Engine Flushing

[LuckyPenny]

I do not know if this will work for all, but I have been toying with a method to flush my engine while tied to my dock. I know that the greatest majority of folk trailer there I/O boats, but I; like some others, keep her in the water. Most of the year she is in fresh water, but I do spend about 5-7 months at a time in salt water. I have noticed a great deal of difference in the condition of my RWC system. <br /><br />Anyway, what I now do is when back at the dock, I raise the lower unit into the trailer position and install a set of muffs (the type with the rod that holds both cups over the water intake,) and attach a section of hose (6 foot or so,) connect my flushing hose with the SALT BUSTER attachment, lower the unit all the way and run it as if I were trailered. After about 5 minutes or so, I run Salt buster then fresh water again. The whole operation takes about 10-15 minutes, and can be done while cleaning up the rest of the boat. After I shut the engine down, I leave the water running for a few minutes then turn it off. leaving the muffs in place.<br /><br />The engine is flushed and cleaned and with the muffs in place very little if any salt gets back in. When ready to us the boat again, all I have to do is raise the lower unit, remove the muffs and go.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Engine Flushing

I would think that an easier way to flush the motor would be to put a valve and a tee in the raw water intake hose. Turn off the raw water, connect the fresh water and start the motor.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Engine Flushing

Sounds just like what I do except that I have to flush 2 motors.The only things that I would do different is to read the Salt buster directions and you may be better off not flushing with any more fresh water after the salt buster has been in the motor.Read up!!! there may be an advantage of leaving the stuff in there.And I would take off the muffs when done.Leaving them on achieves nothing at all.Just makes a chance that they are left on when you are starting the motor the next time out and you wind up damaging the impeller.Charlie

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Engine Flushing

Its what some people in my marina do.......

 

[zzzzz]

Re: Engine Flushing

there is a flush kit made by Perko (their catalog # 456 DP6) that is installed in the engine compartment by breaking into the incoming waterline from the drive..it looks like a ping pong ball between two springs and can be plumbed to a deck fitting(for easier access)...you need to have the drive in the water to protect the impeller but the garden hose pressure holds the valve against the raw water allowing the freshwater flush

 

[AaronG]

Re: Engine Flushing

I have that Perko FlushPro on my Alpha 1 boat which is moored in saltwater. It is better than nothing, and it keeps the manifolds/risers flushed, but I don't think the hose pressure can hold back all of the water the drive's impeller is pushing up. It only cost $60 or so, and it is easy to install. I usually hook up the hose before I shut the motor off, and let the hose run for 10 sec or so before I turn off the motor. I then let it run for 15 min to clean out the manifolds/risers. <br /><br />Its better than nothing, but not ideal.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Engine Flushing

Aaron,I believe to use the flusher to its max effeciency,you should install a thru hull to divert and discharge the impeller water without any backup pressure.Charlie

 

[AaronG]

Re: Engine Flushing

Charlie: You're absolutely right, unfortunately, the flushpro won't accomodate one. You'd end up needing to install a series of ball valves to divert the raw water from the leg overboard, and the hose water to the engine. I'm sure it would work fine, but in my eyes, its just more to leak/break, and if you forgot to open everything up for the next ride, you'd be in sorry shape. <br /><br />The flush-pro is simple, and automatic. Just hook up the hose. Its better than nothing, and it definately does a good job of flushing out the manifolds/risers. <br /><br />I figure by the time the block rusts through, the engine will be begining to become unreliable anyway. If I get 750 hours(5 seasons)out of it, I'll be happy. So far I'm at 140.<br /><br />All the raw water I/O guys at my marina just get off the boat and don't do any flushing at all. They all seem to get decent service out of the engines.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Engine Flushing

Originally posted by AaronG:<br /> <br /><br />All the raw water I/O guys at my marina just get off the boat and don't do any flushing at all. They all seem to get decent service out of the engines.

Very true.I have flushed all of my boats after each use for the last 15 years.I have never seen anyone else flush.Heck,I rarely see anyone else hose off their boats.And it is amazing,they do seem to get the same service out of their motors that I do.

 

[crawdadric]

Re: Engine Flushing

I stumbled onto this site looking to solve the same problem. http://www.yachtsofstuff.com/userPostings.asp?xID=yachtsofstuff&cexs=mtg

 

[AaronG]

Re: Engine Flushing

Charlie: You think not flushing or washing the boat is bad? We've got boats at the marina I leave my boat at without automatic bilge pumps (or boat covers). Everytime it rains hard for a couple days, there are a few boats sitting extra low in the water. One in particular is brand new. I used to hop on them and run their bilge pump until the bilge emptied, but the last time I did that I ended up waiting 25 minutes for it to empty the bilge. This goes on all summer. People for the most part don't take care of their stuff. If you give your car/truck/boat/waverunner/house even half of the maintence the manuafacturer recomends, you'll enjoy a good service life out of it.