Outboard Overheating, Seizing, and Dying

Flushing the coolant system actually killed it, but it was merciful. Also how to de-bend a prop, and try to un-seize an engine.
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[@osbornebay944]

I can t stop watch you guys efforts to treat this DT225 the wrong way. I have a same 2.7 L motor, 94, on my off shore boat. I treat (cook) it with Saltawy in a tank, fed pee back to tank, run 2500 rpm for 30 min till water hot to touch, the solution will turn blue to grey. No overheating issue on my DT225 so far.

[@crossthreadaeroindustries8554]

Great share, very interesting project, and you didn't sweat the little stuff. Great attitude. And, some of the comments below seem to demystify what still might be wrong, like the head gasket. Thanks.

[@tim9lives]

The engine may have had a bad head gasket already in which previous owner then used some snake oil to then seal the leakage. The vinegar probably opened up the leak. It's also possible that the gaskets were almost shot.... Vinegar then just sped up the process.

[@irredeemabledeplorable5227]

a little late but get the plate off under the impeller and study the SWIRL of the base/seal housing and notice the direction of the chambers compared to engine/impeller rotation. ....signed, poor ol' white, no degree country boy. Been following your build for years. Keep it up

[@Brandis56]

The water doesn't feed from on top of the propeller it get the water from the two grills one on each side of the lower unit midway between the main horizontal shaft and the cavitation plate they have weed guard looking screens on them.The water goes straight up thru passageways to the bottom of that stainless plate underneath the waterpump impellor. the thing you are pointing at ,at 8:21 is where there is supposed to be a trim fin which also serves as a electrical discharge zinc.Directly above that you see those horizontal slots are for escaping exhaust when the engine is not moving.

[@RobertSzasz]

those sump pumps can deliver quite a bit of pressure. A bit of crud breaking loose from the flush probably plugged a passage and the head gasket was the weak point. The usual flush kit that attaches to a hose and clamps over the intakes is usually springy enough to dump water rather than damage things.

[@SVSeeker]

+Robert Szasz Perhaps, but I don't think that pump is any more powerful that the water pump on the lower end.

[@razzorbladz]

+SV Seeker an old engineer at my yacht club told me the other week they used to fill up old seized diesel engines with milk and they did it on a 60 year old engine that engine lasted another 10 years

[@SVSeeker]

+razzorbladz Milk? ....that must have been whole milk. :)

[@razzorbladz]

yep milk must be acidic and or alkali enough to dissolve the rust and free up rings and bearings but it works bet it stinks like hell he said they let it sit for a few weeks before they drained it

[@RichardHeadGaming]

+Robert Szasz That pump he was using did not dmg the engine. The fact it already had a leaking head gasket let the pump force water into the cylinders which in turn caused rust after it sat in there for a week. The cylinder pressures of an operating engine far exceed anything any pump would put on the head gaskets.

[@ct1762]

the impeller gets bent right away when you install it over the pump cover. its the stiffness/how brittle it gets that is the problem. a waterpump will last 3 years easy if you flush out the motor after using it in salt each time. I would've replaced the base plate and housing as well, just so you can be sure it will last 3 years +. the danger of replacing the impeller each year, besides being a waste of money, is that if you install a new impeller over the old baseplate and housing , tiny grooves in the metal won't match up to the new impeller, and can cause a "hot spot", were it overheats because of lack of water pressure. do it right the first time, and dont worry for few years. good luck!

[@lifeislikesailing]

that impeller looked pretty bad...thanks for sharing the video with us!!

[@ChrisB257]

Sad re the engine -- such a nice large motor too. Hope it has at least given a good long service. Grappling hook is great - nice idea.

[@MitzvosGolem1]

Vinegar would not harm anything if in for a short while. Rubber water pump impeller still ok impeller is centrifugal pump at high speed . I rebuilt hundreds of outboards since 1978. Good idea to try to flush but don't do to long. Baking soda will neutralize acid. We use Dawn dish washer liquid on diesel cooling system .Use grease in salt water use on threads and splines or torch will be needed to take it apart. Inner water jacket in these dissolve and become porous.Old mercury had this issue.

