Venting hoses in Bilge

[Shadow66]

On the 3.0L Mercruiser Alpha 1 where do the 2 vent bilge hoses go (best location)? When I bought it both were removed.

 

[mkast]

Re: Venting hoses in Bilge

If you look around, there should be vents, sometimes chrome. One facing forward, one facing rearward.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Venting hoses in Bilge

To expand on that a bit, the foward facing vent will force fresh air in ,and the rear facing vent will draw it out

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Venting hoses in Bilge

What the other two posters said is correct. (That is how it is on my boat anyway) I have a plastic vent on both sides of the boat beside the rear seats on the outside of the boat.

However, I have seen some boats where the vents are on the tansom of the boat above the swim platform. Cleaner look to it.

Just look around, hopefully you will find the vents around there somewhere. There should be 2. One for intake (fresh air) with no blower in line and one for exhaust with the blower in line. If you have the side vents, the one with the fins facing forward would be your fresh air one. (Already mentioned by BT Doctur)

Make sure that you get them installed before you try to start that motor! Always run the blower a few minutes before starting. (I run mine for 4-5 minutes every time)

Good luck!

 

[bigskiohio]

Re: Venting hoses in Bilge

I think he is asking about hoses, they hang down to bilge as low as possible as fumes go low.

 

[Shadow66]

Re: Venting hoses in Bilge

Perhaps I should have been more clear. Yes I meant the hoses. I have one on the fan side (exhaust) that hangs low into the bilge. I was wondering if removing the intake hose from being so low into the bilge could make the engine compartment cooler and still accomplish removing the fumes?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Venting hoses in Bilge

You missed the point about fuel vapor. They settle to the lowest point in the bilge so they must removed. Unless the hose gets to the lowest point in the bilge you defeat the purpose of the ventilation system. And by all means ensure the blower works and that you run it for a few minutes before you fire the engine each time. Kaboom is not what you want to hear, see and feel when you hit the key,

 

[Shadow66]

Re: Venting hoses in Bilge

What I'm trying to ask though is about the intake hose. If the exhaust hose is already sucking the fumes down low out of the bilge can the intake hose be shorter (higher) up in the compartment? Does it too have to be low in there?

I have heard conflicting stories on this and that is what I am really focused on.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Venting hoses in Bilge

The passive hose or intake as you called it will not make a significant enough difference in cooling the space to mess with it, just put it where it's convenient, either way it will introduce fresh air into the space to make up for the air being drawn out by the blower, high or low i don't think it would matter all that much.