3.0 LX manifold and elbow life expectancy/inspection frequency?

[smassey22180]

My new project boat is running great and I want to keep it that way. I spent the past few months checking everything out and one of the last unknown areas is the manifold and elbow. Are these something that should be removed for inspection? I believe mine are original from 1995. The boat has low hours and minimal salt water use. The rubber joints were replaced a year or so ago.

I bought the boat with a bad gimbal bearing/bellows and timing cover leak. While everything was apart I replaced all the rubber parts and inspected everything else. I then rebuilt the carb. I am now very confident in the engine/outdrive and I just want to know what is best for keeping up with the exhaust. A surprise hydro lock does not sound fun.

Thanks for a great forum. We have had a great season of boating because of this place.

 

[Bondo]

Re: 3.0 LX manifold and elbow life expectancy/inspection frequency?

My new project boat is running great and I want to keep it that way. I spent the past few months checking everything out and one of the last unknown areas is the manifold and elbow. Are these something that should be removed for inspection? I believe mine are original from 1995. The boat has low hours and minimal salt water use. The rubber joints were replaced a year or so ago.

I bought the boat with a bad gimbal bearing/bellows and timing cover leak. While everything was apart I replaced all the rubber parts and inspected everything else. I then rebuilt the carb. I am now very confident in the engine/outdrive and I just want to know what is best for keeping up with the exhaust. A surprise hydro lock does not sound fun.

Thanks for a great forum. We have had a great season of boating because of this place.

Ayuh,... For boats that live in the brine, 5 to 8 years is the expected life of the riser,...

In Sweetwater, they'll last Forever,... or til Frozen,...

 

[smassey22180]

Re: 3.0 LX manifold and elbow life expectancy/inspection frequency?

Does it ever make sense to remove the elbow for inspection? That would also show me a sample of the manifold. For the cost of a gasket I could have piece of mind. I need to check my shutter anyway so I could do that at the same time.

thanks

 

[hivoltg]

Re: 3.0 LX manifold and elbow life expectancy/inspection frequency?

I recommend opening them up for inspection. The gaskets are cheap and just make it part of your annual or biannual maintenance schedule.

There will be some crud in them. There will also be crud in the manifolds passages and its all going to fall down into the manifolds as you clean em. I use a dremel tool to clean out the passages with a small engraving tip. It works great and gets all that freshwater calcium and other stuff right off the metal. A long thin screw driver works good also to reach down in there. All the crud that falls down into the manifold can somewhat be flushed out with removing your hoses to the manifolds and letting it come out that way. Its good to clean the hose passages too. They get crud in them also.

The three important places to clean are the water passages at the manifold and riser joint where the gasket goes. The exhaust riser outlet where the exhaust boot clamps on. Every bit of crud seems to get stuck there, and the threaded hose inlets on the manifold.

 

[Bondo]

Re: 3.0 LX manifold and elbow life expectancy/inspection frequency?

Does it ever make sense to remove the elbow for inspection? That would also show me a sample of the manifold. For the cost of a gasket I could have piece of mind. I need to check my shutter anyway so I could do that at the same time.

thanks

Ayuh,.... Are you in Saltwater,..?? or Freshwater,..??

Cleanin' out any crud in the water passages is cool,...
But it's the Gasket Surfaces, that are the area of Concern, in estimatin' their life expectancy,...

A Flat File is a good way to Clean 'em, 'n keep 'em Flat,....

 

[smassey22180]

Re: 3.0 LX manifold and elbow life expectancy/inspection frequency?

I am pretty sure it is 95% freshwater just based on how the 18 year old outdrive looks. The boat lives on a trailer. But as a 3rd owner you never know. I will run it the rest of the season and then pull the elbow and covers for inspection this winter. Thanks again.