Whats the rule of thumb for whats safe as far a running WOT for how long?
Thanks

when you run out of gas,its time to let up.lol

If your choice of power is 2-cycle outboards, they love to run WOT all day long.

Might help to know RPM and speed,

502 mpi's so about 5000 rpm's around 70ish

until you hear a "POP" sound

I had a pair of zz4's from GM in a 260 stinger. The guy said one year, No questions..... Rodney King didn't take a beaten like they did!!! I ran that boat 5500rpms on ALPHA's for 65 miles straight.. Never let off. I always ran 5000rpms every where I went. I sold that boat in 2000. The guy that owns it now has only rebuilt the carbs... It has to have 600 hours on it... HARD HOURS..... 502's same thing. I know guys with 300 plus hours .. HARD HOURS.. We call them Dog years. People look at the hour meter and say... wow only 100 hours..... Not knowing it was WOT.. The harder you run it.. The less hours it takes to get there!!

Assuming you are not talking about over revving but running flat out- like on a smooth lake- not jumping in and out of the water.

My rule is that Ill only run any of my engines (Ilmor 710 & 406 sbc) at WOT until I cant keep the oil cool anymore.

As long as the temps are good I'll keep the hammer down.

I have not yet found that point on my Ilmor 710, but I haven't spent much time on smooth lakes.

Ive got an Aeroquip oil cooler in the small block boat and Im not sure how the Ilmor keeps its oil cool, I haven't paid that much attention to how - just monitored the gauge

Youll get tons of advice on this point.

Uncle Dave

Im still laughing at this.

(even having lived through the LA riots)


Uncle Dave

I read someplace in a merc manual 15 mins wot max. I think the oil temp rule is a good one.