White Smoke/Steam???

[MikeS]

Have a '97 196 w/ GT40
Seems to me that there is excessive white smoke/steam (?) coming out the back when taking off/accelerating and cruising. Options that I have heard or read about are to check the spark arrestor and impeller. Had it in for check up earlier this year at an authorized nautique shop and they told me the smoke was due to a dirty spark arrestor. Is that true? Don't know. Seems clean to me. Looking for other suggestions/possibilities, how to properly clean the spark arrestor and some pictures or hints on switching out the impeller. I hear it's easy but never done it so some hints would be much appreciated. I've been trying to watch the oil level but I have only had it out three times for a total of maybe five hours so not sure how much oil I might be burning if that's a possibility. I hope that that is not the case which is why I was hoping for other suggestions/help.
THANKS!!

[slidin_out]

kind of have the same issue on my 03 SANTE, it's in the shop so i may have the guy check it out while it is in there, totally forgot about that when i dropped it off

[All4Jaidan]

I had the same problem on my 04 210 it was a bad impeller. No suggestions on how to change it I just had it done while it was in the shop for its 100hr service. But im sure if you search the forum for impeller it will tell you step by step.

[icewake]

white smoke = steam, can be dirt in your water strainer (just open and clen it), can be a pump impeller(most of time), bleeding gasket (rarely), as for the other reson mention above I don`t understand the relationship.

black smoke = gas not burning well in chamber, can be bad fire(most of the time) (check wiring, spark plugs, distributer cap) can also be the boat not getting enough air(clean flame arrestor).

blue smoke = oil consumption, when starting motor it can occur, but not when motor hot. check with dealer

I had the same problems with my 196ob gt40 engine, I live up north of Montreal, Quebec, Canada and the water temp when we start our season is about 50deg. So even with everything top notch there's always white smoke coming out at that time of year more than usual it's basically steam. But when you still have as much steam in the warm season , check the strainer, if clean, it's probably your pump impeller and it's an easy job to do, order 2 when you order so you have a back up. don't forget to put the lube when sticking it in.

Have fun!