5.7L Fresh water flush. How many gallons?

[bkowal]

Goal: fresh water flush the engine on trailer, in absence of fresh water source. Possible solution: carry several 5 gallon Gerry cans of water in my vehicle. Use a portable pump, powered by 12V DC cigarette power, to move water from Gerry cans to ear-muffs on intake ports of Bravo 3. The Stupid Factor: how many gallons of water are necessary for a complete flush? During the winterization, when connected to a garden hose, the amount of water required did not SEEM to be excessive. Although it did take around ten minutes. So, is this a workable solution to flushing the engine in the absence of a hose hookup to a fresh water spigot? Or am I delusional? Thanks for any suggestions, or a "slap upside the head".

 

[Bondo]

Re: 5.7L Fresh water flush. How many gallons?

Goal: fresh water flush the engine on trailer, in absence of fresh water source. Possible solution: carry several 5 gallon Gerry cans of water in my vehicle. Use a portable pump, powered by 12V DC cigarette power, to move water from Gerry cans to ear-muffs on intake ports of Bravo 3. The Stupid Factor: how many gallons of water are necessary for a complete flush? During the winterization, when connected to a garden hose, the amount of water required did not SEEM to be excessive. Although it did take around ten minutes. So, is this a workable solution to flushing the engine in the absence of a hose hookup to a fresh water spigot? Or am I delusional? Thanks for any suggestions, or a "slap upside the head".

Ayuh,.... I see the Stupid Factor in that equation being you expect a 12v pump to supply the water to muffs....

"T" off the incoming waterline, 'n feed the impeller from the jerrycan directly maybe...

 

[bkowal]

Re: 5.7L Fresh water flush. How many gallons?

Ayuh,.... I see the Stupid Factor in that equation being you expect a 12v pump to supply the water to muffs....

"T" off the incoming waterline, 'n feed the impeller from the jerrycan directly maybe...

Thanks for the quick reply on a Friday morning. I do not understand your reply, however. [1] "T" off the incoming waterline. Does this mean that I add a "T" hose fitting to one end of my "garden" hose. As in this image: http://www.fastfittings.com/plastic-pi-union-tee

[2] Feed the impeller from the jerrycan directly. The impeller you are referring to is the one on the engine itself? Or not? Does this mean that I should NOT use the ear muffs on the Bravo 3 intake, and try to feed water directly to the engine.

[3] Stupid Factor: yeah, I'm guilty. I thought that there was some suction from the B3 intake ports which operated when engine was on, and that intake suction, combined with the 12V pump would be sufficient to provide enough incoming water-pressure. This is wrong-headed, is that right?

[4] Has anyone tried this before, this kind of workaround to conveniently flush the engine on the trailer in absence of fresh water supply. If I can't do this, I'll have to work out a deal with a local gas station where I pull in my trailered boat after each haul, and pay them for the fresh water.

Thanks for being so attentive to my questions.

Bruce

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: 5.7L Fresh water flush. How many gallons?

Im thinkn another obstacle to overcome is to have/keep the engine hot enough so the thermostat stays open. Other wise it wont circulate thru the block. By the time you get it on the trailer, clear the ramp, and hook up your hoses. Might the stadt not close and take you a minute or three run time to get hot enough to open again?

 

[bkowal]

Re: 5.7L Fresh water flush. How many gallons?

Im thinkn another obstacle to overcome is to have/keep the engine hot enough so the thermostat stays open. Other wise it wont circulate thru the block. By the time you get it on the trailer, clear the ramp, and hook up your hoses. Might the stadt not close and take you a minute or three run time to get hot enough to open again?

Thanks for the headsup. I need to think about this. Bruce. US Navy QM2, USS Tanner [AGS-15], USS Bolster [ARS39]. 1966 - 1970. Vietnam

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: 5.7L Fresh water flush. How many gallons?

Thanks for the headsup. I need to think about this. Bruce. US Navy QM2, USS Tanner [AGS-15], USS Bolster [ARS39]. 1966 - 1970. Vietnam

Welcome Skipper ! Nice to sea another NAVY Vet on line. I have tested stadts by putting em in a pan of boiling water, and have noticed they waste no time in closing when I pull em out of the water.

