- Attach a pair of earmuffs to the hose.
- Slide the earmuffs over the lower unit, so they fully cover the engine’s water intakes.
- Turn on the water, and make sure it’s flowing around both sides of the lower unit water intakes.
- Start the outboard, and make sure water is coming out of the tell-tale.
- Let the engine run for at least five minutes.
How do you flush an outboard motor?
0:273:17How to Flush an Outboard Motor - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTake your hose screw it right in. And then turn on the water if your boat lives in a slip. You willMoreTake your hose screw it right in. And then turn on the water if your boat lives in a slip. You will want to tilt the engine up to ensure that there's no saltwater remaining inside.
What happens if you don't flush your outboard motor?
What we find is if you do not flush your motor as per the manufacturer's specifications you will over time get a build-up of residual salt, and that salt will crystallize in the water flow galleries and being pressed against the alloy structure of the head they will slowly corrode and pit.
Do outboard motors need to be flushed?
Regular flushing with freshwater is key to maintaining any outboard motor used in saltwater. Most outboard manufacturers recommend a freshwater flush after every use in saltwater to clear the cooling passages of salt residue and scale that can accumulate and impede the flow of vital cooling water through the engine.
How often should an outboard motor be flushed?
every six weeksA full flushing of the motors must be done after every use, and it's recommended every six weeks if it's been sitting in storage. It's important to run the motors long enough for the thermostat to open, allowing the fresh water to flush the salt from the entire powerhead.
How long should you flush an outboard for?
Flush for at least five minutes at an idle speed, with the engine in a vertical position. When using the flushing port, it is not necessary to run the engine. Keep the engine vertical after flushing so that all water drains from the powerhead.
How long can you run an outboard motor out of water?
The maximum amount of time you can run your boat motor without water is between 2 and 10 seconds if you must.
How do you use flushing muffs?
1:135:02How to Start your Outboard on land with Muffs (Great exhaust Sound!)YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThey. Basically what they do is create a seal around the intake. The water intake port of yourMoreThey. Basically what they do is create a seal around the intake. The water intake port of your engine. And allow your engine to suck in water and cool itself off as if it were in the water.
How do you flush an old outboard motor?
1:543:54How to Flush an Outboard Engine | BoatUS - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipRight over top of the water intakes in the engines lower unit. With the muffs in place give a secondMoreRight over top of the water intakes in the engines lower unit. With the muffs in place give a second look make sure that all the water intakes are covered. Then turn on the water.
How do you flush an outboard with fresh water?
All you have to do is lower your engine to the vertical position, hook up a hose to the conveniently located flush connector and let the water run for 10 minutes – you don't even have to start your engine.
How deep should a boat motor be in the water?
If you have a short shaft motor, the top most part of the transom and the lower most part of the boat should be about 15 to 16 inches.
How much water should be coming out of outboard?
Usually the cooling water pisses out of a small hole under the power head. There should be a hols approx 3 mm diameter facing down and a bit out. Normally a continuous flow expected, unless mercs are totally different.
Can you start an outboard motor out of water?
To run your boat motor out of water, start by attaching a hose to your motor's water intake so you can flush in water, which will avoid damaging the engine. Once the hose is attached, turn on the water faucet. Then, pull the gear shift to neutral and start the engine.
How long should you flush a Yamaha outboard motor?
It only takes 10 to 15 minutes to adequately flush the engine, and I do it while I accomplish other tasks. I'll hook the hose up to the flush attachment, turn the water on (not the outboard), and then get in my boat to unload everything that needs to come off and clean out the cooler.
How do you flush a Mercury outboard motor?
0:090:57Mercury 75 - 300hp FourStroke Outboard Maintenance - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTurn the water tap to about half maximum. And let the water flush through the cooling system forMoreTurn the water tap to about half maximum. And let the water flush through the cooling system for about 15. Minutes when flushing is complete turn off the water and disconnect the water hose install.
How do you clean a boat engine after salt water?
Flush the Engine: Flushing the engine with fresh water after every saltwater use promises that the engine will stay free of corrosive salt buildup or debris. Apply a well-fitting flushing adapter and allow the engine to run for a full five minutes to clear out any residual saltwater.
How do you winterize a 4 stroke outboard motor?
Winterizing Your Outboard MotorDrain the crankcase oil (Four-stroke motors)Install a new oil filter (Four-stroke motors)Install a new fuel filter (Four-stroke motors)Filling the crankcase with new oil (Four-stroke motors)Changing the lower unit gear oil.Stabilizing the fuel.Flush with antifreeze & fog the cylinders.More items...
How Long Should I Flush My Outboard Motor?
The majority of manufacturers agree that flushing for ten minutes is ideal. You will want to perform the flushing procedure while the outboard is running at idle speed, and the engine is in a vertical position.
