Offshoreonly.com - Starting Engine with no Water???

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did it on the 496 all the time,,ran it for 10 seconds only,,,it also had electric fuel pumps,,remove belt also

The impeller in the pickup for the water pump in your lower unit will get fried.

Ask me how I know....

not sure what you guys are doing to fry impellars but i have done this numerous times with no issues. actually, early in the season if i know there is risk of freezing, i will pull the plugs and start the motor for 10 seconds. give it a couple of burps and kill the engine. this ensures most of the water is out of the engine.

keep in mind there is quite a bit of water in the blocks and cooling loop when you pull the boat out of the water. this should provide enough lubrication to run for at least 10-15 seconds. you obviously cant do it repeatedly as the water is discharged on the first start.

It costs $10-20 bucks for a set of muffs and you can run it all you want. The risk benefit on that decision is hugely lop sided.