overheating

[ljf]

I own an 1989 88 spl Evinrude. Has anyone ever used the product saltaway and could it possibly cure my problem of overheating? Left head only. Thermostat and pump have been changed. Thanks.

 

[flabum]

Re: overheating

Overheating issues have no miracle fix. Have the head in question removed and inspected. You will likely find either a blown head gasket or the water passage in the head to be blocked.You will also need to replace the deflectors in the block (look like little rubber hoses) around the cylinders.

 

[Striper500]

Re: overheating

I had a 1992 90 HP Johnson with the same problem. I replaced the thermostats and water pump and the engine still overheated. This particular engine ran perfectly without the stats. I have run it for over a year and a half now without stats. It's worth a shot. Most people in Florida and areas of warmer water run their motors without stats anyway.

 

[flabum]

Re: overheating

Not a good idea to run any engine without thermostats.Without them, the water passes throught the engine too quickly to pick up the heat from the engine and thereby giving you a false temp reading on your gauge and no warning horn. You need to find the core problem and fix it. if you did not need thermostats, the manufacturer would not put them in (manufacturers will spend as little as they can).The only thing that is reccommended as far as thermostats are concerned is to take the thermostats out, clip the thermostatic control from the frame and re-install the thermostat frame. The frame will act as a restricter. This is not recommended with EFI engines since they need temparature to run correctly.

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: overheating

There is a plate inside the thermostat housing called the valve body. It has four large holes for the two thermostats and two pressure relief valves, as well as two extrememly small holes-almost pinholes. Since the pinholes are so small, it is not uncommon for them to plug with debris. If both of these pinholes get plugged, the engine will overheat. If one gets plugged, one side will overheat. Make sure they are open. Don't run without the thermostats. The engine will run cold and that can lead to poor fuel economy, driveability and reduced engine life.

 

[ezeke]

Re: overheating

If you are running in salt water, Salt-Away and similar products can only help. When salt or calcium build up, they not only block passages, but insulate, so that the cooling water cannot reach the metal you are trying to cool.

BTW, Salt Away did not help me with anything but salt You will have to find other products, like vinegar and dishwasher detergent to get to some of the other solids.

Running without thermostats not only makes the walls of the cylinders too cool for the hot pistons causing excessive wear, but will contribute greatly to carbon build-up and fouled plugs.

You would have to be running in water around 140 degrees or more to make running without thermostats sensible.

 

[reeldutch]

Re: overheating

verify the temp of the engine.
you can do the 3 second burn your finger test or get a infared thermometer, or thermo melt sticks.

it could be a bad temp switch.

dont run it without tstats.

if this side of the motor indeed overheads this is what i would do.

- compresion test.
- check for lean condition (lean mixture burns hot
- instal new plugs Ql77jc4
- take cylinder head off and take cylinderhead cover off
clean everything and put new gaskets on
- replace waterflow resrtictors/deflectors
- put new headgasket on
- re instal the waterpump and double check for propper instalation.
- re instal thermostats and check for propper instalation

that should be enough to get the water/cooling system back in order.
check for blockages starting at the intake screen.

good luck

 

[ljf]

Re: overheating

I guess by your responses that saltaway would be a waste of money and it is probably requiring me to remove the head. On an 18 yr old engine in saltwater I dont look forward to it. Thanks for the help.