salt build up behind thermostat.

[brudnlaw65]

2008 f250 172 hours.bought a used 2400 tournament apparently was never flushed over heating on starboard side. took thermostat out and solid salt blocking port with no water flow any ideas?please help.

Edited May 27, 2020 by brudnlaw65
add pic

[SouthernWake]

With the thermostat out pick out all you can. Then out in a bucket/tub and run with a heavy salt away or descaling mixture and see if that softens/opens it up more.

if that doesn’t work you may have to open up the water jackets and clean them out by hand.

new thermostats after either.

[SCFD rtrd.]

Try using white vinegar to dissolve salt. Careful, it may dull paint if left to dry.  Just rinse any run-off with garden hose.

[Wanaflatsfish]

go to a feed store and get a large horse watering plastic trough...run the engine on muffs with salt away several times...then...in the horse watering station...

fill it with water and a gallon of salt away and let it idle for a while....so it gets hot and opens the thermostats and runs for a while.....watch the pee stream to insure tt doesn't over heat....you will feel it.....

Note, the through has to be deep enough to cover the entire lower unit, not just the intake port to allow it to create a good pee stream.

I run my 1996 yamaha 115 two smoker every week in fresh water horse drinking station....keeps the gas fresh and no build up in the carbs.

 

[brudnlaw65]

Thank you for the advice.fixed the problem with a tub of water and CLR submerged the lower unit and run off and on for about 3 hours....flushed out about qt of salt/shell mix replaced with new thermostats all seems well.

[polliwog]

Good that it is ok, I will never understand why anyone with an outboard used in salt water doesn't flush the engine. Any boat kept in the water at a slip needs to be hooked up to a hose p and run for 10 minutes.  If you are trailering run the motor on muffs. I have one in the water and one on a trailer, it's simple to do while you clean up the boat.

[LBass]

How often should you run salt away through the motor?  

[Wanaflatsfish]

11 hours ago, LBass said:

How often should you run salt away through the motor?  

every trip if it's on the muffs....

as mentioned above.....I use a large horse water station and submerge my entire lower unit in the fresh water from the house.

I will sometimes throw in a full gallon of salt away..it bubbles up and I recirc the water by keeping the pee stream in the trough....

the first time I did this I found good bit of sand and crud in the bottom of the trough....now, I just run the motor for 15-20 min (I add fresh water as it gets hot)....while I"m fiddling with the skiff on the trailer.

DC

 

[LBass]

12 hours ago, Wanaflatsfish said:

every trip if it's on the muffs....

as mentioned above.....I use a large horse water station and submerge my entire lower unit in the fresh water from the house.

I will sometimes throw in a full gallon of salt away..it bubbles up and I recirc the water by keeping the pee stream in the trough....

the first time I did this I found good bit of sand and crud in the bottom of the trough....now, I just run the motor for 15-20 min (I add fresh water as it gets hot)....while I"m fiddling with the skiff on the trailer.

DC

 

Thanks! Keep mine on a lift...need to figure it out.  Picking up the boat this week...