Why Flush Your Outboard?
If you don’t remove this corrosive agent, it build ups inside the cooling passages.
What to use if your outboard doesn't have a built in connection?
If your outboard doesn’t have a built-in connection, you can use flush muffs. These look similar to large earmuffs.
How long to run freshwater outboard?
Turn the engine off. Tilt the outboard clear of the water. Connect the hose to the motor. Allow freshwater to run for an estimated ten minutes, or based on manufacturer recommendations. Allow the outboard to remain vertical until the water drains.
What is flushing bag?
A flushing bag is made from soft plastic, vinyl or canvas that works with a garden hose fitting. It’s simple to use and doesn’t require expert skills. You can also even take a large 55 gallon plastic trash can and cut it down to work with your engine.
Where is the fitting on a boat engine?
Look for this fitting on the engine, facing toward the boat. It could also be found under the cover in the boat motor’s midsection or under the cowl.
Do outboard motors have flush connections?
The majority of recent outboards have a built-in flush connection. If your motor is older than 15 years old, you might not have one and would need to choose another method. This built-in connection utilizes a threaded fitting or a snap fitting adapter to connect a garden hose to the motor.
Where to flush an outboard boat?
Flushing is usually an easy procedure, and can often be accomplished with the boat on a trailer or in the water at a dock or mooring. Instructions for flushing an outboard vary by brand and model and can be found in the owner’s manual.
Why flush outboard motors with salt water?
Regular flushing with freshwater is key to maintaining any outboard motor used in saltwater. Most outboard manufacturers recommend a freshwater flush after every use in saltwater to clear the cooling passages of salt residue and scale that can accumulate and impede the flow of vital cooling water through the engine.
What do flush muffs look like?
Flush muffs look like big earmuffs. The rubber cups fit over the cooling water intake ports on the outboard gearcase and are held in place by a metal spring or clamp. A garden hose is attached to one of the rubber cups.
Where is the flush fitting on an outboard?
This fitting may be located on the motor facing the boat, or it may be located under the cowl or under a cover in the midsection.
What to do after flushing a motor?
After flushing, ensure all the fresh water is drained from the motor.
Can you flush outboards with muffs?
Not all outboards can be flushed with muffs. Some have multiple water inlet locations and those not covered by the muff will need to be to be sealed with duct tape. Others may have inlets that cannot be covered with the muffs. Again, check the owner’s manual for specific instructions.
Can you start an outboard motor without water?
Note: Never start an outboard motor without a water supply—it must either be in the water or connected to a hose providing water. Water lubricates the vanes of the rubber water pump impeller, and running the motor without a water supply for even a few seconds can damage or destroy the impeller.
Evinrude
When opting for flush muffs, start by purchasing heavy-duty tapes and flush muffs to cover the auxiliary water inlets.
Honda
In general, flushing Honda’s outboard motors should be in a vertical position. However, the method lies in its size and model.
Mercury
Just like the previous brand, flushing Mercury outboards differ in sizes and units too. They offer water sports in the lower engine cowl for easy access to the garden hose adapter.
Nissan and Tohatsu
Engines with 2 to 6 hp technically undergo flush plugs or bags. In larger outboards, earmuffs or flush ports are suggested. Ensure proper monitoring of water pressure and engine for almost 10 minutes.
Suzuki
Most Suzuki’s outboards usually use two methods. One is the flushing muff method, where the idle boat must be kept working for a few minutes at a neutral engine.
Yamaha
Yamaha outboards select from flush muffs, hose, ports, or bags. Just secure cool water in performing the procedure. If the engine is in a vertical position and in neutral, run for at least 800 to 900 RPM for around 15 minutes.
Method 1: Flush Muffs
This is the most common way to flush outboard motors for engines without a flushing port.
How to flush outboards that don't have a flushing port?
How to Flush Outboards that do not have a Flushing Port: Attach a pair of earmuffs to the hose. Slide the earmuffs over the lower unit, so they fully cover the engine’s water intakes. Turn on the water, and make sure it’s flowing around both sides of the lower unit water intakes.
Do Intrepid 430s have flushing?
Some large, high-dollar boats have semi-custom flushing systems built right in. To see an example of how these work on a triple-engine Intrepid 430, watch our Intrepid 430 Sport Yacht Outboard Engine Flush video.
Is freshwater flushing important?
Freshwater flushing is one of the most important maintenance tasks of owning an outboard engine, but it certainly isn’t the only one. Visit our Maintenance section to learn about things like how to keep your outboard engine looking like new , how to change engine oil on a 4-stroke outboard engine , how to change the lower unit oil , winter storage tips for outboard motors , and more.