"Blazer Fan Dan" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hello,

In the garbage can I used to run it, the
water got a layer of an oily substance on it's surface, after each time
running. Now, I know that old boat engines (of this vintage) tend to
leak oil (etc), but I was wondering if there could be another reason
for that to have happened?


Those old motors were not environmentally friendly back then. They used
"stutter valves" to blow excess oil accumulated in the crankcase overboard.
At idle, they ran rich and much unburned fuel and oil were in the exhaust.
If the thermostat is not operating and allowing the cylinders to get up to
around 140 degrees, the fuel burn will be even more inefficient. The idle
needles are adjustable and if set too rich, will also allow more unburned
fuel into the water.

So when you run the motor in a small environment, like a garbage can or feed
trough, the fuel and oil make a film on the water very quickly. This is
assuming that you don't have a leaking gearcase also.

Bill Grannis
service manager