How to flush an outboard the right way without Saltaway. Flushing with this method deep cleans the outboard water jacket system, thermostat flush and clean and exhaust clean up to prevent corrosion build up.
This method works better then Saltaway. Always flush your outboard no matter how you flush the engine, freshwater alone isn't enough. Using this method is simply Dawn and Vinegar instead of Saltaway flush cleans all outboard coolant passages super clean. Try this simple method right at your own house or in the yard and toss out the Saltaway.
How to Flush an Outboard using the Vinegar and Dawn Method. Do this at least monthly or bi-weekly. It does a lot of good.
1. Purchase a 100 Gallon Water Trough from Tractor Supply (or use whatever you have)
1-A. It's important to have at least 75 gallons in order to recirculate the mixture for 15 min.
2. Trim up your engine, place the trough underneath the engine.
3. Trim down the out board until it touches the bottom of the Trough
4. Now fill it with water to just above the ride plate of the lower unit
5. Start it, be sure it's pumping water
INJECTING THE INGREDIENTS INTO THE ENGINE AND TROUGH - ALL BELOW WILL BE DONE ONCE THE ENGINE IS STARTED AND WARMING UP. .. WE WANT THE ENGINE WARM/HOT FOR THIS PROCEDURE.
With all the above completed and engine warming up, dump a gallon (up to 3 gallons) of white Vinegar into the water. It is very cheap and the cleaning it will do when coupled with the Dawn is incredible. The more you use, the cleaner your cooling system will be.
Using a medium size bottle of Dawn, lift open the pop-up cap, now submerge it slowly (don't squeeze it yet) and position the nozzle directly onto the water pump intake on either side of the outboard lower unit.. Now squeeze the bottle until it is flat, then snatch it out of the water.
Let it run and flush the outboard in the vinegar and dawn mixture for 10-15 minutes, then shut off the engine to hot soak for five-ten minutes...Then restart, rinse, repeat once or twice more.. Then shut her down and you're done. (Add more Dawn after the hotsoak if you like as the dawn leaves an oily film behind that fights corrosion in the cooling system.
----- Remember, keep a feel on the water temp in that trough. Be sure it doesn't get too hot to overheat the engine. Most large 4 or 6 cylinder 4-Strokes can usually idle for 30 plus minutes without any issues in 65 degree water inside the 100 gallon trough. Note that 2-Stroke outboards like the one in this video will warm the water faster than a 4 stroke outboard, so feel that water and don't let it get hot to the touch.