[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by Larryrsf

Thanks! What is so confusing is that it runs well, certainly that cylinder is firing correctly.

I will pull the plugs and see whether there is a difference between that cylinder plug and the others. That's about all I can do because as you see in the photo, the boat and motor are in the water in a marina--and my boat trailer is being rebuilt.

I would like to put the muffs on and flush it with fresh water, but I can't reach far enough from inside the boat to put the muffs on when the motor is tilted up. I might be able to angle the boat in the slip around to get the lower unit near enough to the pier. I don't see the others flushing their motors, so maybe that sea water is not so bad. Nearly everyone tilts their lower units up out of the water like I do.

Larry

As an ex-Navy sailor, please allow me to assure you.....That sea water IS that bad. It will corrode almost any metal you put into it (Gold won't corrode, so if your engine is made of solid gold you're safe). As I'm sure you are aware, the reason for tilting your engine up is to get it out of that sea water... but the water inside your engine will continue it's corrosive actions. Even if all the water drains out, the salt film left behind on the metal is still there, still eating into everything. If it's possible to fresh water flush your engine, then by all means do so. Your engine will thank you for it with many extra years of service.