97 Challenger Exhaust Smoke

[enut]

My 1997 Challenger has the single 787 engine in it. I notice that most of the time when I run it in the water the exhaust has white smoke coming out. When I am out of the water, I don't notice it as much.

Is this normal?

 

[LouDoo]

Not sure depends on how much smoke. White smoke generally indicates water in the engine, and it's burning off as steam. Check your compression and let us know the results. Are you a new owner and just noticed, or have you had the boat for a while and it just started doing this?

Lou

 

[Gamerse]

+1^

Welcome back enut.

:cheers:
Ernest

 

[enut]

I had the boat since January. I think it always has been smokey. I spoke to someone else who has the same boat and he is also seeing a lot of smoke especially at start-up. I think I may need to run the boat more, to carefully monitor the behavior. The compression was checked earlier in the summer and both cylinders were the same apprx. 153psi
I don't notice any smoke when I run it on the hose.

 

[Gamerse]

Are you plugging the "calibrated outlet fitting" when you flush? There is a water outlet by your jet pump, up and right of it. That has to be plugged or the line to it pinched to properly flush. If it is left open, you may not see the same amount of water coming into your exhaust as when you are in the water. Remember to start the engine first, and slowly apply water flow.

:cheers:
Ernest

 

[enut]

I have this plugged all of the time. When I flush it the plug is in, when I am in the water, the plug is also in. I wonder if this is causing the smoking? The next time I use the boat, I will remove the plug from the stern flushing connector.

 

[Gamerse]

I would say yes, to be clear I am including a page from the manual with a circle of what I am talking about. This should NOT be plugged when the boat is in the water. It is a "calibrated flow" fitting. If we are talking about the same thing, you are dumping all of your water into the exhaust when you are on the lake. When you are on the hose, the water can run back out the jet pump. It makes sense lol.

:cheers:
Ernest

 

[enut]

The previous owner left it in maybe when he winterized it.

One thing I noticed that annoys me is the jet pump clogging up. It does not take a lot of seaweed to cause the boat to move VERY

 

[enut]

Sorry, hit the "reply" button too quick.

It does not take a lot of seaweed to cause the boat to move VERY SLOWLY. I had to reach under the boat to clean out just a few weeds, then the boat ran fine again.

Does anyone have a similar problem with that same vintage boat?

 

[Gamerse]

The TN river had a plague of visitors from alabama. I'm talking about the floating algae beds of course. The drought 3-4 years ago caused stale water, low water. Combine with high top water temperatures and we had waters that were un-navigable in less than 6ft waters where the stuff couldn't reach the bottom. The 1100ZXI was my first experience with the stuff. Run as hard as you can, that is the only thing I came up with. The higher on the water you plane, the better. The pump will eventually spit the stuff out.

Let us know if you have a chance to see if that plug was the problem.

:cheers:
Ernest

 

[LouDoo]

Here in KY we have a similar problem, we have a plague of visitors from OHIO. We call it the Buckeye Navy. Oops, guess we're not talking about the same thing. Where's that damn delete button when you need it.:rofl:

Lou

 

[Gamerse]

ROFL YOU said we didn't need one!:rofl::lol::thumbsup::lols:

:cheers:
Ernest

 

[Seadoobuddy]

See, we all need to delete something once in awhile.

I vote yes to delete your "OWN" post only.

But i feel the same way about those Buckeyes :agree:

:conehead:'s are from where???

about the russian plane crash, took 3 of ex Wings. Not to mention the other 40 people that died...My prayers are with them too.

 

[Gamerse]

:cheers:
Ernest

 

[Seadoobuddy]

Sorry enut, now what were you saying.
Let's answer his question.

thanks Gamerse....

 

[enut]

I took the boat out yesterday after work and with the plug out of the transom fitting there was a lot less smoke. There was some smoke when the engine would bog down after getting weeds and stuff on the intake grate. It is pretty annoying with the debris in the water having a huge effect on the performance of the boat. I wonder how the newer 4-stroke boats are.

Thanks for the help all. :thumbsup: