Also, don’t rev the engine while using flush muffs, because there isn’t enough water flow/pressure to sufficiently cool the engine at high rpm. Running the outboard with little or no cooling water will cause expensive overheating damage in a very short time. Turn the freshwater on before starting the engine turn the water off after stopping the engine. Remember, never run the engine without cooling water. The flush muff method is best done with the boat on a trailer or a lift, completely out of the water. They require running the engine (but only after the garden hose is in place and water running). Outboards with more than one inlet on each side of the lower unit should be flushed using this method.įlush muffs (for models with single inlet lower units) are rubber cups that fit over the water inlet on the gearcase (one of the cups has a hose fitting). It requires running the engine (but only after the bag is filled with water). Use the flush bag method with the boat on a trailer or the boat moored. There are different bag designs some are designed to be used with the boat moored. Submerging the gearcase allows the motor to take in cooling water from the inlet screens and return it to the bag through the propeller. If you are using a built-in flushing device, a n outboard can be flushed with the boat on a lift or in the water it works best if you can trim the engine up so the gearcase is out of the water.Ī flush bag is a sturdy collapsible bag that fits under the lower unit of the outboard and fills with water. Generically speaking, there are three methods to flush an outboard: using the freshwater flushing attachment built into the outboard, flush bags, or flush muffs.Ī built-in flushing device is a hose fitting, usually located near the lower rear cowling. Do not run the engine during this procedure. Freshwater flushing with clean water will dislodge most contami nants (sand, silt, mud, etc.) and force them out of the passages in the cooling system. Perhaps even more importantly, flushing removes salt buildup, which can lead to poor cooling as well as corrosion of the engine block and midsection. The outboard should be flushed after every use in salt or dirty water. It may even promote corrosion in the exhaust system because increased engine temperatures-along with the effects of using ethanol blended fuels-can cause increased exhaust temperatures. Eventually, the buildup can also restrict the amount of water available to the engine resulting in poor cooling, which will damage the engine. This build up can damage the water pump’s rubber impeller and plastic housing. Over time, debris can accumulate in the outboard’s cooling passages. Marine growth can also occur behind the inlet screens interrupting the flow of water to the engine. ![]() But what about your outboard’s cooling system? Unfortunately, it is often overlooked in a maintenance regimen.ĭuring the course of normal use, the water pump can ingest mud, sand, and silt, which then flows through the engine. We wash and wax our boats and outboards, change the oil and oil filter regularly, and replace the fuel filters. ![]() M ost of us take good care of our marine equipment.
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