Blow by

[2whlin]

2001 21i
I am getting some blow by (black oily substance) up around the front of the motor. It gets on the inside of the engine cover and on the motor. Hope to run the motor on the water with the cover open next time out to see if I can see anything out of the ordinary. The engine oil is clean on the dipstick and is full so not real sure where this black stuff is coming from?

[chpthril]

Exhaust leak maybe, but no water in the bilge? Does it seem like it's getting slung off the belt?

[hoopykat]

Could be debris from the serpentine belt wearing off. I get that on my engine a bit too. Comes right off with a whisk broom.

-Mike

[dom w. forte]

If your pulleys have any rust they will eat up the belt and leave black residue.

[2whlin]

No water in the bilge, I was thinking it might be off the belts as it's right in that area. Yes there is some rust on one of the pully's. Maybe I'll take it off and re-paint it.

[bobbysky]

I believe the 01-02 merc alternator bracket had service notice. It would eat one groove of the belts off. That is most likely what your seeing. I used a quarter inch spacer and put it in, and since then haven't had any problems with my belt getting ate up.

[2whlin]

I'll check my belt again, glanced at it yesterday and did not notice any seriour wear. Will give it a good look. So your saying the alignment is off between alt. pulley and the main pulley?

[bobbysky]

yep they were not correctly mounted. I had to use a 1/4" spacer where it says to space it out. Here is the service advisory. http://www.mercruiserparts.com/bulle...2003/EN_04.PDF

Your belt might look good, but it might be missing a groove. I didn't even notice until I really looked at the pulley and saw that it was only sitting in 5 of 6 grooves.

[2whlin]

cool, thanks for posting the write up!

[2whlin]

I was checking the boat out yesterday and the stuff I am seeing is belt material, with allot of it building up on the alternator. Forgot to bring a straight edge with me to check alignment but do see rust on the two metal pully's. Going to take them off to clean/paint then check alignment and put on a new belt.

How do people clean their motor? How do you keep stuff off your carpet etc? Thinking might put down some plastic to kind of cover the interiors so I can spray some cleaners here and there and allot of simple green then scrub and wash down the entire motor and bilge compartment....

[2whlin]

ok, got one of the pulley's off and re-painted, touched the other one up a bit, cleaned the motor and bilge compartment, slapped on a new belt and went out yesterday and no more belt material being slung off. Not sure if the age of the belt has something to do with it too, but might be a good indicator to change the belt?
I'll keep an eye out for it, but it's just nice to have a clean motor compartment and mine is looking good.