Paranoid about blocked cooling passage

[dropback1]

I had a blockage in my cooling system last season that did not drain, it cracked my block and cylinder head. I run my boat in heavily silty water, I am paranoid about winter storage this year and am wondring if anyone has any ideas to troubleshot a blocked cooling passage. I have flushed the crap out of this engine in the lake and in my driveway with a hose. Curious to see if anyone has any suggestions short of pullung it off and laying it in my garage? I have stuck my hands all over the top of the block while running it and it seems cool to the touch? I run a 115 jet four stoke 06. Thanks

 

[robert graham]

Re: Paranoid about blocked cooling passage

I have no direct experience since I run in fresh water, but how about run your motor in a 55 gallon drum of water with some radiator flush, pee tube back into drum so it recirculates. You could tell from the color of the water if it was cleaning/flushing your cooling system. I don't see how it could hurt anything, but maybe there's some "salt water" folks on here with direct experience with plugged cooling passages. Good Luck!

 

[dropback1]

Re: Paranoid about blocked cooling passage

It's silty water as in glacial silt, I have never run this boat in the salt. Thanks for the response.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Paranoid about blocked cooling passage

Silt, salt or sand, you're still going to have to get it out of your motor. I'm thinking a mild acid with corrosion inhibitors circulating through your system with the 55 gallon drum setup should clean out the passages. Probably need to do a water pump impeller every year at least. I would remove the exhaust cover plate and gaskets and take a look at what's in there, then you'll know more if the flush is required. Good Luck!