Engine temperature?

[bronxlatetour]

I have a 1990 Sea ray 250DA with the 7.4 Bravo. The engine is raw water cooled and I always use it in salt water around Long Island. What temperature should my guage be reading. I don't know if it matters but the water temperature in the bay is in the high 70's to low 80's.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Engine temperature?

You should be seeing between 140*,+ 160*..........

 

[bronxlatetour]

Re: Engine temperature?

I would say it's always between 155-180. It that a big problem?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Engine temperature?

Boating in Saltwater is the Big Problem,...................

Luckily,........ I live on a Sweetwater Sea.........................d

I'm sure that some of the guys who Are in the Salt will have a Better Idea than Me,.....
As to When to be Concerned.............

 

[freddyray21]

Re: Engine temperature?

sounds a bit warm to me if you guage is correct.

 

[calwldlif]

Re: Engine temperature?

160 is the magic num
above 160 salt starts to "stick"

 

[bronxlatetour]

Re: Engine temperature?

How can I verify if my guage is correct? It's one of the few remainging that still work, along with the tach and oil pressure.

 

[bronxlatetour]

Re: Engine temperature?

Can I measure the temp of the water coming out of the engine while running it on my driveway?

 

[Don S]

Re: Engine temperature?

How can I verify if my guage is correct? It's one of the few remainging that still work, along with the tach and oil pressure.

Get one of those temp guns and check the temp right at the base of the sender. Should be similar to the engine gauge. The engine gauges are a lot less accurate than the temp guns.
Sears, NAPA, Harbor Freight all carry them.

Can I measure the temp of the water coming out of the engine while running it on my driveway?

You could, but it won't tell you much.

 

[bronxlatetour]

Re: Engine temperature?

Also, if it is running high would that mean that I should replace my risers? My water circulater pump was replaced last year.

 

[bronxlatetour]

Re: Engine temperature?

What exactly is the "temp gun" and an aprox price. Also could you point me to the general location of the sending unit? Is the temp gun have a laser? The man that did my survey had something like that. Thanks.

 

[Don S]

Re: Engine temperature?

If you are running in salt water, the risers could be bad, but I would expect the manifolds to be just as bad as the risers.
You say you replaced the circulation pump last year, WHY? Leaking? Overheat?
How about the raw water pump, when was the last time the impeller was replaced. 2 summers is about all those impellers are good for.
I would also suggest you get something like SaltAway to run through your engine. At least to help get rid of the salt deposits building up during your higher than normal temps. It won't cure defective parts, but it will sure help with the salt build up.

 

[Don S]

Re: Engine temperature?

Temp Guns

 

[bronxlatetour]

Re: Engine temperature?

Thanks for all of the info, I'm going to check the temp with one of those guns and get the salt away. Thanks again. When I get the gun I want to see temps of aprox 160?

 

[northvanwatertaxi]

Re: Engine temperature?

meat thermometer at the dollar shop.

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: Engine temperature?

If the manifolds and risers are over 4 years old, do your engine a favor and replace them before they ruin your engine due to failure (leaking water into the engine). It's either 500 dollars now, or an engine + the 500 dollars later.

Thermostats and thermostat housing also take a beating in salt water.

 

[Don S]

Re: Engine temperature?

meat thermometer at the dollar shop.

Just out of curiosity, where do you stick that meat thermometer on a raw water cooled engine so you can verify the sender is correct?

 

[northvanwatertaxi]

Re: Engine temperature?

i'm tryin to be helpful they cost one dollar.
i'm not a mechanic and I don't want to tell you how to work on engines.
I just wanted to pass along something that works for me.
I tested my thermostats and the temp of the water and diagnosed the problem I had very quickly.

 

[am_dew]

Re: Engine temperature?

Just curious, how are these Infrared thermometers able to read the temperature of the engine water rather than the temperature of the area on the engine block to which you aim them?

 

[Rock Hall]

Re: Engine temperature?

I just had my boat repowered. before repower ran about 145deg. After repower, 175. I figured they put a higher thermostat in. Havent talked to the tech yet. Are you saying 175 is too high. Maybe a bad circulator pump?
Manifolds and risers are new.

Mark