Manifold is clogged

[kx250frider617]

My manifold is clogged. I checked the water input at the manifolds by removing the water hose at the manifold and starting the engine for a second, both sides are equal. I run in salt but flush the engine rigorously. Im thinking that is is rust scale that clogged one of them up. I looked at the prices and they are a pretty penny. Would it be possible to get them acid washed or something? The boat is a 2001 so I have a Mercruiser 350 MPI.

[NICKYPOO]

If you don't flush your engine within 10 or so minutes of pulling it off the water, the salt is going to start drying. Its just going to eat your motor from the inside out eventually.

You can have them cleaned but, that ain't cheap either. Check out some local engine builders and see what they charge.

[TeamAllen]

I use my Jet Skis in the ocean and use a product called Salt Away when I flush with fresh water.
http://www.saltawayproducts.com

[laserfish]

Don't know where you are, but my son in law lives in the NE and had to have the radiators for their heat flushed out. Might check with a company that does that type of work. They looked and performed brand new when they got them back. An auto radiator shop might be able to do the same thing.

[boatwakes]

Replace your exhaust manifolds and risers every 3-5 years when used in salt water or you'll end up spending about $10-12k on a new motor. Scrape the paint away at the joint between the exhaust manifold and riser or the gasket won't seat correctly and you'll get sea water seeping into the exhaust ports. DO NOT hot tank manifolds and risers unless you want to replace your engine, just get new ones. Cast iron doesn't repair itself and the oxidation and deterioration after 12 years can be mind blowing. Just replace them correctly and forget it.

[TeamAllen]

I think I would convert to a closed loop cooling system, if I was going to use it in Salt Water?

[kx250frider617]

The boat is not really worth investing in closed cooling. Are there manifold kits they sell? I saw that OEM ones are $1k and I saw some other brands for $400

[WakerideN]

I think I would convert to a closed loop cooling system, if I was going to use it in Salt Water?

x2

[TeamAllen]

This place sells both the fresh water (closed loop) kits and risers. I guess it's not recommended to install a new closed loop system on an older engine that has been in the salt water. Scale could clog the internal passages of the heat exchanger then your engine could overheat and die?
http://www.oceaneastmarine.com/

[boatwakes]

This place sells both the fresh water (closed loop) kits and risers. I guess it's not recommended to install a new closed loop system on an older engine that has been in the salt water. Scale could clog the internal passages of the heat exchanger then your engine could overheat and die?
http://www.oceaneastmarine.com/

I agree wholeheartedly, it's just not worth it on an older raw salt water boat. The water passages in the cylinder head and near the spark plug holes are way more deteriorated than fresh water and closed loop engines as well as the head bolt threads in the block. Run it till it blows up but it'll last longer with new manifolds and risers.

[kx250frider617]

That is the perfect website I was looking for. Thank you


We might actually be getting rid of the boat in the near future so I might just fix one side. Hopefully, a salt series Axis a22 could be sitting on the side of the house. It just sucks, It is very hard to find a Used boat with the closed cooling package and galvanized trailer.

[kx250frider617]

GREAT news!!!! Just took off both manifolds. The bolts came out perfectly. I was scared they would be rusted. The manifolds had a good amount of rust on the outside but the block and threads were almost perfect. I check the manifolds and they had now leaks into the exhaust ports. Im going to replace both sides. However, Once I get everything together, is there a solution I can put into my salt-away hose fixture to help break down the rust scale that may be in the whole cooling system? Salt away may work but Im looking for some industrial grade metal cleaner. I just want to clean the system out the best I can.

Some thing like this?
http://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/...FUQ6Qgoduy8AdQ

Would it be safe to remove the thermostat, and fill the block with this stuff to let it clean then flush it out with the motor started?

[Ruger761]

Just as something to think about, you might look at ceramic coating the manifolds to give them a longer life with the salt. Its a pretty cheap coating. Plus its smoother so it should keep some of the salt from sticking to the castings as bad.