Sea Water Flushing

[acrowot]

I am completely new to all this, sorry if this question is elementary, I have just aquired a speedboat with a 1988 Mariner 6 cylinder 155hp 2 stroke,I intend to use it in salt water so need to flush after use. I have tried a test flush for about 10secs but was worried in case I damaged the motor. I connected a double muff to what I think is the water pick up, this looks like vents just above and behind the screw, I turned on the mains water supply and water poured out from just above the muffs (not from the muffs themselves) I started the motor and the water stopped coming out from this place and then seemed to come out from around the screw, I did not see any water coming out from the Peehole ( if this is the correct word ). Is this the correct proceedure or is there some other method, does the water exhaust from around the screw,will the thermostat close if one is fitted using this method, how long should I run the motor like this and what revs.?
Thanks for any help.

 

[flawet]

Re: Sea Water Flushing

My first thought is you are doing everything right, but may have a bad impeller/waterpump if no water is coming out of the pee hole.

I would not run for more than about 1 minute without pee hole verification. If your thermostat warning is working right the motor should shut down before damage occures. (I don't like that option though)

Once everything is working I have always been told to flush your motor asap after saltwater use and taste the pee water until salt taste is gone. There may be better information, but this has always been my approasch.

 

[flawet]

Re: Sea Water Flushing

After a second read of your posting, you may need to run your motor longer than 10 seconds (give it 60 seconds) to have water into the pump. Make sure the water is turned on BEFORE you start the motor.

 

[mikeneal]

Re: Sea Water Flushing

The vents below the cavatation plate are the water inlet and if that is where you had the muffs it is right. (post pic if you can). It might take a couple seconds for the water to reach the water pump and the pee stream to start flowing. I assume it peed and ran fine in the water?

 

[acrowot]

Re: Sea Water Flushing

The vents below the cavatation plate are the water inlet and if that is where you had the muffs it is right. (post pic if you can). It might take a couple seconds for the water to reach the water pump and the pee stream to start flowing. I assume it peed and ran fine in the water?

Thanks to you both for your replies, I am sure the muffs are in the correct place, I have not used the boat yet I have only just bought it, I am really only trying to test the engine at the moment but am worried about running it for too long in case it overheats. I know were the water enters the engine but am not sure were it is supposed to exit the engine after it has cooled the engine, as I said I am a complete newcomer to all this and do not want to damage anything.

 

[acrowot]

Re: Sea Water Flushing

I have this sorted now, I was not letting the engine run for long enough,it took about 30secs and then a steady stream from pee hole, thanks for all help.