water restrictions & outboard flush?

[nobrainsd]

With the water restrictions coming for southern california I'm trying to get on top of using less water to wash the inflatable and flush the outboard. I'm currently using salt away and water for a brief spray down of the boat. Not sure what I can do to improve on that. I could take the boat to a car wash, but that isn't going to help with my outboard flush, they don't make a regular hose available. Any great suggestions? I'm not so sure about flushing with a tank of water. First off it's hard to move or store and just how long before the salt builds up in the stored water? Letting the engine warm up for a few minutes really puts out a lot of water when using the hose and muffs. I thought about capturing the discharge for re use, but I would imagine there is some oil from the two stroke and I do like to use salt away after running in the pacific. Might not be good for the plants? It looks like street run off will be prohibited, so if I can't save water maybe I should dig a french drain in my no lawn lava rock yard? Dang, I hope it snows big time this winter.

On that same note, what is the most reliable method of determining when the outboard has heated up enough to open the thermostat? Hard to tell with my hand in the stream, can I use my non contact temp gun to shoot some part of the power head? Sure wish I could just open the thermostat to enable a brief full system flush without running to operating temp. Full control. Maybe on my next low water life outboard?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: water restrictions & outboard flush?

non contact temp, i use one all the time. to make sure motors are not running hot. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93983

 

[nobrainsd]

Re: water restrictions & outboard flush?

Thank you, I do have a non contact temp gun. Any advice on how to most accurately tell when the thermostat is open using a temp gun? Is it really going to help shorten my outboard flush or am I dreaming?

My neighbor (with the big green lawn) disapproves of my "wasting water". Pinhead.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: water restrictions & outboard flush?

tell him you are not wasting water, do it on the lawn, not the drive way. you are preserving your motor.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: water restrictions & outboard flush?

If you have a permanent trailer sib/engine configuration you could place a big plastic barrel on engine, fill with appropriate tail water level for a correct water pump operation, place a water faucet on lower tank with a hose connected to your drainage system. When flushig is done, open faucet to discharge flushed water, clean residual oil in tank and discharge again. Don't know if this goes against your local regulations ? You can flush in middle of a garden, won't harm grass or plants, been doing this for some years.

http://www.pbase.com/locozodiac/image/15570019

As you have not specified you engine brand/model, portable/medium size engines like Tohatsu, Nissan, has dual exit water ports, one is the tail tale water pump discharge (all engines have one) the other is located at the rear of the cowl, much bigger hole, if your engine has one put your hand, will feel cold water exiting out, in about 2 min or less will feel hot water, the thermostat has opened up, will continue with intervals of cold/warm water exiting, the thermostat is working ok. So flush in idle a minimum of 5 minutes to assure good internal water passages cleaning.

Happy Boating