There are many things that can go wrong with an outboard motor or engine. Most of the times, people just take care of the issues that they can see such as washing the motor when it catches dirt. But sometimes, greater damage occurs on the inside of the motor. One potential threat is caused by the accumulation of dirt, sand, and mud in the engine. Any other tiny object that can squeeze into the motor can also cause problems. The solution for dirt and sediments is simple, though; just flush the motor.

How Do You Know The Engine Needs Flushing?

There are different signs that may point to an engine flush. One is corrosion on the interior of the motor. If you have been sailing on saltwater, the water may find its way into the engine. And if flushing is not done regularly, the water will evaporate and salt will crystallize on the interior of the engine; the effects of salt is corrosion.

Buildup of salt in the interior chambers of the motor may also hinder water flow, which may lead to an overheating motor.

How Do You Flush The Motor?

Fortunately, flushing the motor is an easy task that will take only a few of your minutes. You can flush the motor using the flush muff method, which requires the use of flush muffs and a garden hose. Flush muffs are the rubber cups that are fitted over the intake ports on the gear case. If you do not have the muffs, you can buy them at a marine store near you.

To begin, place the outboard in a vertical position and remove its propeller. Then connect your garden hose to one of the flush muffs and place the flush muff over the intake port on the engine. Make sure the muff has completely covered the inlet. If there are additional inlet ports in your engine, seal them with duct tape to avoid overheating.

Turn the water running through the hose on; do it slowly until you are able to see some of the water leaking from the muff section. Start the engine and set it to fast idle. Then observe the pilot tube; water should be coming out of the tube, which is located at the lower rear of the casing. To fill the water passages, it may take something like thirty seconds. After ten to fifteen minutes, turn off the engine followed by the faucet.