Flush kits

[hooked]

Hi, I am new to boating and I have a 1993 2300SCR with a mercruiser alpha 1 5.7. I am going to be keeping to boat in the water. Chesapeake bay to be exact and I was wondering what is the best way to flush the engine after each use. I can not pull the boat each time to flush it so I would need a way to do it while in the slip. I have seen the Superflush systems and I like the fact that you don't need to run the engine to do it, Has anyone made their own system? Thanks Hooked

[pascavone]

most guys just cut the mainfold cooling hose and install a tee- connector that has a cap on it. after they run they just hook the garden hose up to the tee and flush out the raw water cooling with the dock hose.

[hooked]

Thanks for your advice. Do you have to run the engine with the hose hooked up?

[seapuppy]

welcome to the zoo....Pas pretty much covered it.....no ..with the flush kit..you shouldn't need to run the engine...however it probably is not advised since the leg will pull sea water up and mix with the fresh water your pumping in to flush the manifolds....



SP

[Capt Al]

Seapuppy is correct. I always thought that a flush kit wasn't effective with an I/O because with the drive sitting in the water you can't get a real fresh water flush with the engine running. Flushing without the engine running doesn't seem effective. Any thoughts?

[pascavone]

the garden hose will force the fresh water thru the engine block and out the mainfolds, amd back flow the outdrive, so the engine should not be running. (not to be confused with winterizing flush, not every day flushing)

The garden hose will push water until the thermostat closes down from the cold water.

I think its kinda pointless to flush every trip, but then again I have a fresh water cooled engine, so i'd only be flushing the raw water system.