Flushing My 240 Sundancer cooling system

[ankrummg]

Not to rain on your parade but my MarineMax recommended not getting it because it doesn't flush the outdrive it only flushes the engine.

Just to check, you know the Perko requires the engine to be running, correct?

I flush mine with the Perko just before I leave the boat in the slip where they pull it out with the forklift. I also add Salt Terminator (Salt Away) via the garden hose mixer.

Esteban

Wow! Lots of divergent points of view and opinion which is nice. I checked with my Marine Max dealer and a few other service type places and they specifically stated that the PERKO kit that I had installed DOES fulsh the outdrives. As for the engine needing to be running... I will have to get back to you on that. I just spoke to one guy at Marine Max and he wasn't exactly sure if running would pull sea water in as well. but he is checking on it with the techs and will call me back. I will post their opinions and advice as I get it.

Again thanks for the insight from everyone.

 

[ankrummg]

Not to rain on your parade but my MarineMax recommended not getting it because it doesn't flush the outdrive it only flushes the engine.

I wanted to write:

My Marine MAx is bigger than yours, but I thought that might be a bit silly.

 

[papogator24]

The engine needs to be running in order to flush the engine and outdrive. As far as I know, the Perko kit only flushes the engine or so I've been told by my MM dealer. I have the service manual and I will look at it tonight when I get home.

Using the muffs will flush both the engine and outdrive.

After you check with your dealer, get back to us. Happy Boating.

 

[ankrummg]

Just got off the hook with the dealer and they specifically stated that the engine DOES need to be running. Now I know and will do that.
As for flushing the outdrives they still claim that it does do that as well.

 

[Morpheus]

Morpheus... again, don't forget it does flush the outlet/exhaust part of the outdrive. The only part the Perko does not do is the water pick-up, up to where the Perko is installed.

Esteban

Yes, you are correct about that, and I keep forgetting about that

 

[Morpheus]

Just got off the hook with the dealer and they specifically stated that the engine DOES need to be running. Now I know and will do that.
As for flushing the outdrives they still claim that it does do that as well.

:huh: So we have 2 MM saying it doesn't and yours and Estaban saying it does.

Estaban says it flushes the exhaust of the out drive and I agree with that it would when the engine is running (water has to go out of the engine somewhere) but I'm 99% sure it doesn't flush the part from the water pick up's of the outdrive to where the perko flush kit was installed.

How important that is I don't know I'm not an expert but it's part of the outdrive and it seems to me salty water sitting in the pickups and the house/tub that runs from those pickups to the perko kit seems like it would be important. Of course not as important as the engine and exhaust itself but really maybe if I knew that the only thing between the water picksups and the perko kit was a rubber tube and that saltwater would not shorten it's life I'd be ok with it, but at this point I say from what I know it should be flushed as well and the perko kit will not do that for you.

 

[estebanj]

I can say the following things with 100% confidence about the Perko FlushPro after using it for about 1 year:

* The engine needs to be running. On a Bravo 3 equipped engine, the unit is installed in the water hose between outdrive and the water pump in the engine.

* The unit can be used in or out of the water. There is a one-way check valve that will close the sea water pick up side of the unit when it gets fresh water from the garden hose. This allows the engine to be flushed with the boat still in the water.

* The unit will flush the exhaust part of the outdrive.

* The unit will not flush the inlet/pickup part of the outdrive.

Mike... I assume they will, but just to be sure, make sure MM includes in the install/price the remote water inlet in the transom. Otherwise, you will need to open the engine hatch each time. This will allow you to connect a garden hose to the transom which feeds the Perko unit in the engine.

Esteban

 

[MC1600]

:huh: So we have 2 MM saying it doesn't and yours and Estaban saying it does.

Estaban says it flushes the exhaust of the out drive and I agree with that it would when the engine is running (water has to go out of the engine somewhere) but I'm 99% sure it doesn't flush the part from the water pick up's of the outdrive to where the perko flush kit was installed.

How important that is I don't know I'm not an expert but it's part of the outdrive and it seems to me salty water sitting in the pickups and the house/tub that runs from those pickups to the perko kit seems like it would be important. Of course not as important as the engine and exhaust itself but really maybe if I knew that the only thing between the water picksups and the perko kit was a rubber tube and that saltwater would not shorten it's life I'd be ok with it, but at this point I say from what I know it should be flushed as well and the perko kit will not do that for you.

Well I just got off the phone with a tech at Perko, and the engine most certainly DOES have to be running - so that settles the MM debate. As he told me, "by not running the engine, you're at least diluting the water depending on the hose pressure...basically, you're doin' a half-azzed job".

I confirmed everything else Esteban said, and he's spot on (you're flushing the exhaust, but obviously not the intake).

Seems like some of this might just be a case of questions getting answered before all the knowledge is available. Guess that can be common in big dealerships. Seeing as how the previous owner probably dealt with the same guy - how long has my boat gone without a proper flushing!?!? (I'm having my broker get in touch with the previous owner to find out how he did it). :smt013

 

[wickeral]

When I purchased our 25DA, it came from fresh water. I installed a closed cooling system and now only have to flush the exhaust and raw water intake. My boat is trailered. Al W.

 

[ankrummg]

EstebanJ: Thanks for the info. My questions have been cleared up. I have not flushed the boat properly since the kit was installed(twice), and yes I did have the hosebib installed so I don't have to open the engine compartment when I flush, but I will have the engine running in the future. I am also glad that MC1600(my boatng buddy) was privy to this coversation. He also got some questions answered although they weren't exactly what he wanted to here.
And again thanks to everyone for the advice.
As to flush kit addatives... i have heard, through these posts, that there is a hpse end connector that will push a solution throught the engine while flushing to help with desalinization. Not talking about the kit with the resevior kit, but a hose end attachment prior to hooking up the hose. Any brands or links?

 

[vlobue]

If the boat is pulled, why not use earmuffs. They are cheap and probably the most efficient means of flusing any engine not in the water.

 

[ankrummg]

If the boat is pulled, why not use earmuffs. They are cheap and probably the most efficient means of flusing any engine not in the water.

I already have the PERKO kit installed and the boat is not pulled out of the water until after ti have left for the day. So useing muffs doesn't really work. At times the boat may be in the water for a few hours after i leave so waiting is out of the question. But thanks for the post.