Do you guys flush your engines?.

[mushman]

I leave my boat in its slip all season, and I have an older engine without a quick connect so I never flush it out, but I've seen what salt water did to my thermostats when I removed them so I know it would be a good idea to do it.
Is there any way to flush an older Evinrude while it sits in the water?.
Have any of you tried muffs while in the water?.I've never seen anyone do this, but I guess it could be done.

My boat has usually had a slip for the season and I would never leave my boat without flushing the motor. After every, and I mean every salt water adventure I at minimum hose down (usually wash) the hull, but ALWAYS run fresh water throught the motor. Even if it means breakin out the ear muffs on older motors I would do it.
One of the nice things about visiting fresh water on vacations, like Lake George, use tie up, hop off and continue to drink.

JJBroc

[mushman]

So JJ you attach the muffs then lower em under the water I guess,right?.
I know that it should be done I just havn't.
Maybe I'll give it a try and see how it goes.

[bcmarinamanager]

nope, I almost never flush mine. If I know I am not going to be using it for more than a month I'll do it. Other than that I never flush it. There isn't anything but two thermostats that receive salt water contact, so even if you do flush it, you'll have to run the engine for at least 10-15 minutes to get it warm enough for the thermostats to open up for the fresh water to do any good. Even the sales manager at Crocker's Marine (the local Grady WHITE DEALER) says the same thing. But i guess if it makes you feel better than go for it.

[mushman]

I've never done it either, but I've seen many posts saying it is a good idea to do, to stop crud from building up in the water passages, and others who say they've never done it too.

[bradford]

Flush mine every time. If you do it as soon as you get back to the dock the stats will still be opened up. I still flush mine for about 10 minutes.

Saltwater will rust tupperware.

[THEFERMANATOR]

I am a religous engine flusher as well, I don't even use the flush ports I always run em. Besides the fact that the sound of a 2 stroke is soothing to me, I've worked on to many engines that haven't been flushed out often. Aint nothin like telling somebody with there 3 year old engine your going to have to send pieces out to the machine shop to be welded up and repaired because of corrosion. Or the ever so popular salt creep around the head gaskets. At the minumum I would get a salt away kit and a short hose, and hook the muffs up to the engine and use the short hose to connect to the salt away kit. Lower the engine back in the water and run it till it gets up to temp on the rinse setting, then switch it over to the salt away setting and run it until the soap bubbles are visible out the water outlets(about 45-60 seconds). Shut it off and trim it back up. At least then you can get the salt neatralizer into the block to help.

[mushman]

Thanks, I never heard of that.I'll look into it.

[Blue_Runner]

I'm about ready to flush my engine....down the toilet.

No really, the lake is 10 min. from my house so I regularly run it there especially after I get back from the salt. I also use the quick flush attachment on the hose but I don't crank it on the hose because it doesn't seem to get enough water.

[Mulv80]

Not flushing your motor after using it in saltwater is like not taking a shower after the beach - Mulv