2001 Evinrude 150HP FICHT Thermostat Drains

[RotaryRacer]

I have a motor that I am working on getting ready to sell or put on a boat to use. I am going through and doing some maintenance on it. I'm taking care of typical things like the waterpump and thermostats.

The question is regarding the main thermostats on each cylinder head. The thermostats have a plastic cover that holds them in place and on my motor these also have a brass nipple with a hose attached to allow the thermostat to drain. In removing one of these covers it ended up breaking. I tried to remove by using the smaller hex right at the nipple instead of the big hex around the base. This is not a big deal really, since I had already looked to confirm that replacements were available.

Heres the problem:

My retailer of choice no longer carries the thermostat cover with the drain nipples (p/n 5000832). Since I didn't really know what the difference was, I ordered the alternate that they list thinking maybe there was just a new part number. Well I got thermostat covers with no nipple (p/n 0338632).

Heres the question:

Will the thermostat covers without the nipples work on my motor? Was the drain feature an option that was part of a salt water edition or something?

Should I just suck it up and order the "correct" p/n direct from BRP? BRP lists it as available on their parts website.

Ultimately my question is this: what purpose do the thermostat drains serve and how important is it that I retain this feature?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[seahorse5]

Re: 2001 Evinrude 150HP FICHT Thermostat Drains

You need the correct parts with the nipple.

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: 2001 Evinrude 150HP FICHT Thermostat Drains

Thanks for the response.

Do you have any more specific information about why they are needed?

Why does BRP list both parts for my model number?

E150FPXSIF

The correct parts aren't all that expensive. I am mostly just trying to figure out why they have both and what purpose the drains serve.

Thanks again.

 

[seahorse5]

Re: 2001 Evinrude 150HP FICHT Thermostat Drains

Those thermostats regulate the cylinder block temp, not the cylinderheads. The water that bypasses or flows thru those thermostats has to go somewhere, and the nipples in the covers direct it into the exhaust housing.l

There is a 3rd thermostat that regulates both cylinder head temps and also is connected to the pressure relief valve in the exhaust housing.

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: 2001 Evinrude 150HP FICHT Thermostat Drains

Thanks again.

What is p/n 0338632 (w/o nipple) for then?

I have all the parts I need for the 3rd thermostat.

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: 2001 Evinrude 150HP FICHT Thermostat Drains

I went ahead and ordered the parts with the nipples from BRP direct last night. They are the only retailer I found online that had the parts in stock. I probably should have called around to a couple of local dealers to see if they had the parts on hand...oh well.

I am still curious what the ones without nipples are used for though.