Flushing with acid

[strikem]

I have over the years cleaned may alloy metals using hydrochloric acid and was just wondering if it could be used in flushing the internals of an outboard.I ask this as the motor is 20 years old and probably has quite a build up inside.
Has anyone ever used it for an outboard..??

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Flushing with acid

i would not. not even a diluted solution.

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Flushing with acid

I've never heard of hydrochloric acid for 'cleaning'. I believe it is used to 'strip'...as in the replating industry (removing chrome from metal bumpers, etc).
As well, I remember it eats aluminum like a rat eats cheese. As well, it's fumes are very dangerous.
I would never, ever consider using a chemical this strong on an outboard motor.
If you are trying to 'clean-up' the internals of an older outboard you should use the 'Sea-foam' method explained many times elsewhere in the this forum.
The results according seem to show it as a very good product.
If you get a chance google and read up on hydrochloric acid before following through with that idea.
Good Luck
BP

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Flushing with acid

Decarb, take a can of seafoam put 3/4 of it in the gas tank, with only 1 gallon of premixed gas. put the rest in a spray bottle. start the engine, and let it come up to temperature. then remove plugs, and them some real good shot of seafoam into the cylinders, replace plugs, let sit 15 minutes. restart, and spray the rest of the seafoam into the carbs, so the the motor almost stalls, wait and repeat until the seafoam is gone.then take for a wide open spin. then put in new plugs, ad premixed gas to the tank, and take it for a wide open throttle spin. it is going to smoke like a house on fire, during this process.

afterwards compression.recheck

 

[guy74]

Re: Flushing with acid

I think he's asking about flushing the cooling passages, not the crankcase. I don't think I'd use hydrocloric acid though, I think it would be too harsh. Running it in a barrel with 2 or 3 quarts of radiator flush in the water might do the trick, the main thing you are wanting to remove is the lime and salt scale. If you do try something let us know how it works out.
Goodluck,
Brian

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Flushing with acid

If you do try something let us know how it works out.
Goodluck,
Brian

Better your motor than mine. This is where I went to get info on Seafoam. Also, Goodluck.

www.seafoamsales.com/motorTuneUpTechGas.htm

 

[strikem]

Re: Flushing with acid

flushing the cooling passages is what i'm talking about

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Flushing with acid

...dude, trust me. This is NOT the stuff to be used for ancillary cleaning purposes. Its like using paint stripper on your hands...at which time you could argue "hey, ...new type of hand cleaner". Not.
They are very, very few metals that are resistant to HCL and they are very expensive alloys. It also eats most stainless for breakfast.
I wish I had the photos of some test results of using it on some very tough metals to show you....particularly the aluminum piece. It was almost funny enough to use a screen saver.
Unless your entire engine is made of out Hastelloy or 400 series stainless you're going to be doing some very fast etching that is irreversible.
However....it's you're boat, you're call.
My two bits.
BP

 

[ftltony]

Re: Flushing with acid

Yeah, but it removes rust stains from Fiberglass, takes care of ANY grass growing between the cracks of your driveway and sidewalks and KILLS FIRE ANTS DEAD with one application!!!!!

... I hear there are other uses for HCL, but I haven't seen any better than what I am using it for!

 

[warlordxx]

Re: Flushing with acid

just my 2 cents....
I dont know that I would use it even if you got lucky and it didnt kill your motor then after you flush it if you dont get it all out you can be adding more nasty **** to our waters

 

[strikem]

Re: Flushing with acid

The idea of using automotive radiator flush like STP or wynns products should work without any harm to the outboard..
Using a tub for the outboard leg to sit in then working out the correct ratio..
Can be reused at a later date..
peoples thought on going this way..???

 

[JoLin]

Re: Flushing with acid

Exactly what problem are you trying to solve?

You want to mount the motor in a tub of water with radiator flush, clean out all the salt, scale and corrosion, add an oil slick to it, then keep that "brew" to reuse? Try something like Saltaway instead. My 2 cents.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Flushing with acid

What about running the motor in a barrel of CLR (Calcium-Lime-Rust) mixed with water?

BTW - We always used HCL(actually Muriatic acid) to change the PH of the pool water. It was standard procedure. Clearly a small amount of the HCL would not harm the lake, due to it's dilution factor. You could also titrate the acid with washing soda, if you wanted to neutralize it.

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Flushing with acid

You could also titrate the acid with washing soda, if you wanted to neutralize it.

Holy crap, (can I say that here) what has this thread come to. At what point does the acid get titrated? Maybe before or after we learn how to use a pipette?

SALT AWAY, OK?

100% non toxic, non hazardous, biodegradeable

http://www.saltawayproducts.com/

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Flushing with acid

The back yard mechanic method is to use vinegar. It's cheap, available anywhere and is only harmful if you use too much in coleslaw.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Flushing with acid

TriumphRick, It sounds like you missed out on HS chemistry. Either that or you failed the Litmus test! (Pun intended)

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Flushing with acid

Yeah, Chris and nothing personal. I was a calculus major preparing for my engineering degree back then. Went off to war and left all that behind.

Hey, all good stuff, here and not being critical of your post. I remember the reaction however of a piece of 1/4" thick steel being dropped into some hcl and how quickly before there was nothing left!

Hate to think of using some of that in my Yammi....

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Flushing with acid

OK Rick, I think the thought of using the HCl on the outboard is generally agreed to be a bad one. They do use the acid to clean the aluminum from a melted piston, off the cylinder walls. it is a controlled environment, and the cylinders need to be cast iron.....