Vinegar flush on outboard motor.

Started by ScottOz, December 09, 2018, 12:02:20 AM

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ScottOz

Hi guys,
               Has anyone done a vinegar flush on a out board to try and get rid of some corrosion and salt build up.
The plan would be to drop the leg off and put a container under the motor. Fill will some vinegar and use a bilge pump or fish tank filter pump to pump the vinegar up by connecting a bit of hose to the pipe the motors water pump goes on. Would also remove the thermostat and zinc anode in behind thermostat. Motor would not be running. Motor is a 40hp tohatsu 2 stroke. 8 years old. What are your thoughts. Would pump the vinegar for 2 hours as a minimum.
Cheers Scott.

STRIPER LOU

#1
How about using Salt Away?  Vinegar is not suppose to hurt it but not sure of some O rings and rubber gaskets although some I believe are Viton and thats pretty tough stuff.

Salt Away in addition will  leave it protected.

In the fall I mix up a batch of this stuff that is about 4 times as strong, pump it into the engine and let it sit in there for a few hours and then proceed to flush it out a few times, leaving a bit of Salt Away behind for the final flush and protection.

Last year I checked the raw water intakes and outputs on the computer, which are saltwater cooled on my 150 ficht and they were clean as a whistle. No salt residue whatsoever. I put about 400/500 hrs a season on and have been using this product for the past 5 or 6 yrs.

The kit is about $25.00 Just an alternative but I'm willing to bet there's a lot of guys here that like this product. Let us know which way you go and how it works out.

.....................Lou

oc1

#2
Vinegar will dissolve some of the corrosion, but it will also leave a surface that is primed for new corrosion to rapidly begin.  After use, you would want to neutralize the vinegar with something like baking soda to stop it's action and then coat the surface with something to slow down the new corrosion.  I wouldn't do it and would go with Lou's suggestion instead.

That Salt Away is sort of a mystery because they won't tell you what's in it.  But you can tell by the feel of it there is a lot of surfactant (soap-like) stuff to break the surface tension and make it thoroughly wet the surfaces.  It can't really make the salt chemically disappear, but it can make the salt dissolve (if it is not already dissolved) and lift it off the surfaces so it can be flushed away with the water.

I don't know what sort of residual Salt Away leaves behind but there seems to be something.  Maybe it's some sort of polymer like propylene glycol that tends to stick to surfaces.
-steve

STRIPER LOU

#3
Your correct about the surfactant properties Steve, this stuff is very slippery! I inspected the raw water intakes for the computer with a light and they were clean as could be.

Computer will overheat as corrosion builds due to restricted cooling flow and start to throw codes, or engine quits. Its common on these motors so I think this stuff is definitely doing its job.

Broadway Dom swears by it. Simple to use and once you get the kit, all that's needed is the refill when you run out. I do the whole procedure while fogging out the motor.

..................Lou

Frank

Quote from: STRIPER LOU on December 09, 2018, 12:24:52 AM
How about using Salt Away?  Vinegar is not suppose to hurt it but not sure of some O rings and rubber gaskets although some I believe are Viton and thats pretty tough stuff.

Salt Away in addition will  leave it protected.

In the fall I mix up a batch of this stuff that is about 4 times as strong, pump it into the engine and let it sit in there for a few hours and then proceed to flush it out a few times, leaving a bit of Salt Away behind for the final flush and protection.

Last year I checked the raw water intakes and outputs on the computer, which are saltwater cooled on my 150 ficht and they were clean as a whistle. No salt residue whatsoever. I put about 400/500 hrs a season on and have been using this product for the past 5 or 6 yrs.

The kit is about $25.00 Just an alternative but I'm willing to bet there's a lot of guys here that like this product. Let us know which way you go and how it works out.

.....................Lou

Listen to Lou's suggestion. He is spot on.
Frank. Retired. Life long fishing and boating fanatic.

Dominick

Leave the gun.  Take the cannolis.

There are two things I don't like about fishing.  Getting up early in the morning and boats.  The rest of it is fun.

El Pescador

#6
Quote from: Dominick on December 09, 2018, 04:24:50 PM
California Dom swears by it also.

Dominick!

BE CAREFUL with swearing, the site has an issue with that just that last week!!!!!

Dinner tonight???

Wayne
Never let the skinny guys make the sandwiches!!  NEVER!!!!

Brewcrafter

Definitely swear by Salt Away for the reasons listed; the stuff ain't cheap but neither is a blown up motor or a rusty trailer.  Been using it for years on my fishing buddies saltwater rig.  We did a full teardown of my friends Merc 125HP 2-stroke last year and all of the internals looked great.  He also equipped his trailer with a simple hose kit that goes through the backing plates of the surge drum brakes and can be connected to the Salt Away dispenser (a GHT fitting), and even the brake components, while not steller, looked FAR better than years past where replacement of the springs, retainers, adjusters etc. was virtually a winter ritual.  I think Steve's point about using vinegar or a mild acid is spot on; while it will dissolve corrosion and salt, it will not leave the now cleaned surfaces passive - they will react very quickly.

RowdyW

Quote from: Dominick on December 09, 2018, 04:24:50 PM
California Dom swears by it also.
I believe that's Broadway Dom & no swearing. ;D

Dominick

I usually go by Dom.  However, I decided to use my full name, Dominick out of respect for Broadway Dom in NYC since he joined the site ahead of me.  As far as Saltaway is concerned both NY Dom and CA Dom swear by the product.  Dominick
Leave the gun.  Take the cannolis.

There are two things I don't like about fishing.  Getting up early in the morning and boats.  The rest of it is fun.

ScottOz

Thanks for your advice gentlemen. You have convinced me to get some salt away. I used to use macs outboard flush additive for the first couple of years and it did seem to leave a coating of sorts. The water pump housing looks great but behind the thermostat looks ugly. Thermostat works still. Have always flushed for 10 mins on this motor. When using salt away for the first time can you do something similar to what I suggested to get rid of build up? I am putting in a new anode behind the thermostat as well.
Cheers Scott

STRIPER LOU

Possibly some good manual cleaning of that area before the anode is replaced. In addition I always spray the motor/powerhead down at the end of the season with CRC HD Corrosion Inhibitor.

Works better than most and does a great job at keeping things looking like new. Checked the auction site and the Salt Away kit price has gone up since I purchased mine and is about $40. with free shipping but not sure to your area.

I believe mine was purchased at West Marine for $25 or so on sale.

Hope it will give you the results your looking for, I'm happy with it!  ..  Lou

ScottOz

I have a set of muff with a injector venturi intake thing from the macs additive I used to use. Not sure if it mixes at the same rate as salta way but hope it's close enough. Saltaway is 43$ a litre here in Australia. Yes will clean the thermostat area up as best as I can. Maybe it is bad because of the dissimilar metals of the thermostat.