problem solved!
 

SSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOO awhile back I had asked for ideas with my oil getting dark after only a few hours of running. You guys were a great help. The other day we were out running the boat and a buddy was looking down the carb while running about 3200 rpm. He say's, "You have fuel dripping out of the secondaries?" WHAT? At idle nothing but at 3200 its there. Checked float levels and seemed good.
Boat was running good. Went home, called Holley, told them I was was pulling fuel, carb to big. (850 dp on a chevy 496) Started talking carb apart. Found piece of Teflon tape jammed in the needle and seat. Just enough to overfill bowl on plane where it would pull fuel at cruising rpm. This is what fouling my oil.

How long was this happening?

Wow, good find, any idea how it got in there?

is this the same engine that was a viberator ? lol

Have you run it for a several hours with fresh oil since????
I have my doubts about this being the cause of the oil turning dark fast. If the dripping was bad enough to cause the oil to get dark, then it would have been fouling out spark plugs.

Going to try and run it today ( lots of work to get done in the shop). #6-8/5-7 plugs were always darker after running at 3200 for 20 min or so. Have changed out the oil. Keep your fingers crossed. If this doesn't fix it then you guys will see me and the boat on the news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!lol
P.S. I had the same problem last year on my other 496 and could never find the problem...........So the back needle and seat have been an issue for awhile. Now I know why even though It was jetted right I would have soot all over my transom. At full throttle there was enough air moving to help burn the excess fuel.

Ran the boat today for an hour or so. Better mph. 43 @ 2900 and the oil is CLEAN! Never went over 3200 as to try to duplicate the problem. So far so good! Even stopped at the Chesapeake Inn for a beer........