[@bassfishingdoneright7073]

I was tuned out as soon as he started wacking the prop with the hammer . I have burrs in mine small ones and would never take a hammer to it . That prop being off pitch will suck and so will the boat

[@jamespaul1102]

The New and Improved impeller isn't part of Your lower unit. It looks like a Fuel pump on the back of the power head. Blew Me Away. Fuel pumps usually out last the actual motor. So don't gotta worry now a days.

[@MrVidar0]

All directly seawater cooled engines with wet exhaust has _by_design_passage between exhaust and the wet side. The cooling water is pumped through the cooling channels to cool the engine, then it is mixed with the exhaust as it exits the power head. This is done for cooling the exhaust and sound dampening. The barrier between water and exhaust ports is determined while the engine not running, by its height over the waterline, and exhaust pressure and some sort of flow deflection and separation+sufficient draining, and that is what keeps the exhaust ports dry while the engine is running. The pump must stop as the engine stops. Do not think of the cooling system as a closed system, like in land based engines in cars, etc. Your engine can hopefully be made healthy again in normal and not to expensive ways. It is also possible to lightly wash or hone the rust off the cylinders, and in worst case only bore / install new piston in the one(s) which really needs it. To me it did not look too bad so far. One piston must be replaced of course. Hopefully no water lock has occured while starting or running the engine, and bent rods, etc. It will need a full tear down for new piston and to check bearings for corrosion and damage and determine the real cause for water intrusion. A skilled outboard mechanic can give the repair a go / no go if You are still in doubt. So far, in this case I think the design and the amount of water and pressure is what made the flushing water get into the cylinders, and probably not a failed engine, or head gaskets or cracked water jackets and liners. Time and storage matters and quick action on the engine will make it an easier job, untreated it seizes up more as You read this. I recommend that You treat it as if it has been under saltwater, until further action can be taken. The chemical reaction You observed will be happening inside the engine too, and no exhaust were present to push acid water spray or small droplets or fumes and gases away, given much time to work their way into the cylinders.. Please observe that only the cylinders with exposed ports were affected. I would tear it apart and check where, and understand in which form the vinegar or products of a chemical reaction came in. I think people here too would like to see the real cause, as much as You do? :-) The flushing could (less likely)have raised the water level inside the engine past the "exhaust ports/water barrier". There is a short tuned exhaust pipe-like contraption running from the power head inside the stem, and the water is flowing downwards on the outside of that. When You get a look under the power head and see where water and exhaust go, you might understand what happened. The rubber clam and garden hose usually used for flushing engines with fresh water will not be able to fill the engine, alone, as it leaks to much when it is not assisted by the impeller pump. Always check that water is coming out the cooling water tell tale nozzle while idling before going out, and also from time to time while going at any speed. Stop the engine before it is overheating if no water jet is coming out the tell tale nozzle. Direct the nozzle if possible so that You can see the tell tale water jet from the helm, otherwise have the crew keeping an eye on it. The nozzle gets its water from the top of the topmost water jacket, and if there is a tell tale water jet present, all the water jackets are filled and under pressure, and very likely circulating if thermostats are open - good! If steam and/or smoke comes out the nozzle, the engine is overheating, and/or have a blown head gasket. The water is drained out when the engine stops; less corrosion, no water will be in there and get where it is not supposed to during transport/handling, and otherwise engines would freeze and crack when not used, like in dock in the cold winters. Never start a an engine with no supply of water to the impeller pump, for the impeller rubber will overheat instantly; and it will loose its "springyness", tear or melt, and parts of it can clog the cooling system. Carburetor or injection on the cylinder with damaged piston can be supplying it too lean, and overheat the piston, making it knock and burn/fail. Needs check / cleaning. I would try to repair it from what i have seen. Maby too much, but now it is written. :-P Thanks for sharing Your experience and knowledge like You do, Doug. Happy boating - big and small! :-) Good tips: www.maxrules.com/fixcooltips.html Best luck and regards.

