silver dust on burnt exhaust on 280 offshore???

[h2ostv]

:confused: :confused: I just ran my 2004 280 on the weekend and seemed to run fine. Though, when I pulled it onto the trailer I noticed just a few spackles of silver dust where the offshore exhaust exits on the housing tip where you get the burnt exhaust residue?? GOT ME WORRIED. It just wiped off easily and wasn't like a shavings. I pulled the plugs which all looked blackish on the base with the tips a light brown. With a flashlight, the piston heads shiney, and clean in the center with some blackening around the outside edges. I placed a small magnet inside and didn't pull or see any type of shavings. It been running rich and throwing enough smoke. It idles okay. I don't have much wrench experience on the motor but just a few basics. What should I do next and what should I look for??? Does it sound like a may have scored something??? and should I just look more and pull the heads.. Would appreciate feedback!!!

[PropWash]

A magnet is unlikely to pick up anything if there is a problem because the most likely metal particles are aluminum.

Having said that - I also got quite worried when I found some fine particles around the exhaust - it was dried salt. Are you in fresh or salt water?

[h2ostv]

It has always been run in fresh water. It is not uncommon to get some white dust dotting on the housing in exhaust areas that always appeared to some calcuim type deposits but this seemed more silver. Again, it was only in the one spot at the offshore exhaust snout onto the top fin tip of the gearcase??

[Roy W.]

Maybe the tuner has broken off and is rattling around and making metal.

[G Rowe]

for peice of mind, id have the exhaust devider plate removed for a looky, with it removed you can get perfect veiw of piston tops (through exhaust ports) aswell as down the base plate and down the exhaust tuner into the midsection.