Thermostat Clean-Out.-

[Sea Rider]

When motor runs in salt water,should you clean your thermostat from time to time or not ? Many won't as assume that a long flushing with fresh water after returning to Terra Firme will keep it completely clean. Wrong. This thermostat was last cleaned to perfection 100 hour ago, was removed today as part of the next 100 hour service which is done regularly through the year. This motor is flushed with fresh water on muffs with high water pressure for minimum 5 minutes with motor geared running at 2 K revs every time its used.



The motor was not overheating while running strong at full hammer down, as can't possible cool well as when brand new decided to do a thorough cleaning. Thermo was soaked for 6 hours in pure vinegar, then brushed off with a hard bristle toothbrush and toothpaste, the outside finish was done with a Dremel tool and small metal brushes. All 3 mentioned products have done their homework pretty well....



This thermo is the original factory delivered with motor, has clocked 950 run hours so far, motor is cooling superb as all water passages were immaculate cleaned to perfection many moons back. How many of you guys clean their OB's thermos on a regular basis ?

Happy Boating

 

[racerone]

What motor ??

 

[Grub54891]

Would it be less time consuming to simply put a new one in VS cleaning?

 

[Sea Rider]

Doesn't matter which motor it is, all have thermostats. Any motor running in salt water will start to collect salt layers, crusts on thermo and all water passages. Doesn't matter for how long the motor is flushed with fresh water after use as the pics prove otherwise.

If the thermo fails could have a motor overheat and you don't want that to happen when boating to far away distances where help is 0. You could put in a new one, for me was fun to clean it out to manufacturer condition.

Happy Boating

 

[racerone]

I guess it was not a busy day where you are.----Very nice job cleaning the thermostat.----You get first prize ribbon from me.

 

[Sea Rider]

I guess it was not a busy day where you are.----Very nice job cleaning the thermostat.----You get first prize ribbon from me.

Thanks Racerone, when you are retired you have tons of spare hours to invest them well on your beloved motor LOL!!

Happy Boating

 

[Lou C]

I wind up changing my inboard thermostats about every 2-3 seasons and interestingly they don't look bad at all, but usually they get a grain of sand or a flake of rust caught between the seat of the stat and the stat itself and that keeps them from closing all the way, and this results in cool running, like 100-120* unless you are running on plane, instead of normal 160. So at that point I usually just put in a new one. If I ever get a new or reman engine, I'm going with closed cooling to get away from this nuisance!

 

[dingbat]

Back in my I/O days the thermostats would look like that if I let the boat sit for any length of time.

Can't remember the last time I checked the thermostat on my outboard.

A copper thermostat mounted in a iron (Fe) engine block (dissimilar metals) in the presence of an electrolyte (salt water) is a sure fire way to generate fur balls over time.

My outboard uses stainless steel thermostats mounted in an aluminum housing, in a cooling system that is self draining, ie. no electrolyte present to initiate the ion exchange.

 

[Bondo]

Doesn't matter which motor it is, all have thermostats. Any motor running in salt water will start to collect salt layers, crusts on thermo and all water passages. Doesn't matter for how long the motor is flushed with fresh water after use as the pics prove otherwise.

Ayuh,....... I'm lookin' forward to My big move, from the sweetwater seas, lake ontario, to the coast of maine, penobscot bay,.....

I'm very Sure it's gonna be a learnin' experience, goin' from the softest water on the planet, into the brine,.....

 

[Lou C]

Ayuh,....... I'm lookin' forward to My big move, from the sweetwater seas, lake ontario, to the coast of maine, penobscot bay,.....

I'm very Sure it's gonna be a learnin' experience, goin' from the softest water on the planet, into the brine,.....

Yep that's for sure, it won't be too bad if you are trailering though, but forget about keeping exhaust manifolds and elbows for like 10+ years...Boat US once put out a chart...listing about how long you get in salt water before virtually 100% probablility of failure....its about 8 years...so we always did ours here at 5-7 or so....'bout 750 in parts for the good stuff...no way around it unless you start with a new or reman engine....then do full closed cooling...and now....only the elbows have to be done...

Other than that, pulling drives once a season....anodes if left in the water....the bad part of leaving it in the water....is your drives will never look good after that....mine looks rough....but shifts perfect....32 years old so I ain't complaining...this OMC does not owe me red cent.....

 

[Sea Rider]

The exterior cosmetic looking is relative, what matters is how well the internal parts are doing their homework right. Hey Dingbat, why don't you pull your motor's thermostat and check the condtion, post a pic if possible to compare to mine. We all can learn what to expect about what's going on with thermos constantly dealing with salt water..

Happy Boating