[@CaptDavesSportfishing]

holy shit.....write a book will ya!

[@fraserashworth6575]

You can see exhaust action in the vinegar out stream when it is started. I think the vinegar got pumped through the exhaust tunnel.

[@patmcbride9853]

If you checked the PH of the vinegar before and after, it would give you an idea of how much work it did. The scale would raise the PH as it reacted with the acid.

[@tractormatt4301]

When putting the impeller in the housing a little soap will lube it into the case and wash out once run

[@geneelliott3230]

grappling hook looks like a winner! Bellingham a couple hour drive from my place, I will look into the Maker place!

[@danielbargas3377]

A bad impeller will look like a squirrel chewed on it for a month

[@stevecummins324]

model engineers use citric acid (lemon juice) to flush out scale from say steam boilers. It takes a bit longer but is milder on metals.

[@h2otek312]

steve cummins citric is usually mixed stronger than vinegar. Good stuff, although I have real reservations about acid washing any outboard motor.

[@DonziGT230]

This is a great example of why ignorant people shouldn't do stuff like this. Good chance there was nothing wrong with that motor until it was pumped full of vinegar and water without it running. Water running though the exhaust with the engine off and getting into the cylinders is not uncommon. Maybe it had a bad head gasket, still a pretty easy repair. Since it was a short time between the flushing and discovering water in the cylinders it's very likely that it could have been saved quite easily, whata shame.

[@SVSeeker]

I am but always and ignorant man. My genius is that I recognize that and do not fear it.

[@cadillacescalade1]

I like the dogs and mermaid on the wall

[@kevinchamberlain7928]

You old dog, you!

[@watahyahknow]

whell you could lift the head off and see if its salvageable could be the vinigar caused aditional galvanic action between the cast iron cilinders and the aluminium engineblock , basicly desolving the lesser metal it would explane the fizzing it did when it came out should be eazy to spot the pitting when you see intoo the waterjacket once the head is off if youre lucky its just the face of the head and you could weld it up a little maibe even fill it with epoxy and skim it on the lathe , with a flycutter or on the cad router piece of wood and a bfh to hit the pistons so they get loose and just scuff the the rust off the cilinders with a bit of steelwool or scotchbrite intill there resonably smooth and trow a bit of atf oil in there to get the rings loose and hopefully seal up again it whont be pretty but it should work ok for the small amount of time you be using it still think you need to put a small 25 horse spare engine on the rear of that boat though just in case

[@SVSeeker]

+watahyahknow Pulling the head and taking a look is not a bad idea. I don't think it's worth my time to salvage it, but maybe it is to someone else. In any case I would like to see what it looks like inside.

[@CaptDavesSportfishing]

cast iron???? huh??

[@michaelsears3209]

@@SVSeeker Hay pleas do video of a teardown just a rough one of at least the heads and explain some things that u no about the suzuki dt 225 2stroke v6 as I can't find any videos on a service or anything thanks

[@fergusonhr]

That looks good...make sure the o ring is good on the pump housing though

[@BrassAxe]

Citric Acid works much better than vinegar on almost all things.. A several pound bag costs about $20 on ebay and lasts years. I use it on brass, copper, glass, etc etc.. Plus after using citric acid the metals are much less prone to corrosion or petina unlike vinegar.

[@gearwrench1]

that impeller is junk. it should spring out like a star fish not stay curled up

[@calvindickey4597]

Check your battery cables or battery connections. The engine should at least turn over. If cables are bad you will get the exact systoms you are getting.

[@CaptDavesSportfishing]

fun watching newbie outboard folks do things backwards...

[@osbornebay944]

Sad to see you guys destroy a very reputable Suzuki DF225 with vinegar, rusting the cylinders. It should flush with engine run. I bought a used DF225 and used it for more than 10 year, it never let me down yet. The flush with vinegar is for 4 strokers.

[@dgsrks102030]

Thanks for sharing .

