Should I & How To Wash My Outboard Yamaha

[jasonalden]

I've owned my used 1997 Yamaha 150 2 stroke for almost a year now and put over 120 hours on it, all in a saltwater environment.<br /><br />I decided to check the engine tonight to see if it is staying clean or getting dirty. It looks rather well. There is one bolt with some surface rust around it.<br /><br />I also detected salt on the surface of the engine, literaly by swabing it with my finger and tasting it (in several areas around the engine). <br /><br />Should I be washing my engine? If so, do I use water or soap also? How frequently should I was my engine? Do I have to be careful about not getting water somewhere?<br /><br />Thanks,

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Should I & How To Wash My Outboard Yamaha

I use plain water<br /> dissconnect the battery first. if you must use a degreaser use a degreaser ment for automotive use or something like simple green. after allowing it to dry spray everything well with fluid film. keep the water pressure low and dont spray it at the airbox intakes or better tape the intakes off.

 

[jasonalden]

Re: Should I & How To Wash My Outboard Yamaha

OK thanks! How often do you recommend I do this, once per outting, once per 10 outtings, etc?

 

[Triton II]

Re: Should I & How To Wash My Outboard Yamaha

Hi Jason,<br /><br />I use my Yam FT60B four-stroke in saltwater at least twice a weekend and sometimes during the week if the weather's good. On Sunday evening (just finished) before putting her to bed until next weekend, I remove the cowl and give the powerhead a quick spray with a shower head attachment on the hose then dry it with a rag, then I spray WD40 just about all over (avoiding the belt etc). She's done 260 hours now and gleams (and runs) like new. I also ensure the steering and tilt rods are clean and spray them with WD.

 

[31900]

Re: Should I & How To Wash My Outboard Yamaha

I hope you are also rinsing the internals of the motor by running it with muffs on.

 

[kavika]

Re: Should I & How To Wash My Outboard Yamaha

TC-11 available at Ace and True Value is much better than WD40 for corrsion protection. It was developed by a friend in Hawaii for his jet ski.<br /><br />I use salt a way to wash the inside flush kit and outside of engine, then use remaining in salt a way kit on entire boat.<br /><br />I think it works great...<br /><br />Just back from a 2 nite trip with fishing forum group at Shell Key, FL...break out the hose!!

 

[jasonalden]

Re: Should I & How To Wash My Outboard Yamaha

OK great. Thanks guys. Will pickup some WD40 or TC-11. Heading out right now to wash the motor. Will probably just let it dry in the warm Florida sun before placing the cowling back on.<br /><br />And yes, I do rinse the engine's internals with fresh water for about 10-15 minutes after each outting; I do not use muffs. I unscrew the flush hose on the Yamaha and attach it to my garden hose.

 

[jasonalden]

Re: Should I & How To Wash My Outboard Yamaha

It's been drying all day. Found some CRC 6-56 spray in the cabinet. Heading out to apply it now.

 

[31900]

Re: Should I & How To Wash My Outboard Yamaha

Jason,<br /><br />I think running it with the muffs on is far better. It flushes the whole system including the water pump. The other way is intended more for boats that are moored and can't put the leg into fresh water.

 

[Triton II]

Re: Should I & How To Wash My Outboard Yamaha

Jason, I agree with Adam - muffs flush the whole system from the water intake upwards, whereas the flush connector simply flushes the powerhead. There has been a fair bit of debate on how to do it, but if you're a belt and braces man and like to save water, then the following may help.<br />I place a 25 gallon plastic container (the type with little wheels underneath bought from a cheapo $2 store) under the leg and attach the muffs. I turn on the water to mid strength and start the engine and allow it to idle for about five minutes. All the water goes into the container and I also collect the pee-hole water with a 2 gallon bucket. When it's full, the level is about 10cm above the intakes and I turn off the engine, then turn off the water. I restart the engine once the muffs are removed and attach the hose to the flush connector. I then flush the powerhead with fresh water while the water from the container continues to flush everything else. I collect the water from the pee-hole with a bucket and turn everything off once it's full. Normally this takes about ten minutes all up. I then lift the leg, remove the container and bucket and use the water to wash the rest of the boat. Lots of guys will say this is overkill... but the water here in the south Pacific is very salty and we're very short of fresh water unlike Adam's Western Australia where there's been great rain!

 

[31900]

Re: Should I & How To Wash My Outboard Yamaha

Good trick Triton. The water in the Indian Ocean is just as salty and yes we have had above average rain this month. But that is the first time for 7 years. Year after year with below average rain. But ....Musn't go short on flushing.<br /><br />A bad day fishing is better than a good day at work.

 

[jasonalden]

Re: Should I & How To Wash My Outboard Yamaha

When I hook the hose to the hose attachment on the engine, water comes out of the pee hole as well as the leg's intake down below (by the impeller). Seems to me that when I do it this way I am still flushing it (although let's call it "reverse flushing").<br /><br />I can't reach the leg so I am somewhat stuck with this situation.<br /><br />It doesn't cost more than a few dollars if I use a thousand extra gallons a month, so conservation when it comes to washing the salt off is not an issue here in Florida.<br /><br />Thanks,

 

[shutter]

Re: Should I & How To Wash My Outboard Yamaha

i own 50hp honda fuel efi can someone tell using muffs to wash engine is it ok? and if yes for how long should i ?

 

[robert graham]

Re: Should I & How To Wash My Outboard Yamaha

Just a little trick I've been using for years is to wash,clean and dry your entire tilt and trim unit, motor, pump, rams, etc., then spray the whole unit with white lithium grease, sets up with a protective coating to keep salt water deposits, corrosion, marine growths,etc. off your unit. Seems to work very well and the stuff just stays on there! On some of the older motors like mine(1999) the tilt/trim motor casing was plain steel and subject to some real rust and corrosion. Also any deposits or corrosion on the tilt/trim rams must tend to wear out or damage the seals as the rams move in and out. For engine/throttle linkeages, nuts, bolts, shift shaft detent, etc., I use some 30wt. motor oil with some STP oil treatment(or similar viscosity improver) mixed in it to create a very good "sticky" lubricant/protectant, in a hand pump oil can for these areas. Good Luck!