty in there, kind of foamy and milky looking is the best way I can describe it. See if you can post a pic--might be hard to take a pic through the oil filler, but if you can that would be great.

Also, a compression test would show a blown head gasket, but honestly outside an overheating event, a blown head gasket would be pretty rare.

[SPLIFF]

EDIT: sorry misread you were asking about oil--my initial response a minute ago was how much water should be in there. There will be a fair amount of oil in the valve covers, especially after running it. Oil is pumped into the valve covers while running, but it shouldn't look milky.

Basically no water should be in the valve covers-- I suppose you could maybe see a little condensation, but really there shouldn't be any water. With that said, if there is a blown head gasket or leaking water jacket on the intake manifold etc, it will look pretty nasty in there, kind of foamy and milky looking is the best way I can describe it. See if you can post a pic--might be hard to take a pic through the oil filler, but if you can that would be great.

Also, a compression test would show a blown head gasket, but honestly outside an overheating event, a blown head gasket would be pretty rare.
after work when i go to the lake i will take some pictures and post tommorrow thanks again

[h2oskifreak]

Smoke on the water...fire in the sky.

[SPLIFF]

yesterday took the boat out again put new gas in and i ran it 2 hours and pulled a wakeboard 7 times the temp stayed at 160 the whole time.when it was smoking tuesday i was only out a hr and half and only pulled 2 wakeboarders.so i guess i am ok maybe i got lucky and it was just gas in water. i may have been mistaken about oil being in the engine i will take some out and bring it to my brother see what he thinks























tuesday when it was smoking i was on the lake for hour and half pulled 2 wakeboarders. wednesday changed gas then ran the boat 2hrs straight pulled wakeboard 7 times no smoke and looked in valve cover did not look milky.thanks everybody for the help i may have got lucky hopefully it was just the gas. the temp went up to 160 and stayed there for 2 hrs.