[@ttiracing]

if you can find a fitting that fits the spark plug treats you might be able to find out if its your gasket that was the curse or if the engine is totally fried by using a bit of compressed air to see if there is a presure leak or if it's just a bit of rust that has come in and made the risistense to bad for the starter if so you might be able to safe the outboard with a good cleaning and some oil i have seen engines get a little bit of water from the tanks on boats so it might not be all bad if that was the case i hope you can safe the engine and safe the money

[@stevecummins324]

+SHY Gamer that's pretty much the idea behind a leak down test. air line->pressure regulator with pressure gauge -> tiny air metering hole (epoxy cast inside a pipe nipple and around a small length of thin steel wire coated in WD40 so one can remove wire later is often easier than drilling) -> T for 2nd pressure gauge -> adapter to fitting to what you want to assess the air tightness. A little awkward to use absolutely unless calibrated, but great for assessing relative differences between cylinders. If there's were no leaks at all- there'd be no air flow and so no pressure difference between the guages at all. if there are holes/gaps of approximately the same total area as the metering hole. half the pressure is dropped by each gauge Great for identify the likely area a problem exists in without needing to dismantle engine. if fed with pressure low enough so that the engine can be rotated by hand against the pressure above the piston it's exceptionally useful for checking state of bores. Leak is more when piston rings are passing the area with the problem.

[@snargleflarg]

I wouldn't give up on it yet! Are you sure it isn't just hydrolocked? Strange that you were able to fire it up just fine a few days before.

[@davidgimellihemme5992]

That impeller might need to be replaced as it is very bent

[@MrJp318]

The water pump was shot. The blades of the water pump should be straight. Over time, the blades curl, loosing the efficiency of the pump.

[@MrJp318]

+MrJp318 Sorry this was stated several time already.

[@totowolf9716]

Buy a service manual...why were the plate and cup not replaced??? Grooves in the plate is usually the reason you overheat

[@tuckerhandyman]

When boat people say "Cheap" they mean compared to a new Engine.

[@cemx86]

Thanks for the videos, been watching them from the beginning. At 9:20 you are polishing up the prop. Is it aluminum or steel? If aluminum you might want to try a brass wheel for polishing. I use them all the time. Comes in fine and coarse.

[@SVSeeker]

+cemx86 It's a stainless steel prop.

[@jeffjames8443]

Good chance while pumping water up the mid section water also made it in to the exhaust chamber?

[@marceloamadeu7441]

Você é simplesmente d+!!! Sou seu fã!!!

[@brianlee677]

never seen anyone install an impeller like that simply use some dish soap and spin impeller in base by hand no need for a zip tie.

[@jimmydelaigle8582]

My Mercury 150 is have an alarm go off at a steady beep, I have changed the water pump impeller but that did not fix it. It also is not pushing water out in a stream in idle but does when you give it some rpm's. Can you tell me what it may could be?

[@crazymc3909]

That water pump when is curved it’s trashed it won’t work anymore to pump enough water to the engine.

[@GotFreight]

I grew up in Bellingham, Wa

[@lionsfan1478]

WOW ok hold up a second... FORM A GASKET?! Where has this been all my life?!

[@warwicklaken]

You have gone this far Doug.. Rip the heads off and take a look, you never know. It may last a bit longer, certainly nothing to loose.

[@SVSeeker]

+Warwick Laken Right on. Good idea.

[@SVSeeker]

+Senapspiser Absolutely depends on: if you enjoy learning, how much money you have in the bank, and how important it is that you have a reliable motor.

[@manuelcruz-oy4xy]

Hello... l got a suzuki dt 225 hp 2001 can somebody knows if this engines can use diagnostic scan?? And where ie the plug conector thks

[@juancarloscasabuono6651]

Nikasil repair for the cylinders, may be ...

[@welderboy525]

Wow the impeller for my 25hp Yamaha is $13.00 the vinegar must of ate the cylinder wall

[@againstalloddstherussiansg3206]

It's a pity. Thanks for video. But I understand how coolong water going to cylinders? I hope you will repair engine.

