Best place for Thermomelt Stik marking?

[Mas]

Hi,

I'm trying to monitor potential overheating on my '94 20HP 'Rude. I seem to do a lot of prolonged WOT (about an hour max). I've purchased a 175 degree stik. Where is the best place(s) for marking?

Should I also have purchased a 163 degree stik?? It seems to be the upper end of operating temp, so I didn't think this would tell me if I'm overheating. Am I wrong??

Mas

 

[DJ]

Re: Best place for Thermomelt Stik marking?

175 is pretty hot.

The best place to put it is on the top cylinder head. Just above the spark plug.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: Best place for Thermomelt Stik marking?

Those sticks work ok, but if you plan on boating for a while, and plan to service them yourself, I highly reccomend getting an infrared thermometer. Very accurate, and cheap nowadays. Definately not as expensive as they used to be. Just got another one for 25 bucks.

Regarding your issue at hand, when was the impeller and t stat last changed?

 

[Mas]

Re: Best place for Thermomelt Stik marking?

I just replaced the impeller this summer. Water is pumping well! I also replaced the thermostat last summer.

Don't normal temps fall between 120-163?

I figured that quick regular spot checks on the water would work well with the stik...but maybe not as convenient with a gun? If the 175 stik melts, clearly I'm over heating...but a 163 stik necessarily wouldn't...correct?

While running WOT, the tell tale is tepid. If I go from WOT to idle, the tell tale is a lot warmer. This seems logical because the engine has been working at WOT. I therefore try to slow down gradually to advert this sudden change in tell tale temp.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, I think my motor is cooling properly...but I'm not 100% sure.

Any thoughts on my thinking?

Mas

 

[DJ]

Re: Best place for Thermomelt Stik marking?

What are you really looking for? Do you have issues with the engine?

I do it the old fashioned way. If I can hold my fingers on the top cylinder head for a few seconds (without getting burned) she's OK.

 

[Mas]

Re: Best place for Thermomelt Stik marking?

I'm really not looking for anything...just trying to be cautious. I want to keep this motor for a while. My fear comes from "burning up" a smaller kicker a couple of summers ago. It burned it up right under my eyes. I did not even know it was overheating until it started smoking. The motor was not new & I was the third owner...nor did it have a tell tale (by design), so that wasn't any help. During the autopsy, I found the water jacket was was almost 80% clogged with salt (or aluminum oxidation?).

I'm just trying to better monitor temps. I do all my boating in the salt water which adds more stress to the motor.

Mas