Flushing Outboards

[paulf]

My question is this Should I be flushing my outboard engins if I leave the boat in the mairna with the engin up so that it's not in the water at all

[BlueMarlin]

I always flush.

[h2o lover]

How do you flush it? I have an older (late 80's) Evinrude. Can I put the muffs on it and run it when it's tilled up?

Thanks,
John

21' Cruisers Bonanza

[BW23]

Put the muffs on, turn the water on, tilt the motor down, run for 5 minutes. Done.
I do it after every weekend of use.

[feralcat]

I think what they're asking, is:

"Is it OK to flush the motor, when the boat is moored, and the outboard in the full tilt position?"

[paulf]

see my boat is in the water 24/7 @ the marina I keep it tilted up I have a flush port on the top or the engin it's a 2003 Johnson 175 with 2/3 packs I was trying to find out if I should flush it out

[Canazes9]

I think BW23 was saying he flushes with the muffs on, motor tilted down in the water - in theory motors still get fresh water even though it's sitting in salt. I've never heard of that but I can't see why it wouldn't work.

19' Custom Aluminum, 150 Yamaha

[BW23]

Yep Canazes9 , you are correct. That is exactly the way I flush. Then I rised off the outside of the lower unit while in the tilted up position.

[DiamondDave]

You dont have to flush, but the motor will last alot longer if you do. Mine gets flushed after every use.

[paulf]

Thank you all for the replys I will flush the engin out after I use it Iam new to outboards thanks and tight lines to all

[hjanock]

Well, I've got a question. My boat is moored in salt water. I always tilt up the engine - Suzuki df140 - when moored. I never flush it, because I figure if I flush at the dock with fresh, I'm then undoing it as I motor back to my mooring. And, my boat only has a raw water washdown.

Is it worth, or even doable, adding a fresh water tank? I've got a Sea Pro 190 Center Console.

Thanks.

[dry doc]

like mom, apple pie, and the flag, it is hard to
argue AGAINST freshwater flush after saltwater
use....i wonder if we didnt miss the real issue
here....if you dont flush, and nobody i have ever heard talks of it, then is there any bad
outcome of substance???....how many engines do
the repairmen see with corroded cooling passages
????.....the alternative thesis is that the mfr
coat those passages well enough that ten other
major items on the engine will go down before
the corrosion in the cooling passages becomes
a factor in the engine`s behavior....i dont know
this answer, but i bet some seasoned mechanics
do...dan

[OutOfTheLoop]

Question 1: Yes, flush your motors. On top of corroded cooling system if you do not flush, salt deposits will stay on your impeller and upon the next start up, before water reaches it, the salt will damage your impeller.

Question 2: Put your motors down when flushing or your heads could create “hot spots” when running in the tilt position and warp your heads.

Regards, Mike

[Jkcam]

I am considering a Yamaha 90hp 4 stroke. It has a fresh water flush hose adapter. Here is my question. I believe using this factory supplied fresh water flush system, the engine part of the motor gets flushed. Does the lower unit/water pump get flushed also? Thanks, Jim

JimC
Palm City, Florida

[reddawg]

jkcam,
the flush connection near the cowling will flush the engine cooling system only. The water will run down to the lower unit but the impeller doesn't really get cleaned out. Some folks say that doesn't matter and others continue to use the muffs to flush. I still use the muff method for flushing out my motor. Maybe if I was in a slip with no access to muffs, then the fresh water connection would be alright.

[KevinM]

On the contrary the water pump impeller does get flushed. The water runs down the water pump delivery tube through the water pump. In essence you are getting a reverse flush of the water pump!

[BottomFisher]

This is what i do when i flush... i taste the water coming out once it tastes like fresh water i shut her off.

MATT

[tg]

Has anyone ever used the MST system? Or is it the same as the flushing ports?

[gaefranz]

One work of advice about tilting and flushing: do not flush with the engine tilted up, or you might get water in the cylinder! I flush my optimax every day,in vertical position even when it stays in the water with the prop in, from the cowl intake and water does indeed flush the entire column, through to the impeller.

[the outranger]

I reciently had a flush kit installed on my Johnson 150. I love it as it is very easy to use. The engine shop that installed it told me to do the following:
1. Tilt the engine up out of the water.
2. Do not run the engine.
3. Hook up the hose to the new port installed. 4. turn on the hose and wait a few minuates while water is shooting from all engine ports.
5.Turn off the hose.
It is that easy.

Does anyone disagree with this type of flush? Someone here talked about water getting in the head when proped out of the water? I did not even think of this. Is it possible even though the engine is not running? Am I being told the right instructions here???