[@SVSeeker]

+Vladimir Bakum I don't think it's worth patching up this time.

[@candisbrendel7396]

isn't it called welding darling!? African queen loved it so much we got vhs then rented dvd then bought dvd etc....Old One Legged Joseph T

[@MrRABC1]

Doesnt vinegar rust metal? I have seen people submerge nuts and bolts in vinegar for a few weeks or months to perform tests on things like penetrating fluid etc. Pretty expensive mistake man!!! Love what you do though Doug.

[@andrewcoudandrewcloud1902]

No water/vinegar should ever come into contact with firing chamber. Given the fact that the spark plug was rusted, it means that the must have been a blown head gasket. That the vinegar made contact through

[@sethcarrasco3858]

Could the vinegar have eaten the head gasket???

[@rollinnolen3466]

ive used vinegar to clean out an old motorcycle gas tank and it ate away a hole in the aluminum petcock overnight

[@thomasgowen8298]

Use relying it's a better scale removal.

[@jeffreymurdock8366]

OK the engine isn't toast. the cylinders may have been full of water and vinegar. I've seen that happen with blown head gasket that are leaking into the cylinder. take all the plugs out and try turning it over again. may be the problem. I am a mechanic and aware of those kinds of problems. good luck my friend

[@SVSeeker]

+Jeffrey Murdock Posting a new video now. It needs more that just a squirt of oil, but who knows. Maybe it can be salvaged.

[@jeffreymurdock8366]

I would try that first and see what happens before buying a new engine. If nothing else I would enjoy rebuilding the engine. Lol I love fixing stuff as cheep as possible. Thats why I'm always on eBay and Amazon. Doing a head gasket job on a 96 maxima and found the gasket kit for 41 dollars less than half what it would cost anywhere else. $19 for ceramic brake pads and rotors combined. Its just how I roll

[@tractormatt4301]

I have a 96 112 evinrude that seized up

[@v8consumption]

9:31 I cried a little. that lower unit sounds fked

[@ross350tube]

that hook could be a handy reef anchor.

[@kevininzunzavalencia9861]

Do you have any videos installing/uninstalling the oil tank on the left side of the motor?

[@SVSeeker]

No, sorry

[@BlackoutBilll21]

don't listen to the impeller Nazis! lol It was fine! a BAD impeller is one that is cracked or has missing fins... just because the fins are bent due to it being in service its whole life doesn't mean its bad! cool video thanks!

[@lakepowellfishing]

IT depends on how hard and the type of boating your doing and hours period. 200 hrs I change every year .

[@tractormatt4301]

that is ig zactly what happened to mine it is the head gasket

[@seaa3seaa]

But Bogart did not notice the leeches. And then, when he did, he kept going anyway.

[@kevinchamberlain7928]

Death by vinegar?

[@dallen122758]

Yes they need to be changed Once a year especially if it not use to much or if it runs allot in shallow water picking mud or sand . That apply to all outboard motors and like they say $60.00 is cheap compare to buying a new $15.000 outboard motor.lol

[@tractormatt4301]

how much did you pay for boat and motor?

[@cadillacescalade1]

How old is that engine?

[@doubledown9333]

hydro locked?

[@thomasflynn642]

did you make that rig that holds lower unit up?

[@SVSeeker]

Yes, but it's an A frame for towing. It's just laid flat.

[@thomasflynn642]

Thanks!

[@larrylee8257]

An outboard douche. I'm trying it. FYI, I always grease the splines. I had a motor rust together and it was useless when the water pump failed.

[@kylebartruff2876]

When in doubt change that water pump out!

[@kylebartruff2876]

60????? Geeeez. Ive never spent that much

[@SVSeeker]

+Kyle Bartruff Where do you shop, or what outboard do you have?

[@kylebartruff2876]

+SV Seeker Weve run Mercury EFi 90, 115, gm 4.3 i/o, and my little evinrude 9.9. None of which were that much. I guess it could just be that specific motor. You could get the entire gasket kit and impeller for the EFI for 35 and impeller for the 9.9 for $10. It was just surprising. Ive gotten pumps from the marine shop here in NC and amazon.

