Offshoreonly.com - Engine Opinions

Offshoreonly.com (https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/)

- General Boating Discussion (https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/general-boating-discussion-51/)

- - Engine Opinions (https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/general-boating-discussion/120332-engine-opinions.html)

Re: Engine Opinions

It's a buyers market so shop away and make offers :D

Re: Engine Opinions

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisf

CMG,

Do you flush the heat exchanger every so often if you boat in salt water?

How does that work on a trailerable boat. I am familiar with big boats that have seacocks to heat exchangers. Does the intake come through the drive or is there a seperate seacock in the hull for the closed cooling.

For 454/502 Mags, do standard ear muffs work, or is there a seperate intake for flushing on these engines

Forgive my ignorance, it just seems to me that my current 5L V8 is @ 1/2 the horspower, so the bigger engines seem to need more flow than the stern drive will allow.

Educate me!

Chris

My experience is with non fresh water stern drives - just sold my last and was an 89 with 2 454 mags. It came from a mix of part of its life in salt and fresh and I saw first hand what the salt does. It had bottom paint so was left in salt and I assumed was never flushed, in the last 4 years that I owned was flushed every time I got home on trailer. I had bravos so was easy to put muffs on drives and used salt away. (see pic) The next boat I get in the spring will have Mercury racing motors (blue) and fresh water. At the very least it will come from well inland fresh water, my primary use is salt - ideally will have closed cooling.

Re: Engine Opinions

IMO, you will always be better off buying a fresh water motor than one run in salt. With that said, I always thought overall the 454 mag was a great engine. Again IMO, if you go with the newer 496, I think the HO is worth the few extra dollars.

It is not a big deal to flush the old 454/502 blocks. Muffs work, but make sure you run long enough that the thermostat is open so you get the circulation you need.

Re: Engine Opinions

Quote:

Originally Posted by ANDREW REALTOR

496 Ho Best Of 3 FRESH WATER COOLED!

best of which 3? I agree the HO is a better value than the 496. Which choice is the third?

Re: Engine Opinions

Quote:

Originally Posted by ANDREW REALTOR

SORRY THERE WERE 4 CHOICES THE 496'S ARE FRESH 454&502 ARE NOT?

:D :D

I was going to chime in that the 525s would be my first choice of closed cooling.