 

[Bondo]

Re: 5.7L Fresh water flush. How many gallons?

Thanks for the quick reply on a Friday morning. I do not understand your reply, however. [1] "T" off the incoming waterline. Does this mean that I add a "T" hose fitting to one end of my "garden" hose. As in this image: http://www.fastfittings.com/plastic-pi-union-tee

[2] Feed the impeller from the jerrycan directly. The impeller you are referring to is the one on the engine itself? Or not? Does this mean that I should NOT use the ear muffs on the Bravo 3 intake, and try to feed water directly to the engine.

[3] Stupid Factor: yeah, I'm guilty. I thought that there was some suction from the B3 intake ports which operated when engine was on, and that intake suction, combined with the 12V pump would be sufficient to provide enough incoming water-pressure. This is wrong-headed, is that right?

[4] Has anyone tried this before, this kind of workaround to conveniently flush the engine on the trailer in absence of fresh water supply. If I can't do this, I'll have to work out a deal with a local gas station where I pull in my trailered boat after each haul, and pay them for the fresh water.

Thanks for being so attentive to my questions.

Bruce

Ayuh,.... Yer impeller is located on the motor,...
Lower starboardside...
It's a "Flooded inlet" pump that really don't like to Suck....

You could T off somewhere along the way from the transom to the pump inlet to feed it that way,...
Ya wanta add the water to the system from above the pump if yer using gravity feed..
You'd have to Up-end the can into the fitting somehow, with whatever fittings you find...

If I can't do this, I'll have to work out a deal with a local gas station where I pull in my trailered boat after each haul, and pay them for the fresh water.

Ayuh,... Wash down the trailer while yer at it,...
That's probably the Best answer...

 

[dubs283]

Re: 5.7L Fresh water flush. How many gallons?

Im thinkn another obstacle to overcome is to have/keep the engine hot enough so the thermostat stays open. Other wise it wont circulate thru the block. By the time you get it on the trailer, clear the ramp, and hook up your hoses. Might the stadt not close and take you a minute or three run time to get hot enough to open again?

drain the block/manifolds of salt water

when fresh water enters the system it will fill the block with fresh water and he will have at least a very diluted solution of salt water present before the t-stat opens to evacuate "hot" engine water

i guess im at a loss as to why you have no fresh water source?? is it not within a reasonable distance to travel home and flush?? over six hours drive??

 

[bkowal]

Re: 5.7L Fresh water flush. How many gallons?

drain the block/manifolds of salt water

when fresh water enters the system it will fill the block with fresh water and he will have at least a very diluted solution of salt water present before the t-stat opens to evacuate "hot" engine water

i guess im at a loss as to why you have no fresh water source?? is it not within a reasonable distance to travel home and flush?? over six hours drive??

I rent a house, with a shared, narrow driveway. I store the trailered boat in a self-storage facility. The plan is to drive to the launch ramp, go boating and return to self-storage - - which does not provide 30 minutes or so of fresh water.

What would the effect be of simply draining the salt water using drain plugs [there are several], and then loosening the hose clamps, disconnect hose from circulating pump and drain. Then install the drain plugs and tighten hose clamps. That's the advice Mercruiser gives to drain the engine. To be sure, there would be some salt in the remaining moisture. But would I have achieved a 90% or greater scrubbing of the salt.

Or should I likewise continue the process and then add fresh water? Mercury mentions "Remove thermostat housing or hose and fill with coolant [fresh water in this case] until block and head are full. If thermostat housing was removed, reinstall and tighten cover bolts securely. Remove water hose from exhaust manifold and fill manifold with coolant [fresh water]. Reinstall hose and tighten clamp securely"

Now, many boaters in coastal waters never flush the engine until the end of the season. I'm looking for an edge in preventive maintenance.

Appreciate any advice or feedback. Thanks.

W

 

[dubs283]

Re: 5.7L Fresh water flush. How many gallons?

thats a lot of work every time you go boating - plus your still gonna have salt in the block/manifolds even if you drain the water

have you thought of freshwater boating instead or converting to a closed cooling system??