[@kylebartruff2876]

That impeller you had was for sure bad. They should spring back to original look or close to it. When you install it put a little grease on the housing interior to help with the first prime.

[@ormonddude]

Doug before you give up hope pull the heads you may see something obvious

[@SVSeeker]

+Bruce Bosco Done! Video coming.

[@tim9lives]

+Bruce Bosco Absolutely. Pull the head where those two rusty plugs were. I'm betting its a head gasket. Easy sleazy.

[@williammills1671]

If yo think its junk send it to me mins is junk big hole in the side of it.

[@bbowen1970]

That impeller is bad. Blades should be straight.

[@charlesdyer2376]

Salt water in not an outboards friend.

[@tractormatt4301]

14000 for a evinrude 115 new

[@wyteboymagik]

are you out of oklahoma?

[@SVSeeker]

No. There is still plenty of Oklahoma here.

[@wyteboymagik]

lol, at least you got my okie grammer.. enjoy your videos

[@fergusonhr]

Oops I haddent watched the whole video...if I were you I would reconsider and pull off the heads...it is more than likely just head gaskets...that engine should run forever...ive been working on old engines my entire life and ive never seen heads that were worn through to the water jackets...put on some gaskets and go boating...

[@ricardosanchez1930]

impeller is bad. the fins need to be straight

[@FRANKY231182]

after that i would flipp over

[@jakobrebeki]

hi Doug, hope that offer you made is still good. my passport has now come thru. i am talking to my manager at work now to decide when it is best. whats the weather like in april as that may be the best time for me to go as he sees it. is it hot/cold or windy/tornado season etc. hope to hear from you. thanks, Jakob from SE London, England....

[@SVSeeker]

+Jakob Rebeki Excellent! April is the beginning of the tornado season, but if everything stays on the ground then the weather can be very nice. Write me at [e-mail] with details and any questions. We will be double booking in the Spring but we should be able to make you comfortable in the Pilothouse by then.

[@jakobrebeki]

+SV Seeker ok, would like you to know that i cannot weld but i am exelent with a grinder. i am good with electical systems as i laboured with an electrisin in my youth rewiring houses, factorys, shops and big event kitchens as well as laying down the power systems for big concerts. we ran all that stuff off of big genarators. also rewired a few fairground rides, worked with both AC and DC systems. i ended up buying a 1924 coulson chair o plane as a hobby. not so sure about ROVs, dont know to much about them. done the normal stuff like rebuilt m/cycles and then rode them. when Mark my manager gives me the nod so to speak its all systems go....

[@SVSeeker]

+Jakob Rebeki No problem. No wiring for a long while but we can always use another grinder. :)

[@jakobrebeki]

+SV Seeker Hi Doug. work has now given me time off so have now booked my tickets for april. fly out on the 4th of april, fly back on the 21st of april. changing at Alanta, hartsfield. as i managed to book early got one hell of a discount. the flights only cost £627 and with travel insurance in total £718. stunned at how cheap it was. cannot wait for April to arrive. got a new Email address [e-mail]. throw me a line, love to here from you, regards, Jakob....

[@SVSeeker]

+Jakob Rebeki Awesome. I'll ping you an email.

[@kostaskaronis5046]

YOUR ARE JUST...LOOSERS.... if you dont want that engine..PLEAASEE...sent it to me....it will cost almost nothing to be fixed up and running.... just know what you have to do......

[@kostaskaronis5046]

Yeap...right....okie dokie.....

[@SVSeeker]

+kostas karonis Should I get the motor and the book ready for you?

[@kostaskaronis5046]

+SV Seeker yeah..ok...send them...

[@SVSeeker]

+kostas karonis No, you have to come get it. I want to give you a hug in person.

[@ethansfishingandboatinghel2395]

mercury are better outboard's for the money than a Suzuki outboard