warm to touch

[loco boater]

I was running my I/O on monday in my driveway as I do if we dont go out. This time when I shut her down and removed the ear muffs I placed my hand on the top of the upper unit and noticed that it was warm. Not so warm that I had to remove my hand but still warm to the touch. I never had touched it prior to this so I don't have anything to go by. Ran her for about 20 mins from 600 to 1200 rpm, the water temp never went above 170. Is this normal or shoult I be concerned?

 

[Fishermark]

Re: warm to touch

Don't know what I/O you have, but sounds normal to me. They will get warm / hot with use.

 

[Aviator5]

Re: warm to touch

My Alpha 1 gets warm too.

 

[loco boater]

Re: warm to touch

Sorry for the lack of info. Its a mercruiser 5.0 alpha 1 gen II

 

[Bondo]

Re: warm to touch

Ayuh,...All machinery makes Heat with the gears thrashing around,...It's perfectly Normal...

 

[ziggy]

Re: warm to touch

i think normal too.
ever seen that white chalky stuff that is on many folks drives. i believe that is minerals that are in the water that gets left over after the hot drive boils/evaporates the water off. that's pretty hot. more proof would be the invention of the aftermarket drive showers to help keep things cooler.

i use lime away to remove the white chalky stuff. boat soap and water after the lime away. works well. drive comes out nice and black after that treatment..

 

[wca_tim]

Re: warm to touch

remember that the exhaust passes through the drive as well and aluminum is a very good conductor of heat (heat travels through aluminum very well)... that's one of the reason that running through hull exhaust can help controlling temperature if you push a drive hard...

I've never had any of the white chalky stuff on my drive... but i've turned a set of gears blue.