Merc IL 6 left in saltwater, can it be flushed?

[Chris1956]

I have a 1977 Merc 150HP OB. I leave the boat docked on the bay (saltwater) all summer. Is there a way to flush it after use with freshwater without trailering it?

 

[KCLOST]

Re: Merc IL 6 left in saltwater, can it be flushed?

If you have access to a spicket at your dock and a garden hose and muffs, absolutely!

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Merc IL 6 left in saltwater, can it be flushed?

Thanks for the reply. It is very difficult for me to use the "earmuff" flusher at my doc. I was hoping that someone who knew the cooling water circulation pattern on my motor could advise. These is the telltale outlet as well as two other ports on my IL6. If I was to attach a freshwater hose to any of these, would it flush partially, completely or not at all? Would the introduction of the water cause intrusion into the cylinders?

 

[KCLOST]

Re: Merc IL 6 left in saltwater, can it be flushed?

I'm not comepletely sure about your motor.... But you may be able to remove the t-stats and insert a garden hose to those openings and flush it that way.... You'll just have to turn your boat around so you can access the motor from the rear... If you can find the t-stat (you may just have one) check that out... It's probably at the top of the head underneath the water hose that exits the head and goes to the pee hole...(I think) Then again, you may not have any t-stats... So forgive me if I'm wrong...

 

[Mercury140-I6]

Re: Merc IL 6 left in saltwater, can it be flushed?

Inline 6 motors never had thermalstats on them. The only way to truely flush these is to run them on the muffs. Sorry.<br /><br />Craig

 

[alcan]

Re: Merc IL 6 left in saltwater, can it be flushed?

Hi Chris<br /> Here is a question for you. How do the other guys on your dock flush their outboards? How about the folks with inboards or I/O's? If your boat was an I/O would you even bother to ask this question? A lot of people tend to believe that as soon as a boat is run in salt water it is ruined, or in for a short life. Look around your boat harbor. How many millions of dollars do you see floating there? There are special maintance issues that you will defenatly need to be aware of and tend to, mooring in saltwater. No more really than fresh, just more often. Some of the main points are a fresh water rinse after each use, a soapy wash each week, keep the boat out of the sun while moored. If you have open moorage, use mooring covers. Keep your bottom painted. Install a proper bonding system. Monitor and keep marine growth removed, lack of sunlight will help here. I read a thread on this board where a fellow advised against leaving a motor in the down position while mooring due to barnicals growing on the inside of the motor. Barnys need sunlight in order to survive, so does marine plant life. So unless you have a bunch of holes in your motor, there is nothing to worry about here. Now if you neglect to brush of you L/U and allow growth to build up, this debris can be sucked into your cooling system and cause a plug. I have disassembled hundreds of outboards including several dredged of the bottom, and have never seen one so pluged with just salt to the point where it would cause a problem. I am not against flushing your motor. It is a good thing. If your in and out all the time, do it all the time. Flush when you haul out for the season. Do the rest of your major P.M when you haul out for the season. Don't ride her hard and put her up wet (don't wait till spring). The best way to find out what you need to do while mooring is ask your neighbors on the dock what they do. It shouldn't take much looking at thier rigs, in order to tell you who you should listen to. How much maint. you need depends on how a where you opperate. I have a jet motor that I run in shallow salt marshes and rivers. I have to remove and clean the T-stat every couple of weeks. The thing sucks up a ton of stuff.

 

[remmer38]

Re: Merc IL 6 left in saltwater, can it be flushed?

Can you trailer it? Why not take it to fresh water and run it. Otherwise get a big trash can for home outboard use. I hate the muffs. It seems that the water pressure isnt the same. It is a good way to simulate in water condtions. I used to back my boat in the water. I hated to lean over and work. Duh. Of course I never lost a tool that way. Especially with spark plug relativity. <br />Motors need running.<br />Capt E<br /><br />I would hate to see you open some unknown port and run water through a bleed air fuel air and whatever else.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Merc IL 6 left in saltwater, can it be flushed?

Thanks for all the responses and advice. I have been boating for 30+ years. In that time I always boated in salt water. For the first 15 years however, I trailered my boats and flushed with fresh water each time. The difference between a motor used in salt water and flushed versus not flushed is staggering. If a motor is flushed, the water jacket bolts do not rust in, the carbon steel components of a motor(tilt shaft) do not rust away etc. I have just installed a rebuilt powerhead on my OB and was wondering if I could flush the powerhead waterpassages in some way to avoid the corrosion problems.

 

[KennyKenCan]

Re: Merc IL 6 left in saltwater, can it be flushed?

Chris1956,<br /><br />There are commercially available flush devises for outboard engines that flush your engine without the engine running, and can be done with the boat in the water, just like the new motors have.<br /><br />I got mine at West Marine, but there are other sources.<br /><br />Costs around $200.<br /><br />Money well spent as far as I'm concerned, although it won't stop the tilt tube from corroding away, as I had to have mine replaced last year.<br /><br />That cost me $700!<br /><br />External components need constant lubrication and paint protection, to avoid costly repairs, especially in salt water.