Quagga and Zebra mussels inspection on mercruiser out drive.

[Ripple59]

Has anyone else had inspection personnel run 140 degree water through your water out drive intake with muffs to flush the motor for Quagga mussels? I let someone do this while I ran the motor for like 5 minutes and my lower unit was super hot. Any feedback on this would be appreciated.

 

[Scott06]

Has anyone else had inspection personnel run 140 degree water through your water out drive intake with muffs to flush the motor for Quagga mussels? I let someone do this while I ran the motor for like 5 minutes and my lower unit was super hot. Any feedback on this would be appreciated.

Yeah the water running through the drive cools it. If you run really hot water through it not only will the drive get hot but the same hot water wont cool the engine or exhaust very well. i understand what they are trying to do with invasive species but i would not let them do this to my engine

 

[tpenfield]

Interesting . . . 140 degree water would not offer much, if any, cooling to the engine or exhaust. A minute or 2 might be fine, but 5 minutes seems like it might be too much.

Of course, the engine is under no load to speak of, so it does not generate much heat, just running on the muffs.

 

[Ripple59]

Yeah the water running through the drive cools it. If you run really hot water through it not only will the drive get hot but the same hot water wont cool the engine or exhaust very well. i understand what they are trying to do with invasive species but i would not let them do this to my engine

I watched the engine temp the whole time and it was fine but I was worried about the drive and my impeller.

 

[Ripple59]

Interesting . . . 140 degree water would not offer much, if any, cooling to the engine or exhaust. A minute or 2 might be fine, but 5 minutes seems like it might be too much.

Of course, the engine is under no load to speak of, so it does not generate much heat, just running on the muffs.

I’m concerned about the lower unit and the impeller. Although I did use the boat afterwards and it did okay. But I’m thinking it just cut the life of the impeller in half which is normally getting cool water before it goes into the engine. Probably gonna change it.

 

[Scott06]

I watched the engine temp the whole time and it was fine but I was worried about the drive and my impeller.

The drives tend to get fairly hot when in use. Next time you are on a good long on plane run stop and put your hand on the upper or use an IR thermometer. I would bet the upper is around 180-200 F . I guess this is why they make drive showers

 

[nola mike]

I think you'd be fine. Imo the lower unit/impeller would be the biggest concerns also, but unlikely to an issue. Water is lubrication for the impeller, and you'd have to get the lower unit pretty hot to do damage. If engine doesn't overheat is be fine with it. Rubber bits are most susceptible to damage, and 140 if plenty cool to prevent that. Is it hot water to cook any mussels?

 

[Ripple59]

The drives tend to get fairly hot when in use. Next time you are on a good long on plane run stop and put your hand on the upper or use an IR thermometer. I would bet the upper is around 180-200 F . I guess this is why they make drive showers

That does make me feel better. So it doesn’t sound like 140 degrees is a lot to worry about. More concerned about the impeller though because it alway gets cool water initially. I’ll probably change it or at least check for warping.

 

[Ripple59]

I think you'd be fine. Imo the lower unit/impeller would be the biggest concerns also, but unlikely to an issue. Water is lubrication for the impeller, and you'd have to get the lower unit pretty hot to do damage. If engine doesn't overheat is be fine with it. Rubber bits are most susceptible to damage, and 140 if plenty cool to prevent that. Is it hot water to cook any mussels?

Yes. I think they were wanting something to do though because I made it clear to them that the boat had been dry for 5 years. The engine never got too hot. I was watching the gauge the whole time but I wasn’t thinking about the out drive and impeller til afterwards when I went to touch the lower unit and it was too hot to touch. I let it cool pretty good before I put it in the cold lake water.

 

[Ripple59]

Thank you everyone for your responses! Really appreciate the feedback.

 

[nola mike]

I meant that the water doesn't serve to cool the impeller, the lubrication it provides prevents friction with the housing, which is what causes damage. This would be the least of my concerns. That said, sounds like you're due for a change anyway

 

[Ripple59]

I meant that the water doesn't serve to cool the impeller, the lubrication it provides prevents friction with the housing, which is what causes damage. This would be the least of my concerns. That said, sounds like you're due for a change anyway

Actually I just put in a new impeller and water pump housing. First time using it which is why I got a little frustrated exposing it to something like this right off the bat. LOL.

 

[Alumarine]

I've had this done a few times in the last few years.
This year I inspected my impeller and it still looked and felt like new.

 

[Ripple59]

I meant that the water doesn't serve to cool the impeller, the lubrication it provides prevents friction with the housing, which is what causes damage. This would be the least of my concerns. That said, sounds like you're due for a change anyway

I've had this done a few times in the last few years.
This year I inspected my impeller and it still looked and felt like new.

Thank you for that. I had just put a new one in before this. It’s probably fine.

 

[JASinIL2006]

I wouldn't worry one bit. That water is only 20 degrees or so hotter than what your hot water tap delivers. That's not going to harm any rubber bits.

 

[Ripple59]

I wouldn't worry one bit. That water is only 20 degrees or so hotter than what your hot water tap delivers. That's not going to harm any rubber bits.

Thank you for that. I guess I was getting a little paranoid. I have a 1974 22 foot Searay with all original equipment and I've kept it running by being meticulously careful. I was caught off guard a little since I've never put hot water in the intakes. The truth is I took it out on the water after that and it ran totally normal.