OMC Tstat- looks nasty

[RubberFrog]

After beating the cover off with a rubber mallet I discovered this mess. The tstat was completely covered in rust, I'd be surprised if it even worked. Can I get a professional opinion on this mess? Other than the obvious fact that there is a lot of rust, what should I interpret from this? Thanks,<br />George<br />

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[crazy charlie]

Re: OMC Tstat- looks nasty

Clean it up with some white vinegar and a tooth brush and vac out what crap you can and replace the stat.Dont bother to check it to reuse,get a new one.looks like silt and mud which are not uncommon to find.Charlie

 

[Don S]

Re: OMC Tstat- looks nasty

Most of the mess is typical raw water cooled rust. When you run straight water in an engine, it gets rusty. Plus anything else the raw water pump can find to pump in there.<br />Replace the stat and gasket and start flushing with something like Salt-Away after each use and it will help get rid of salt, or even mineral buildup from freshwater use.<br /><br />Not even up to one of your $100 bills for that fix

 

[Boomyal]

Re: OMC Tstat- looks nasty

Thanks for that link on Salt-Away, Don. Don't use my boat in the ocean very often but would be great to have it as a final rinse for my heat exchanger and manifolds when I do.

 

[trog100]

Re: OMC Tstat- looks nasty

horrible sight aint it.. especially when u realize the whole of the waterways and such look like that..<br /><br />makes a good case for indirect cooling systems and keeping that evil salty corrosive crap as far away from your engine as possible..<br /><br />trog100

 

[rodbolt]

Re: OMC Tstat- looks nasty

man thats actually clean looking. most here are stopped almost solid and are black. clean it up but I dont reccomend a wire brush. sometimes the castings are "rotted" some and a good wire brush can eat into them. I use a buck 110 and a flat file. medium mill. and insure its flat when I am done. yep its a dirty job for such a fine knife but over the years I found I gouge less and can control it better than any scraper I have used. except the rare occasions it slips, then sometimes I spring a leak.