Without going into to much unnecessary detail, I have swapped motors on my boat and wish to reconnect the water pressure gauge that was installed for the previous motor. The prior motor had a plug that I removed that allowed the brass fitting to be installed for the gauge. The new motor, 1990 88 SPL does not have such a plug or else I haven't located it. Drilling and tapping the water jacket is not an option as this type thing normally leads to a mess if I am involved. The motor has a "pee" hole that appears to be the same thread as I have not removed it to verify. I started to "T" the line but figured this would not give me anything close the the correct pressure as the water should have a tendency to follow the path of least resistance and flow out the open line for the "pee" hole.
My question is since the motor is mounted on a pontoon where the stream cannot be seen easily can the pee hole tube simply be disconnected and the water pressure tube be connected? The first thing that comes to mind would be freezing weather, which if I remember to disconnect during the winter months to allow to drain it should be okay. The second thing does the pee tube allow any cooling effect for the engine? I know that there were engines made without the "pee" tube and the majority of the water exists elsewhere anyhow. I don't care about a precise reading but want to know that the water pump is pump water.
My question is since the motor is mounted on a pontoon where the stream cannot be seen easily can the pee hole tube simply be disconnected and the water pressure tube be connected? The first thing that comes to mind would be freezing weather, which if I remember to disconnect during the winter months to allow to drain it should be okay. The second thing does the pee tube allow any cooling effect for the engine? I know that there were engines made without the "pee" tube and the majority of the water exists elsewhere anyhow. I don't care about a precise reading but want to know that the water pump is pump water.
