Oil smoke in exhaust?

[Moonshine]

Two weeks ago I purchased an '09 Speedster 150 with the 255 HP SCIC engine. The boat only had 12 hours on it at purchase and had been dealer serviced (including oil change) in May of this year. The engine was low on oil, so I added 1.5 quarts to bring the oil level to the mid-range on the dipstick. In the process I spilled a tablespoon or two which went into the bilge. The boat runs smooth and strong, but at idle I've noticed an occasional light blue smoke haze behind us. Is this the spilled oil burning off the exhaust, normal for this engine, or cause for concern? The previous (and original) owner reports no history of oil consumption, and seemed surprised when I told him the oil level was low. He admitted he'd never checked it after the dealer oil change, presuming they'd filled it adequately. We just turned 15 hours on it yesterday. Thanks in advance.

 

[timeman]

It sounds to me like you over filled the oil, are you sure the boat was sitting dead level when you read the dip stick? I can not imagine how a table spoon or two in the bilge would show up in the exhaust, and become a smokey haze. (also seems impossible the engine could consumed 1-1/2 qts in just 15 hrs, w/o some obvious issues))

If you over filled and burned off some of the oil there should have been some evidence of oily residue on the hull (below water line, and more toward the stern) when you pulled her out....

I would make sure she's sitting dead nuts level and recheck, then pump out the excess, though you may need to clean or change the plugs...

 

[pwgsx]

Just wondering bc I need to check mine too and maybe he doesn't know as well, what do you put a level on? The boat floor or top of the rub rail? I know on the jetski's we use the rub rail.

 

[Moonshine]

First time I checked it boat was on trailer and main trailer beam was dead level. Rechecked it with boat in water after running engine for a minute and then letting it sit for a minute. Both times oil was barely touching bottom of dipstick. Added and rechecked until oil level was in the middle range of the indented area of dipstick. I do not see any oily residue on hull. In the three hours I've run the boat the oil level hasn't budged, so I'm leaning towards the oil level was low, but because dealer didn't put enough in at oil change. It's just seeing an occasional light haze at idle from a fuel injected 4 stroke seems a bit worrisome. Do all SeaDoo 4 stroke boats used the same length dipstick? Just wondering if the dealer somehow got dipsticks mixed up and put a too short dipstick in, causing oil level to look low and making me overfill.

 

[KK40384]

The "haze" you're seeing, does it linger or dissipate right away? If it lingers around like the old 2-strokes then you've got a problem. If not all you're seeing is actually steam from the water in the exhaust that is used to cool it. The latter is normal. I'm willing to bet its just the steam.

 

[ken0276]

Blue smoke for oil burning.
White smoke for antifreeze (such as blown head gasket).
Black smoke for too much gasoline or not enough air.

 

[Moonshine]

It's not steam, and it's blue.

 

[KK40384]

If be concerned about that for sure. You should not be seeing any oil consumption at 15hrs unless you have some sort of engine wear/damage.