Honda Thermostat

[Graphiterod]

These are pictures of my thermostat on a Honda BF 130A.

I purchased the boat and engine (1999 130hp) in 2003. The yard winterized the engine for the first two years. Thereafter I did it. Last summer the yard installed a new impeller/water pump. I assumed they changed the t-stat as well.

Is this a normal amount of build up? Or, should I be worried about a bigger issue?

Graphiterod

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Honda Thermostat

I wouldn't assume they did anything. But keep in mind that an outboard uses seawater to cool itself, so whatever the pump sucks up, goes through the cooling system.
Its hard to say by a pic whether that's extreme or just normal deposits, it depends on what type of water you run in. Saltwater and muddy rivers tend to be the worse than lake water.
I get three to five years out of a thermostat in saltwater, but I'm fanatical about flushing the motor after every use and launch only upstream in freshwater. I've removed thermostats on a few friends motors that didn't last a year. Whether or not to change the stat is a matter of judgement and experience with your type of use. On a freshwater only motor, the stat could last for many years.

I keep a bag of impellers and t stats for my motors on hand, so when in doubt I swap them out, better safe than sorry but unless you ask for the stat to be changed, I doubt most shops would just arbitrarily change it.

 

[Graphiterod]

Re: Honda Thermostat

Thanks.

I use the boat in salt water, and put about 50 hours on the engine each summer.

I trailer it, and flush after every use.

Going forward I will check the t-stat every year, and plan on replacing it every two years unless the build up/corrosion is too great.