TO FLUSH OR NOT ?

[scotty c]

I have heard many opinions on flushing your motor<br />after salt water use.<br />they range from "don't bother", to "flush every time"<br /><br />i run in salt water usually 3 or 4 times a week<br />and flush it once a week.<br /><br />what do you all do ?<br /><br />

 

[mallardjusted]

Re: TO FLUSH OR NOT ?

Flush every time.<br /><br />Everyone I know (with trailerable boats used in salt water) flushes every time.

 

[Perfidiajoe]

Re: TO FLUSH OR NOT ?

I flush everytime w/ salt away.

 

[Solittle]

Re: TO FLUSH OR NOT ?

Been flushing mine for 35 years.

 

[peacekeeper6]

Re: TO FLUSH OR NOT ?

flush every time, rain or shine, day or night, dont want to ruin the thing that has consummed most of my life these last few months.

 

[pine island fred]

Re: TO FLUSH OR NOT ?

Yep, i am in salt water, flush every time, middle of the night. boating community so they are use to it. fred

 

[JB]

Re: TO FLUSH OR NOT ?

My mom used to ask me three or four times a day, "Did you flush?".<br /><br />Got in the habit.

 

[Triton II]

Re: TO FLUSH OR NOT ?

Everytime! At night I use the hose flusher on the powerhead but always back up with a muff flush next morning.

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: TO FLUSH OR NOT ?

I reckon you've got the idea now Scotty?<br /><br />You trailer, presumably. Don't overlook fresh water washing of the trailer. Salt kills them otherwise.<br /><br />I put copperslip on all the nuts. Looks messy, but I know that if I want to undo any for adjustment, they will not shear off.

 

[tee-boy]

Re: TO FLUSH OR NOT ?

What will happen if we don't flush?

 

[scotty c]

Re: TO FLUSH OR NOT ?

i always hose down the boat and trailer<br />and after reading your advice i believe i will<br />always flush the motor cuz i love my honda !<br />

 

[Solittle]

Re: TO FLUSH OR NOT ?

tee-boy - You said - "What will happen if we don't flush? "<br /><br />Well at some point you will probably need to take out your wallet, turn it upside down and shake vigerously while the rest of us enjoy our day on the water.

 

[Mark42]

Re: TO FLUSH OR NOT ?

I flush motor as soon as I'm back home after salt water. Also hose off boat and trailer. The trailer has rectangle tube frame so I wash out the inside well too. Just stick the nozzel in the end of the open tube and wait for it to pour out the other end of the frame rail. Trailer is galvanized so hopefully flushing it off/out will make it last a long time.

 

[Scali]

Re: TO FLUSH OR NOT ?

I do it, flush my Merc 99 % of the time.<br /><br />But one thing I noticed, the creek { saltwater } where I launch my boat in has a couple marina's & 85 % of the boats seem to have motors that are @ least 10 years old most more, these things are never flushed but are still in service, see them year after year, faded paint old Merc 850's, OMC v 8 300's, you name it, still hanging in there.. .

 

[dingbat]

Re: TO FLUSH OR NOT ?

I flush if I have an opportunity but I'm not fanatical about it. My motors now 19 and counting so if you don’t flush from time to time it’s not the end of the world by a long shot.

 

[mattttt25]

Re: TO FLUSH OR NOT ?

i boat in the "upper" chesapeake bay, and have to admit, i don't flush, except at the end and beginning of each season (if the boat actually leaves the water). now we classify the water as brackish, but it def has salt and other minerals in it.<br /><br />why? tough to do when it stays in the water. i recently sold my last boat where the same practices were used. i had replaced the water pump 2 years before the sale and explained this to the buyer. he asked if he should replace it and i recommended it. well, happened to talk to him last week. everything is great with the boat. he had the pump changed by a mechanic. the mecahnic actually gave him the pump back and said he should keep it because he thought it was brand new when he pulled it out.<br /><br />take it for what it's worth. if i was in the ocean, i'd probably flush.

 

[danie]

Re: TO FLUSH OR NOT ?

Flush, flush, flush and then some more.<br />Let an outboard tech show you the insides of an unflushed saltwater motor someday.<br />Makes you lose sleep.

 

[artburr]

Re: TO FLUSH OR NOT ?

I bought an used 10 hp Johnson years ago that shortly had to have the water pump repaired. The impeller was caked with salt and "frozen". If I am going to have my boat in salt water for a few days in a row, I wait until it is time leave to flush it and also run the carburetor out of fuel. Haven't had any problems since.

 

[johnboywalt]

Re: TO FLUSH OR NOT ?

I plan on running in salt water. This mught be stupid, but how do you flush?

 

[artburr]

Re: TO FLUSH OR NOT ?

Originally posted by johnboywalt:<br /> I plan on running in salt water. This mught be stupid, but how do you flush?

MOST ob motors can be flushed with a "muff" adapter attached 1.) to the water intakes on the motor and 2.) to a garden hose. Some may require a different adapter. (check your manual) Be sure to turn the water on, start and run at low speed for a few minutes while being SURE that water is exiting the "pee" hole.