Mercury Engine Flushing

Here is the text to add to the video as I do not have the log-in.
This how-to-video will show the process of flushing your Mercury outboard. It sounds simple, but hang on! There's a right and a wrong way to perform this essential task.
Flushing an outboard with fresh water is done by a set of "ear muffs" or "flush muffs" fitted around the engine's gear case to cover the water intakes, connected to a garden hose with a good water supply, and the engine was run for five to 10 minutes. Some current outboards can be flushed using other, sometimes easier methods, without even starting the engine.
Why Flush?
Salt and brackish water is a corrosive killer of the aluminium from which outboards are made, so flushing every time after saltwater use is a must. Left unchecked inside the cooling passages, saltwater will quickly build up and may cause cooling blockages, leading to overheating and, over time, can corrode an engine from inside out. All outboard manufacturers recommend flushing (according to the procedures outlined in the engine owner's manual) after every use in salt, brackish, dirty, or polluted waters. Operating an engine in sandy, silty, or muddy fresh water also dictates the need for periodic flushing.
For more information contact us at North Coast Boating.

[@nickh.2007]

Great video. Thank you

[@mikefrady7965]

Just like everybody else I’m a little confused on where does the water come out of the top flushing and is it necessary to do both and also how long do you flush it

[@rossadixon]

Does that second flush on the upper connection do exactly the same flush as with the ear muffs?

[@tydengr]

have a question you may know. I washed my mercury 40 HP. As I sprayed the fresh water on the back of the outboard and the water go into the exhausted on the back. Will this fresh water damage the engine?

[@Nomad-yn7pv]

Mercury has made flushing your engine confusing as hell in their manuals. It says to run engine when using the flush port, to not run engine when using the flush port, and they make no mention of the differences between flushing with the muffs vs the flush port. Good video!

[@MrJRSLim]

Yup, Mine just talks about hooking up the hose to the flush port, noting about hot or cold. Fortunately I've always been doing it when my engine is hot (relatively) within minutes of putting it on the trailer.

[@thomasadams9924]

Can I run the engine while flushing thru the top port or do I need to use the muffs on the bottom 🤔

[@Nomad-yn7pv]

@@thomasadams9924 From everything I can gather I would not run the engine without muffs

[@thomasadams9924]

@@Nomad-yn7pv thank you

[@Nomad-yn7pv]

@@thomasadams9924 No problem. Better safe than sorry.

[@vaskodimoski5690]

Do you ever get oil in the water when you flush rainbow in water on the ground ? Could it be from spraying lanolin in side engine under the cover ?

[@gholdsfishing3144]

Can i run the motor in the second option? i already have before but my dad said i can only turn it on if im using the muffs

[@charleswilson1572]

Question,/problem. I just bought a brand new Mercury 115 XS Pro. I flushed my engine using the hose that comes out of the side of the engine. You unscrew the cap, then unscrew the cap from the hose, and then screw it into the garden hose for fresh water flush. Easy.... My problem is that when I was done, I didn't screw the small hose in the engine to the cap before screwing the cap back in. Now when I unscrew the cap, the hose is stuck in the housing and I cant get it to pull through... Any sugggestion on how to fix this?

[@easaalsharhan5166]

What is the difference between the upper and lower ?

[@hooked_fish]

Is same used water left or right side?

[@comicblueswithjonygitar36]

Why use the muffs if you have the port? Dealer anx manual told me engine off, not idle, simple hose. Are they wrong? Does any part not get flushed like impeller? Or does fresh circulate the whole way from a hose /engine off?

[@Joegest1]

Had a question, I just changed out my impeller and on the side anodes I have water coming out of that area when i put on the muffs and run water. Noticed on your video it does that also. Is that correct? I have never really paid attention to where water came out when running the muffs. Thanks

[@rcmania5018]

Joe Gest just picked my 75 up today and did the exact same. I’m sure it’s normal.

[@Mightiflier]

Wonder why it is not ok to use engine flush valve when motor is cold.

[@erikandrehoglund55]

Should I do both or just one of these after driving in saltwater? Or what?

[@koston777]

Thank you, do you have to do both method? or can you just do one or the other?

[@Eli-gt1mn]

are you in the water you should do the 2,end one

[@arnoldca8377]

Why is it not ok to use the upper flush port with a cold engine?

[@johnscott6853]

When the engine is cold the thermostat would be closed preventing the flush water from washing out all the water passages. The thermostat only opens when the engines reaches normal temperature - this will only happen if the engine is running.

[@zimmermanseth]

So you can use the flush port when e fine is cold but the key is to remove your thermostats so that you can get a flush all the way through the system.

[@maritimegoalie]

Where is the water coming out using the engine flush on top of the engine?

[@EV1NRUDE]

Through the Propeller.

[@DanielSon69]

@@EV1NRUDE and the tell tale

[@bigdog7658]

Now I'm confused...

[@bill_y4762]

Totally fake accent