I have a 2004 496 Mag Ho. I am having propblems with all the soot that flys up on my swim pad. It's ruining the vinyl. I can't get it clean and it only stains the left side. My boat is a 27 Fountain and have already had one cover replaced due to the soot stain from this motor. Anybody have any ideas to clean the motor and the pad?

Can't help with the cleaning, but I can tell you that Merc has a solution to the sooting problem available. Have your dealer contact them and they will send a reprogrammed ECU that works much better. I've changed a couple for customers. They do not have a bulletin out on this that I know of. I think they are just addressing it on a complaint basis.

Bob

Bob,
You are the man! Thank you very much! Hopefully I'll get this taking care of.

Just put a couple of clamp ons on the back of it

My 496 HO blew soot like crazy for the first 20 hours. It cleared up after that. No problems now.

CASTROL SUPERCLEAN

Wal Mart carries it . Works great or grease and soot

Mine does it every time I go out.
Simple green takes the soot off the back with
ease, and its biodegradable. Use it on the vinyl
then rinse, don't know if it will hurt the threads.
Hope this helps...What kind of speed?
I'm at a best of 69(67gps) @5200, 1.5 xz 26 bravo
Need to try a 28. John

Bob- Just had my local dealer order the new computer and Mercury is going to over nite it. Thanks for the tip!

Olemiss- I wish two 300X's would fit back there.

John- Still trying to dial the boat in and am having problems.

Alli. I've been using some of the 3m cleaner/conditioner they carry at Wallyworld (aka Walmart), in the boating section. I wipe down all the exterior vinyl stuff after each run. (seems I get some spash from the exhaust at times on the very end of the sunpad).

Give it a try............

(fyi........The new boat is super nice !! )



Bob

Bobl,
What year(s) on the 496's is the program correction for soot problem.

Rick