Engine advice

[dave craig]

possibly secured a mooring up northumberland but was concerned that this would mean i cant flush fresh water through the engine after every use.

spoke to a guy from a marine store and he said provided the engine is pumping salt water fairly regluarly then this will flush the engine through and prevent salt build up. he also said that it takes a fair amount of time before significant build up of salt occurs.

mate of mine reckons flushing with fresh is a must after every use and therefore has got me in two minds about keeping the boat moored.

any info appreciated.

[lingking]

flush

i am no expert,but reckon flushing is pretty important. can you not set up a barrel of fresh water with a tube to flush with.are you moored on open water or in a marina. if you dont fish regular it might be better to trail and launch mooring is risky. even in a club or marina as i write it comes to my mind if you not in a marina you would be crazy to leave the engine on the boat too many scroats prowling around lookin to make money out of someone elses misery

[drifter]

I don't know anyone in our marina who flushes the engine cooling system with fresh water after every trip. Marine engines just do not need it because the materials of construction are "fit for purpose" and furthermore, if the internal cooling systems were to dry out through inactivity, the salt residue (which is soluble) would simply be flushed out when next you start up the boat. That said, some engines may have internal components such as heat exchangers etc that contain "less noble" material and could require the protection of zinc pencil anodes which are less effective when subject to freshwater conditions. Boats on lakes or internal waterways use aluminium anodes so flushing a seagoing engine with fresh water could even be detrimental from an electrolosis perspective.

[dave craig]

cheers for the reply, linkking: regarding the barrel of fresh water i thought of that but was advised that there would not be enough pressure generated to fully flush the engine through.
from what ive heard i think providing the engine is used regularly there shouldnt be a problem, also the mooring is out at sea not in a marina so theft/vandalism shouldnt be an issue.

[codhw]

Im not an outboard expert but we have boats with outnboards moored up I think they pull the boat out twice a year for running repairs and flush the engine then dont think you need to do it every trip.

[mark]

if they are used regularly its not going to make a huge difference, it when they re laid up for long periods

lift the leg out of the water when moored so the water system can drain quickly and it's away from any potential galvanic corrosion issues

give it a good flush through at the end of year and a squirt of fogging oil before it gets laid up

[SEVV]

engine

hi i would personally flush with fresh regular for peace of mind the inside of an engine never flushed dosent look pretty also salt corrosion around impellor causes premature damage i use barrel for flushing with no probs pressure of water dosent matter as impellor draws water but you must have barrel higher than engine then gravity does the rest but remember not to revv engine this always works for me but everyone has their own opinions.

[kingcod deano]

hi i would personally flush with fresh regular for peace of mind the inside of an engine never flushed dosent look pretty also salt corrosion around impellor causes premature damage i use barrel for flushing with no probs pressure of water dosent matter as impellor draws water but you must have barrel higher than engine then gravity does the rest but remember not to revv engine this always works for me but everyone has their own opinions.

top post mate i agree the ouboard should be flushed after every run with fresh water other wise the grit or salt deposits wil get lodged in the engine it has happened to me a few times when i have forgot to flush it and the tell tail hole has been blocked with deposits which could have made the engine overheat now i always carry some thin wire and poke it into the tell tail just to make sure