I posted this in Tech but didn't get any responses. Does anyone here have any thoughts?

Are you guys who run a stat on a crossover with holes drilled in it and a bypass able to get temp in the motor when flushing to get the stat to open? If not are you comfortable that enough is getting by through the two holes that you're getting a decent flush?

I'm going in the water on Saturday and this has been worrying me..... Not sure the temp will rise enough on the lift......

I'm not your tech guy. But, it would seem to me that it makes no difference either way. If it doesn't warm up enough to open the thermostat than clearly plenty of water is getting through..........of course if it doesn't allow enough water to stay cool the thermostat will open. Not sure, but this seems to make sense.

I flush mine until I see the t-stat start opening and closing at 160-165 on the temp gauge, usually takes 5 minutes or so. Engine is still hot from running in river so only 10 -20 minutes of cool down on trailer.

edit, I have been running crossover and drilled t-stat for 14 years

Interesting Wobble - I have 140 stats in mine. I put 160's in and was worried I'd NEVER get enough heat in them to open the stats so I threw 140's in.

So how did it all go this weekend?

Well.............

This was the first time running the boat since the rebuilds. I was disappointed in my temps. One motor crept all the way up to 180* despite the 140 stat (on about a 5 mile run at ~ 3500 RPM's). The other got to about 165*. I was dissapointed in not only the temperature differential since everything is EXACTLY equal, but also I guess I was expecting it to sit around 140-150 and never move.

On the flip side as it relates to the original questions, I had plenty of temp left once I got back to the lift to get a good flush.

I guess I'll start a TECH thread to see if anyone has a solution. I am worried my ByPass might be keeping the stat closed and as a result the only throughput I am getting is the holes drilled........