flushing engine

OtterGreen · #1 (**permalink**) 07-13-2011

how many of you flush the engine after EVERY run. i know this is good procedure for keeping her running tip top, but an outboard on a sailboat in a slip makes it a little impractical in my eyes. also, how many of you sarve the engine of fuel vs just killing it ?

rockDAWG · #2 (**permalink**) 07-13-2011

It really depends on how often you use your engine. IF you are at the dock and use the engine every day, I would not flush the engine. If it is a trailer boat, I would flush the engine every time when I get home.

As for cutting gas to empty the gas in the carb, I only do it at the end of the season for winter storage.

But that is just me. It serves me well in the past.

ftldiver · #3 (**permalink**) 07-13-2011

I'm a trailer sailor, so its every darn time* if I won't use the boat for over 24 hours.

and I do run the gas out of the engine after every trip. saves headaches later.

some engines have a top (high water) access for flushing, and no need to start the engine. (yamies, and some merc's)

Minnewaska · #4 (**permalink**) 07-13-2011

19hp tohatsu on dinghy. Generally use stabilizer in the fuel year round and only run FW before winter commissioning. Never starve fuel for shut down, it wastes fuel. Probably runs about once per week. No issues. In fact, I pulled the zincs this past winter; the inside and the zincs themselves looked nearly new. Engine is 6 years old.

Quickstep192 · #5 (**permalink**) 07-13-2011

My motor is in a well and sits in the water all the time, so no opportunity to flush.... wish I could.

I disconnect from the fuel supply and let the motor run itself out of the gas that remains in the carburetor float bowl. Before I did this, I would have stalling problems on subsequent starts which were only cured by disassembling the carburetor and cleaning it. Once I started letting it run out of gas, this problem went away.

dabnis · #6 (**permalink**) 07-13-2011

Another related thread on this topic:

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/gear-m...d-feature.html

Dabnis

jjablonowski · #7 (**permalink**) 07-14-2011

Wish I could remember the magazine, but I recall an article a few years back in which the author described keeping a floating garbage can filled with fresh water tied to his mooring. Upon returning after a sail, he'd pull the tub next to the transom, lower the outboard into it and run the engine for a minute or so. Then lift the engine out and cover the tub.

Sounds extreme to me, but then again I'm an inboard guy, so whaddu I know?