hi all at offshore used pump to flush sea water on2001 496 ho motors and only one green dot poped out on each motor same one stuck on both motors. is this common i am not laying boat up for winter just wanted to see how it worked . correct me if i am wrong but the blue taps do the same job book says 4taps each motor i can only see 2 bit tight in eng/bay so i may not have seen other 2 all so the pumpflush seem like a lot of stuff to go wrong when a couple of full froof taps do the same thing is it easey to remove this as i am thinking if it can get stuck closed it can get stuck open plus less to go wrong in a allready overcrowded eng/bay and i do like to keep things simple THANKS paul from England

Paul: Two English speaking countries separated by a common language. I have the same twin 496ho setup you have with the water drain actuators. Last year when winterizing, on my port engine one of the popups stuck. This spring I had a constant water leak into the bilge from a leaking actuator of the starboard side of the port motor with lower engine sea water pressure. I replaced the actuator (port engine) which necessitated the removal of the exhaust manifold. Yes, you can remove them but its going to require removing all of the exhaust manifolds and replacing the actuators with brass or stainless sleeves. In my opinion, these things are worthless for winterizing (you still have to pull the blue plugs) and in salt water they have a definite (short) lifespan if frequently used.

paul here thanks for returning to me just as i thought more of a problem than a help i will be removeing them and put in some nice pluming going to upgraid exhaust /m anyway cant make up my mind which ones to get yet cmi e top look good any input on them ??? nearly bought a 1989 33 foot donze crossbow obout 16 years ago wanted it real bad just couldnt raise enough money in time it was like new just 64 hours anyway thanks Goldenyee i will keep you posted on how i get on with pluming and new exhaust in regards to added performance paul from England

hi can anyone please help with a 496 ho pluming Q want to remove air actuaters as port actuater leaks can anyone tell me if the pipe comeing from the bottom of the ex/ma going to the air actuater is just a drain pipe there are 2 pipes going to the ex/m i no one is straight from the heat exchanger and goes through the ex/m and straight out the riser but the other one goes down to the air /actuater .i have looked on the 496 mercruser schematics and there is a check ball in that pipe need to no if this pipe is more than just a drain pipe very tight in my engine bay twin motors so it is not easy to see .any help would be good thanks regards paulpaul