From: Mike (Original Message) Sent: 11/17/2002 3:48 PM
I have some questions about the flushing port on my Honda 75 (the one that takes the screw in hose adapter). Is the flush provided through this port adequate to completely clean the cooling system? How long should the flush water be left running? The boat was last in mildy slaty water, and I am wondering if flushing through this port is all that is needed for winter storage.
Thanks,
Mike
From: LesLampman Sent: 11/21/2002 8:18 AM
Hi Mike,
I do not believe that there is a definitive answer to this questions and I've seen no hard data to support any particular argument.
My feeling is that the flushing port probably works best when the motor is still warm. It is my opinion that it was added primarily to allow fresh water flushing when the boat was still in the water and as such is a compromise. If the engine has cooled down then I suspect that running the motor with water fed to the lower unit would be the best thing.
BTW, the motor should not be run when using the flush port as the impeller in the water pump will be damaged; it's mostly running dry at that point.
I've also heard of tests that indicated that on larger motors that flushing had little effect of the three year period of the test. I'm conservative enough to feel better when I flush the engines.
FWIW,
Les
From: Mike Sent: 11/21/2002 4:45 PM
Thanks, Les. One more dumb question. What keeps the cooling water from running out of the flushing port when the engine is running? It looks like a straight shot to the cooling system. Is that the thermostat housing the port is plumbed to?
Looks like one more trip to the lake.
Mike
From: LesLampman Sent: 12/1/2002 6:35 PM
Hi Mike,
There is a check valve where the hose from the flushing port connects to the engine.
Les
From: Mike Sent: 12/1/2002 6:59 PM
Check valve? What'll they think of next?!? Thanks. I get bugged by the simplest of things!
From: Fishtales Sent: 2/18/2003 11:12 AM
Fishtales is used primarily in saltwater. I run white vinager through the flush out system. I was using "salt-away", but that cost to much. I use the flush kit supplied with "salt-away" but I put white vinager in it.
I also wash the exterier of the engine with white vinager- it takes all the baked on salt deposits off the engine. First I rinse the engines off and apply vinager with a sponge. Sometimes you need to let it soak in and use a little elbow grease, but when your done, it is nice and clean.
Spraying the trailer down with the vinager helps to keep the salt cleaned off, too.
I keep vinager in the flush kit bowl and use that to rinse the boat and trailer off.
Roger
From: 2nd Byte Sent: 2/18/2003 11:57 AM
I/ve gone the same route, switching from Salt-Away to the white vinegar. You need a printing press to be able to use the Salt-Away.
From: josepepper Sent: 6/4/2003 2:09 PM
How about setting the motor in a 10 gallon bucket with a hose feeding fresh water and just letting the engine idle for a few minutes?
I have some questions about the flushing port on my Honda 75 (the one that takes the screw in hose adapter). Is the flush provided through this port adequate to completely clean the cooling system? How long should the flush water be left running? The boat was last in mildy slaty water, and I am wondering if flushing through this port is all that is needed for winter storage.
Thanks,
Mike
From: LesLampman Sent: 11/21/2002 8:18 AM
Hi Mike,
I do not believe that there is a definitive answer to this questions and I've seen no hard data to support any particular argument.
My feeling is that the flushing port probably works best when the motor is still warm. It is my opinion that it was added primarily to allow fresh water flushing when the boat was still in the water and as such is a compromise. If the engine has cooled down then I suspect that running the motor with water fed to the lower unit would be the best thing.
BTW, the motor should not be run when using the flush port as the impeller in the water pump will be damaged; it's mostly running dry at that point.
I've also heard of tests that indicated that on larger motors that flushing had little effect of the three year period of the test. I'm conservative enough to feel better when I flush the engines.
FWIW,
Les
From: Mike Sent: 11/21/2002 4:45 PM
Thanks, Les. One more dumb question. What keeps the cooling water from running out of the flushing port when the engine is running? It looks like a straight shot to the cooling system. Is that the thermostat housing the port is plumbed to?
Looks like one more trip to the lake.
Mike
From: LesLampman Sent: 12/1/2002 6:35 PM
Hi Mike,
There is a check valve where the hose from the flushing port connects to the engine.
Les
From: Mike Sent: 12/1/2002 6:59 PM
Check valve? What'll they think of next?!? Thanks. I get bugged by the simplest of things!
From: Fishtales Sent: 2/18/2003 11:12 AM
Fishtales is used primarily in saltwater. I run white vinager through the flush out system. I was using "salt-away", but that cost to much. I use the flush kit supplied with "salt-away" but I put white vinager in it.
I also wash the exterier of the engine with white vinager- it takes all the baked on salt deposits off the engine. First I rinse the engines off and apply vinager with a sponge. Sometimes you need to let it soak in and use a little elbow grease, but when your done, it is nice and clean.
Spraying the trailer down with the vinager helps to keep the salt cleaned off, too.
I keep vinager in the flush kit bowl and use that to rinse the boat and trailer off.
Roger
From: 2nd Byte Sent: 2/18/2003 11:57 AM
I/ve gone the same route, switching from Salt-Away to the white vinegar. You need a printing press to be able to use the Salt-Away.
From: josepepper Sent: 6/4/2003 2:09 PM
How about setting the motor in a 10 gallon bucket with a hose feeding fresh water and just letting the engine idle for a few minutes?