Flushing saltwater out of outboard motor with fresh water

Anthony A

Anthony A

Well-known member
How often should I run my outboard motor in fresh water after using it in salt water?

I don't have access to a hose in at my condo complex, and my buddy told me I can come over to his house to do it. I'm just wondering if I have to plan go there after every hunting/scouting trip, or just a few times a year.

Thanks in advance for any advice

Anthony
 
Short answer is every time. Preferably before the saltwater has time to dry. When the salt water dries, the salt crystallizes and is harder to remove by just flushing.
 
Everytime!!!

The best trick taught to me is squit some Dawn dishwashing soap into the non-hose side of the scupper while fushing out the motor.

The motor will foam up & dissolve any & all salt crystals out of everywhere the salt crystals want to set up.

My buddy in The Keys bought his motor the same time I did & he flushed it after every use.

The heads clogged with salt crystals after (4) four seasons.

Fearing I was going to have the same issue & broke open my heads & found "no build-up" of salt crystals in my heads or anywhere else in the motor.

If it's gentle enough to clean up little oily birds, it's gentle enough for all my outboards!!! LOL
 
After every run in salt... I back it into a fresh water pond... with the trailer boat straps still on... and start the motor... put it in forward/reverse... take a small bucket and wash the salt off of everything while the motor is running... 5 minutes later... the boat, the trailer and the engine are all clean of salt.

If the fresh water is iced over... I go to a one of those self-serve car washes with a wand... and wash the boat /motor/trailer (mostly concerned about the trailer)... and not able to flush the motor innards... so about 2-3 times a season I am unable to wash the salt out of the motor...

Salt is a death sentence to a trailer... galvanized or not.
 
What about when you keep the boat in saltwater over the winter, and the marina's water system is not available (winerized)?
I didn't flush my motor this past season. And to bring a container and earmuffs down to the marina every time sure seems like a pain in the butt.
 
I think no matter what, you should give it a freshwater rinse. When I was in the Coast Guard it was part of the SOP that when we got in, you rinsed it out. We had an attachment and ran salt away through them. I dont have the govt. budget now so I use dish soap. Heres a question for your question, whats your motor worth to you? A couple minutes will save lots of time and money for sure. Not to mention, salt invades almost all parts of an outboard sooner or later, if you keep on top of it theres less chance of you breaking down out in bfe.
John
 
I guess I can bring a container down.........maybe just run a couple gallons through.
But, also, everyone recommended that I keep the outboard lowered into the water, when there's real cold temps and the water is freezing......so there's always saltwater in the lower gearcase portion.
 
after you run flush the motor... just put (or leave) the engine in the down position and let the (warm) water drain... it'll be fine.
 
Flush it out every time as many above me have said.
I thought I was the only one who use Dawn Dish Washing Liquid LOL. Been using Dawn for 10+ years on all my outboard flushings, during maintenance changing out thermostats really proves that it works, zero salt or build up at all.
 
I've never used Dawn Dish Washing Liquid in my motor but that stuff is one of the best cleaners around eps on grease. I have a Yamaha 40 that has a connection on the motor for the hose to hook up to and flush the motor. Can you (or should you) put some Dawn in the hose inlet to help flush the salt? i guess it would be the same as putting it in the ears of a flushing system.
 
Can you (or should you) put some Dawn in the hose inlet to help flush the salt? i guess it would be the same as putting it in the ears of a flushing system.
Click to expand...


Yes, one of my capt's has a Yama 40hp with that system.

We actually let the motor come to temp, turn it off, squirt the Dawn into the hose & run the soap through.

You can also buy some of the commercially available products, just don't buy the treatment.

It's Dawn!!! LOL

http://www.saltawayproducts.com/MixerPage.htm

http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?i=31588&pdesc=Salt_Terminator_Mixer/Dispenser_Only&aID=601L10&merchID=4006
 
Makes me really glad I live a long ways from the coast;-) Good info all, Thanks. I'll file the Dawn trick away for a future date.
 
Wow! I guess flushing is a good thing, you all seem to do it,...but,....As the devil's advocate I'll say it ain't as important as you think.
Here on the Bay, NO ONE flushes anything, except in the bathroom.
These boats are in the water year round , and used year round. They get basic maintenance, repaired when necessary, which isn't often on these newer mid power motors, get 2-3 thousand hours, plus, and just keep ticking away.The only time they see fresh water is when it rains.

But it can't hurt. lol
 
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