What is this disconnected hose on the Mercruiser 3.0?

[crunk]

I bought a 2006 Tahoe Q4 with the 135 hp Mercuriser 3.0 and there is a disconnected hose that I can't figure out what it is.

What is the hose for and what is the best way to reconnect it?

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[alldodge]

That is your blower motor hose and it draws air into the engine compartment. The top end of the hose goes to your side or stern vent. The hose in most cases is not clamped on, its just push inside the hole a bit. The hose is just like the cheap dryer vent hose and comes in a 50 foot length and smaller. Looks to be 3 inch ID.

 

[crunk]

That is your blower motor hose and it draws air into the engine compartment. The top end of the hose goes to your side or stern vent. The hose in most cases is not clamped on, its just push inside the hole a bit. The hose is just like the cheap dryer vent hose and comes in a 50 foot length and smaller. Looks to be 3 inch ID.

Thanks AllDodge. So is it okay to be disconnected like that? Should I tape it back or replace it?

 

[alldodge]

Thanks AllDodge. So is it okay to be disconnected like that? Should I tape it back or replace it?

Yes reconnect it together, or better yet replace the hose. The blower should be run every time before you try to start the motor. If there are any gas fumes down next to the starter or other items which can cause a spark, the next thing you will feel is part of the boat ripping though you and your friends as the boat blows up.

Always run the blow before starting to clear out any fumes that might be there. It may never happen but it only takes once. If you refuel at a marina, run it even longer before starting

 

[crunk]

Yes reconnect it together, or better yet replace the hose. The blower should be run every time before you try to start the motor. If there are any gas fumes down next to the starter or other items which can cause a spark, the next thing you will feel is part of the boat ripping though you and your friends as the boat blows up.

Always run the blow before starting to clear out any fumes that might be there. It may never happen but it only takes once. If you refuel at a marina, run it even longer before starting

Thanks for the help. I have ran it every time but I guess it wasn't doing much considering it wasn't actually blowing air below the motor. I'll replace it with a plastic hose. I'm guessing the battery to the right of it ripped the hose when the PO replaced it. Not much room over there!

Any advice on cleaning the engine compartment? A few friends said fill the compartment with water + dawn, drive around with it on the trailer, and then remove the drain plug. That sounds reasonable but am not sure how much water I should add.

 

[alldodge]

Won't hurt, but maybe fill with some water and soap, 409 or other and break out the scrub brushes. Could also take it up to the car wash and use the power washer, just keep it away from the carb and motor the best you can

 

[harleyman1975]

I would not do that. You will be putting stress on the trailer and the hull unless you are talking 10 gallons of water or less. Just buy some purple cleaner and spray an area and lightly scrub with a toilet brush then rinse everything when done.

 

[Alumarine]

If it is the blower hose it extracts air/fumes from the bilge to outside the boat.
Is that white thing an inline blower?

When it's on you should feel air coming out the exhaust vent.

There should also be a tube to allow air to come in while under way.

 

[crunk]

Thanks everyone. It's definitely the blower hose. The white thing is the inline blower. All of the tubing will need to be replaced as it's ripped right below the inline blower and above it so it isn't actually blowing out.

 

[bruceb58]

You can put water in the bilge as long as you don't get it too high. You could put many hundreds of pounds of water in the bilge and it wouldn't hurt anything! A couple 200 hundred pound friends sitting in the back seat of the boat while its on the trailer will be far less than the amount of water you will be putting in the bilge.

 

[stonyloam]

Any advice on cleaning the engine compartment? A few friends said fill the compartment with water + dawn, drive around with it on the trailer, and then remove the drain plug. That sounds reasonable but am not sure how much water I should add.

That is just crazy LOL! Like the Dodgeman says, take it to the car wash, open the bilge plug, use the power sprayer with soap then rinse with water. When you get home leve the engine cover open to dry it out.