Outboard flushing

[Steve_Bentley]

I already knew your supposed to run the o/b in a dustbin after sea use to clear the salt, but looking on a certain US site I didn't realise you have to run it at least 10-15 minutes to allow the head thermostat to open and flush the head aswell.

One thing they keep mentioning are 'flushing agents' which help to dissolve the salt (eg SaltAway, Salt Terminator etc). Apart from a couple of PWC dealers no-one in the UK appears to stock these things. This suggests to me that either a) they don't work, or b) dealers would rather charge you clear out the salt by hand. Andy Clarke in PBO the other month suggested it isn't economic to get the salt removed on small o/b's (but I have a Mariner 30hp). Someone else on these forums hinted that vinegar would work (but what would it do to the seals etc?).

In short, if they're such a good idea (and the theory sounds good) why doesn't anyone in the UK use them?

Anyone tried them?

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[AJW]

Interesting point about the thermostat. I run my engine immediately after I've recovered the RIB up the slipway on flush muffs - assuming of course there is a fresh water supply available. In this instance the engine is still warm and I would assume the thermostat is open & the head would be flushed. Never come across any of the products that you mention but then again I have not so far (touch wood) in several years encountered any problems with my various engines on salt build up.

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[Hardley]

I have watched many Australians flushing their O/B engines of salt water, they all seem to screw a fitting in to the leg, to which they attach a hose, then run the engine, flushing it through with fresh water for about ten minutes.
No descalers are used.
Hope this helps.
Hardley

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[ArthurWood]

The best thing to dissolve salt, as opposed to carbonates/bicarbonates is fresh water. If you have the latter deposited from overheating, then a weak acid, eg vinegar, overnight soak might help. Acid will not dissolve salt (sodium chloride) and faster than water will. Mercury recommend fresh water. I flush mine using muffs for about 5 min or until the carb is empty after turning off the fuel supply. A taste of the water (if you can do that with the bigger engines) exiting the engine will tell you if all the salt has been washed out. I think the stuff marketed in the US is probably a waste of money - like Slick 50, for example.

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