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Author Topic:   Flushing Yamaha, Honda, E-TEC Engines

Graybay posted 05-25-2015 03:41 PM ET (US)
The manual for my Yamaha F50 says to flush with fresh water for 15 minutes after use. Under many circumstances this is an inordinate amount of time. I try to flush the engine after every use, but 90-percent of the time the boat is cleaned up, gear put away, and we are ready to leave the dock before that. How many folks do the full 15-minute flush every time? Is 10-minutes good enough? Five minutes maybe? What is the real world on this?
Eddie M posted 05-25-2015 05:31 PM ET (US)
I always flush for a minimum of 15 minutes. My thermostats look clean and the water passages are as clean as new. Only problem is I go in the house and forget the damn thing is still running.
Jefecinco posted 05-25-2015 07:07 PM ET (US)
Assuming you flush with the engine running it may require 15 minutes of warm up in order for the thermostat to open.
I launch at ramps and rinse water is unavailable there so I do my flushing at home and tend to a good trailer flush at home also.
I'm not sure how necessary it is to flush after fresh water use. Salt or brackish water use certainly necessitates flushing afterward.
Butch
martyn1075 posted 05-25-2015 07:50 PM ET (US)
Any fresh water going through there is much better then nothing at all so If you have 15 mins good, if not I will take 5 in a pinch no problem.
Martyn
weekendwarrior posted 05-26-2015 08:14 AM ET (US)
My 1999 Honda has a similar requirement for flushing. It gets 99-percent saltwater use, and I do try to flush more than 10 minutes whenever possible. There are some salt deposits on the thermostat when I change it occasionally. I flush at home, so I'm not rushed like I might be at a public place, so my procedure is to start the motor flushing and let it run while I empty the rest of the boat. If that goes quickly, I use my second hose to wash the boat while the motor continues flushing.
lizard posted 05-24-2015 03:57 PM ET (US)
A friend has a newer E-TEC 75-HP. He was told by the shop that installed the motor to flush with water after each use. I always used Salt-Away. What do other use to flush their motors? I remember at some point someone suggesting diluted acetic acid (white vinegar). Trying to help a buddy out who is new to Whaler ownership.
Thanks!
Jefecinco posted 05-25-2015 07:00 PM ET (US)
I use fresh water to flush my engines after use. I see no need for vinegar or salt away.
I believe salt away is useful to help rid the exterior of an engine with the cowling removed after use in salt water if salt deposits are present. Liberal use around tilt & trim and steering hose and all cables is recommended if a water spray fails to free them from salt.
Butch
jimh posted 05-26-2015 09:18 PM ET (US)
The few times I have had my boat in saltwater, I try to find a freshwater lake on the way home to dunk the boat and trailer and run the engine. If no lake available, then a good wash down with a hose and a run on the hose adaptor.
tedious posted 05-27-2015 01:27 PM ET (US)
Gray, your motor is not going to disintegrate if you flush for less than the allotted time.
For people like me who keep their boats on a mooring, the only time the motor sees a hose is after hauling.
My 2005 F200 is in salt water from May to October; it gets flushed when I haul it in the fall. My 2010 F70 is usually in the water for several 2-week periods during that interval, and it gets flushed only when I haul it.
Do what's convenient - more is better, but none at all is OK too.
Tim

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Author	Topic: Flushing Yamaha, Honda, E-TEC Engines
Graybay	posted 05-25-2015 03:41 PM ET (US) The manual for my Yamaha F50 says to flush with fresh water for 15 minutes after use. Under many circumstances this is an inordinate amount of time. I try to flush the engine after every use, but 90-percent of the time the boat is cleaned up, gear put away, and we are ready to leave the dock before that. How many folks do the full 15-minute flush every time? Is 10-minutes good enough? Five minutes maybe? What is the real world on this?
Eddie M	posted 05-25-2015 05:31 PM ET (US) I always flush for a minimum of 15 minutes. My thermostats look clean and the water passages are as clean as new. Only problem is I go in the house and forget the damn thing is still running.
Jefecinco	posted 05-25-2015 07:07 PM ET (US) Assuming you flush with the engine running it may require 15 minutes of warm up in order for the thermostat to open. I launch at ramps and rinse water is unavailable there so I do my flushing at home and tend to a good trailer flush at home also. I'm not sure how necessary it is to flush after fresh water use. Salt or brackish water use certainly necessitates flushing afterward. Butch
martyn1075	posted 05-25-2015 07:50 PM ET (US) Any fresh water going through there is much better then nothing at all so If you have 15 mins good, if not I will take 5 in a pinch no problem. Martyn
weekendwarrior	posted 05-26-2015 08:14 AM ET (US) My 1999 Honda has a similar requirement for flushing. It gets 99-percent saltwater use, and I do try to flush more than 10 minutes whenever possible. There are some salt deposits on the thermostat when I change it occasionally. I flush at home, so I'm not rushed like I might be at a public place, so my procedure is to start the motor flushing and let it run while I empty the rest of the boat. If that goes quickly, I use my second hose to wash the boat while the motor continues flushing.
lizard	posted 05-24-2015 03:57 PM ET (US) A friend has a newer E-TEC 75-HP. He was told by the shop that installed the motor to flush with water after each use. I always used Salt-Away. What do other use to flush their motors? I remember at some point someone suggesting diluted acetic acid (white vinegar). Trying to help a buddy out who is new to Whaler ownership. Thanks!
Jefecinco	posted 05-25-2015 07:00 PM ET (US) I use fresh water to flush my engines after use. I see no need for vinegar or salt away. I believe salt away is useful to help rid the exterior of an engine with the cowling removed after use in salt water if salt deposits are present. Liberal use around tilt & trim and steering hose and all cables is recommended if a water spray fails to free them from salt. Butch
jimh	posted 05-26-2015 09:18 PM ET (US) The few times I have had my boat in saltwater, I try to find a freshwater lake on the way home to dunk the boat and trailer and run the engine. If no lake available, then a good wash down with a hose and a run on the hose adaptor.
tedious	posted 05-27-2015 01:27 PM ET (US) Gray, your motor is not going to disintegrate if you flush for less than the allotted time. For people like me who keep their boats on a mooring, the only time the motor sees a hose is after hauling. My 2005 F200 is in salt water from May to October; it gets flushed when I haul it in the fall. My 2010 F70 is usually in the water for several 2-week periods during that interval, and it gets flushed only when I haul it. Do what's convenient - more is better, but none at all is OK too. Tim