Opitmax 115, 2007 - is this normal - mist out of air valve - video attached.

[dawg11]

https://streamable.com/stwxps

Serial 1B5xxxxx. So I had another thread a short time ago when I had my motor cutting off (when cold, first cranked, and put into gear). Anyway, I ended up pulling my plugs (2-3months old) and gapping them to .032-.033 - they had indeed been too closely gapped. The idle was better and I only had 1-2 stalls when switching into gear - still not normal I guess but better idling and less cutting off. Yesterday started acting up again - wouldn't stay running at idle coming back to dock. All coils were showing spark through spark tester but pulling the direct injector harness on #3 showed no effect whatsoever. Today, same thing when cranked so I put in an old original plug I had in #3 and it idles fine now. Is the mist coming from the video above normal? Why did the plug go bad? Here's a pic of the plug I just removed from #3: https://ibb.co/FWmgtfx

[JOE54]

moisture (h2o ) small amount is normal, fuel is not at all

[dawg11]

Ok. I guess I will spray it on my glove and see if it smells like gas. If it is, is that a fuel or air regulator diaphragm issue? I mean is plug 3 failing indicative of that most likely being gas or more likely another issue?

[EuropeanAM]

First of all: You should NOT be inducing AIR LEAKS in the system of a running engine. ANY air leak will cause FUEL on the AIR SIDE (meaning that depressing that schrader valve while running is like "itching to start a fire").

There will ALWAYS be vapor present right after the engine has run (and this will include fuel vapor as well as water vapor).

Unplugging components is a good way to further complicate future diagnostic steps as many will cause or induce a FAULT.

Based on your spark plug, and your comments, I would be checking the REEDS on #3.

[dawg11]

Ok, well... guess I won't be doing that again. Is inspecting the reed something I can do? Is there any DIY link you know of? And thank you for the tips. I'd really like to fix this myself if at all possible.

[EuropeanAM]

Unknown what your level of mechanical aptitude is- that's a call you have to make for yourself. Reeds are not extremely difficult, but I would absolutely get ahold of a FACTORY (Mercury) Service Manual for YOUR engine before you think about getting into that.

I also have something that may help you to identify a bad reed without disassembly- give me a call (I'll probably have to call you back).