"99" 40 hp white smoke and oil smell

[DavidA]

Late last season my motor would belch white smoke and give off a strong oil smell when starting cold. It would clear up after warming up. This did not happen every time I started the motor cold. Oil level checks fine. Any ideas ?

[Moonlighter]

How is the motor stored between uses? Angled up, left down in running position, or .....??

[DavidA]

It's always stored about a third the way up on the transom saver.

[Moonlighter]

Suggest you store it with the motor down in the same position it would be in when running. See how that goes.

You dont say how many hours are on your engine or whether it has had any work done. Might be that rings are not sealing as well as when the engine was younger. Maybe get a compression test and leakdown test done if you still have concerns.

[DavidA]

Thanks, I'll do that. It will be awhile. Lots of snow and ice to melt up here.