Flushing Motors - Who uses "Salt away / Macs / Salt X" type products and who doesnt ?

[MEG-A-BITE]

I have in the past used Salt-Away and had no issues, but now just run fresh water.Also take the boat to the dam for a good run in the fresh water as often as possible.

[scuttlebutt]

I don't use that fancy stuff however I did buy a saltaway mixing unit. I fill it with truckwash and spray the boat and trailer with that. Does a good job and doesnt seem to leave any salt behind.

Even the mixing unit wasn't cheap (about $70) but it's well made and works well.

As for flushing the motor, I only use water.

[fisho8]

Fresh Water for me I have always flushed my engines in a Tub and I still do with my 15hp on my tinny however I am still organising one for my 175 My old man always without fail flushed his engines in tubs and I have been told by many service techs it is the best way to do it also because you can garentee the water is going to reach the top of the power head which is important with the bigger engines so I have been told. I have not used any of those products and really do not know enough to be able to judge them.

[DATCOL]

I use Macks about every 2 nd or 3rd flush & about every 6th flush i put a little ATF oil thrue the macks flusher

[LittleSkipper]

Me Too! For my 75hp Mercury I just dunk the leg in my plastic tank, fill her up with good old H2O and run/idle the motor. Those additives are all a gimmick to make us spend on their so called wonder products.


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[Stuart]

Fresh water with a bit of dishwashing liquid in the water works a treat. I knew a metallurgist some years ago that said it takes 12 minutes to dissolve any salt build up in the water galleries of any outboard. He told me he did quite a bit of testing on his own outboard and his mates and that’s the result he got. That’s what I have done ever since; let it idle for 15 minutes in a water tank with 2 tablespoons of dishwashing liquid. The last outboard I had I pulled the water jackets of and found not one speck of salt build up anywhere. I have never heard of using vinygar before, but Im sure its an acid.

Stu

[Stuart]

I can’t remember which one of the brands that have been mentioned here but they say it stops rust and corrosion in outboards and inboards. I spoke with the guy at the tinny and tackle show about this conversion which it is and is or at least was stated in there advertising. I said it must have phosphoric acid in it if it changes the steel to black and alloy to some other colour. He said he wouldn’t have a clue?????

Stu

[Charlie]

I'm reasonably sure its a mixture of sulfamic acid, detergent and some type of anticorrosive compound, used to have a copy of the MSD but I don't see the need to use it myself as the layer oxide stops further alloy oxidation.

[gazza2006au]

hey guys salt away is a pretty good product i recently bought a sunken motor that hadnt been washed down in over 4 years i was told the prop felt very rough from salt build up so i filled up a bucket tossed the prop into the bucket and let it sit for around 4-5 days i than removed the prop and was amazed at how smooth the surface was i also tried soaking a sunken carb and bowl in the same mix it removed a little of the 4yo salt but not all of it than about a week ago i took my boat out and came home to flush the engine its a old 50hp evinrude the leg was pretty dirty and grimy and shit just all dirty and salt building up not getting a proper wash after flushing the outboard in a mix of salt away i just couldnt be bothered to drain my testing tank/flushing drum so i let it sit for somewhere around 5-7 days today i needed the tank for another motor i drained all the salt away mix out and was amazed at how clean the leg was on the engine so i do have confirmed results from actual testing but IMO salt away will only remove light salt build up if your ports are semi blocked already salt away wont do anything to it other than keep it the way it is but if u have a new engine or just rebuilt the way to go is salt away i have pictures but u cant feel the surface over the internet

[PinHead]

if you flush in a tank..are you not pushing the salt into the tank and recirculating it back through the motor..albeit a bit more diluted.

[gazza2006au]

if you flush in a tank..are you not pushing the salt into the tank and recirculating it back through the motor..albeit a bit more diluted.

theres probably a couple tea spoons of salt in a engine thats diluted in my tank which is around 120-140litres so it wouldnt make any difference

[gonefeedin]

When you flush with water only, how long do you keep the water running for whenusing ear muffs, and is it better to use a flush tank. I use to dive with achap who would only use flush tanks and also add washing up liquid to the water(was like being in a blizzard).

Cheers

kev

[gazza2006au]

When you flush with water only, how long do you keep the water running for whenusing ear muffs, and is it better to use a flush tank. I use to dive with achap who would only use flush tanks and also add washing up liquid to the water(was like being in a blizzard).

Cheers

kev

tohatsu recommend 10mins at idle

[john b ward]

if you want to get rid of the salt build up use CLR mixed with water for all other flushes i use plain old water

clr thanks mate i never ever even touth of that , i cleans out the tub real well , i willbe gving that a go ...TOP IDEA thanks

[black runner]

I use Salt Away mainly to ensure the salt is disolved from behind/after the thermostat. The flow rate in this area is significantly reduced particularly in my Yam f60c and even with a lengthy flushing regime salt would still accumulate over time. Since using Salt Away the salt build up in this area and on the stat is minimal when I remove it each year. So the evidence is there for me.

Cheers - Fred