Volvo/Penta Engine/Exhaust Pencil Zincs?

[crackedconch]

I have a '99 V/P 5.7 GSi with an SX outdrive. I've always run the boat in fresh water until now--just moved to Florida and will be running in Tampa Bay and the Gulf/Intracoastal Waterway.

I'm keeping an eye on the drive and gimbal zincs.

I've seen in marine stores "pencil zincs" made onto engine/exhaust drain plugs.

Do I need to replace the factory plugs with these pencil zincs?

Anything else I need to be aware of running in saltwater?

I know to flush the engine and rinse everything thoroughly every time.

Thanks!

 

[erie_guy]

Re: Volvo/Penta Engine/Exhaust Pencil Zincs?

Crackedconch,

Last time I checked with our V/P parts store in Port Clinton this anode has been discontinued for the SX drives and no longer available for replacement. I pulled the old ones out of the lower housing and discarded them. The mounting screw was a bit corroded and difficult to loosen. If the anode got loose it probably would have gotten caught in the rotating prop exhaust, messing up the lower unit.

That was about three years ago and the other two lower unit anodes (magnesium) appear to work just fine showing no increase in rate of dissolve. I did clean and repaint the lower legs a couple of years ago - just to make them look pretty. We are docked in Lake Erie (fresh water) from May to October and the drives are going on their 13th year.

erie_guy
Port Clinton, OH

 

[crackedconch]

Re: Volvo/Penta Engine/Exhaust Pencil Zincs?

Sorry, maybe I wasn't clear or maybe I don't understand, but I'm not talking about the anodes on the outdrive.

I'm asking about the engine and exhaust drain plugs having zinc anodes made onto the plugs. This way the raw seawater that cools the engine won't create electrolysis on the inside of the engine cooling system.

Do I need to replace my drain plugs with these pencil zincs?

Go to westmarine.com and search pencil zincs...

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Volvo/Penta Engine/Exhaust Pencil Zincs?

If you want to keep the corrosion down, get a Volvo Neutra-Salt system. Way better than getting zincs. Pretty inexpensive.